ILOILO – In the wake of reports predicting sustained high heat indices, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is alerting the public to the dangers of heat-related illnesses, highlighting heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
During a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon detailed the symptoms and management strategies for these conditions to prevent any life-threatening risks.
She explained that muscle pain and tightness from prolonged activity and excessive sweating can lead to electrolyte imbalances characteristic of heat cramps.
Heat exhaustion, the most common heat-related emergency, includes symptoms like heavy sweating, water loss, pale and moist skin, confusion, and weakness among others.
Heat stroke, the most severe form, can cause behavioral changes, unconsciousness, and even death if not promptly treated.
Quiñon also outlined specific measures for managing each condition:
* Heat Cramps – resting, hydrating with electrolyte-rich fluids, stretching, and massaging the affected muscles
* Heat Exhaustion – lying down with elevated legs, drinking cool fluids, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine
* Heat Stroke – immediate medical attention, maintaining open airways, and cooling the body with wet towels or sheets
Moreover, as part of the El Niño action plan, the IPHO will distribute water testing kits and chlorine granules to the province’s 43 local government units to ensure the availability of safe drinking water.
They will also monitor the compliance of water refilling stations with safety standards and supply medications for water-borne diseases.
Weather specialist Ferdinand Rubin Jr. from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has advised the public to prepare for continued hot weather, with heat indices possibly reaching between 40 to 44 degrees Celsius through May, during the peak of the hot and dry season influenced by Easterlies wind conditions./PN
