Lingayen – The Provincial Health Office here advises the public to be mindful of health precautionary measures this summer season as heat index is expected to rise in weeks ahead.
Provincial Health Officer Anna Ma. Teresa De Guzman said her office issued the health advisory at the onset of the summer season to raise public awareness regarding health issues caused by the increasing temperature which is aggravated by the El Nino phenomenon.
“Avoid direct exposure to sunlight from 10am to 3pm as heat index peaks in between these hours,” said Dr. De Guzman, who noted that, so far, no cases of heat stroke have been reported in the province.
She also advised people to stay hydrated by drinking at least ten glasses of water daily and avoid coffee, tea, soda and alcohol intake. If the need to stay outdoors cannot be avoided, hats and umbrellas should be used, she added.
Heat stroke is a medical condition where the body overheats and cannot cool down because the body cannot take off the excessive heat by sweating because of dehydration and/or humid environment.
Signs of heat exhaustion may include warm and flushed skin, faintness, dizziness, weakness, headache, very high fever, rapid heartbeat, convulsion and unconsciousness.
Other common diseases this summer are: sunburns, sore eyes, jellyfish sting, skin diseases such as ringworm, athlete’s foot, chicken pox, malaria, dengue, viral infections such as cough, gastro-intestinal infection and rabies.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) launched the Oplan Summer Vacation (SumVac) last March 23 to oversee the safety of beachgoers, local and foreign tourists visiting the Lingayen gulf.
PDRRMO spokesperson Avenix Arenas said SumVac is conducted by the provincial government annually in anticipation to the large group of beachgoers and tourists who frolic at the Capitol beachfront to witness various events of Pistay Dayat 2016 revelry which takes off on April 22, Friday.
Arenas assured that there will be enough personnel who will man the Capitol beachfront during Pistay Dayat and the rest of summer period until June 5 as augmentation has been requested from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army and rescue teams from Lingayen and Bugallon local government units.
“To avoid any untoward incident on the beach like drowning and jellyfish sting, the public is advised to strictly observe the safety precautions for beachgoers,” Arenas pointed out.