Public-health campaign needed on heat protection

There needs to be a campaign to inform citizens about the potential dangers of rising temperatures. Over the last few days, the heat has reached record-breaking levels. Persons who work directly in the sun or spend a lot of time outdoors need to be educated so as to protect themselves.

Heatwave! Are we prepared?

Jamaica Gleaner/8 Jul 2023

GLOBAL TEMPERATURES soared to unprecedented levels this week, shattering thermometer readings i n places like Antarctica, known as the coldest region on the planet. The intense heat being experienced in recent weeks hit highs on Monday and Tuesday when average global temperatures rose to above 17 degrees Celsius to surpass August 2016 records.

July 4, is reported to have been the hottest day in 125,000 years, bringing with it a sober reminder of the climate trauma which could lie ahead.

Climate science experts are predicting that the heat index will continue to rise because of the warming effect of the El Niño weather phenomenon, coupled with increased carbon dioxide emissions from industry and human activities.

It is anticipated that there will be more recordbreaking heat days in our future, with chances that the crucial 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming threshold will be passed within the next five years. Even though Jamaica's temperatures only reached highs of 32 degrees Celsius on Monday and Tuesday, the local meteorological service has predicted a brutally hot summer ahead.

Far from frolicking at the beach or blasting air-conditioning units, the response has to be more serious and thoughtful, to protect the most vulnerable, as we face this looming crisis. Intense heat has serious implications for public health, agricultural production, and the ability of the light and power company to cope with electricity demands. We expect that demand will soar as the heat intensifies.

LESSONS FROM THE PAST

Given the experience of Europe, India, Pakistan, southeast Asia, equatorial Africa, equatorial South America and parts of the United States, are there lessons from the past which could help Jamaica prepare for the impending heatwave? For instance, in 2003, more than 72,000 people died across Europe from a heatwave. Apart from infants being left unattended in motor vehicles, so far we have not heard news of local death from heat stroke or dehydration, but we ought not to be complacent and we need to make urgent heat action plans.

People who work without shade from the sun's dangerous rays are most vulnerable. We think particularly of construction workers and farmers. In both cases, workers operate under something akin to a heat dome. Does the Master Builders' Association have rules of engagement on work sites to ensure that workers are properly hydrated and allowed to take periodic breaks? Do the inspectors at the Occupational Safety and Health Department in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, monitor these sites to ensure that heat health is preserved?

We go further and ask whether, amid the current construction boom in Jamaica, builders are designing homes that are easier to keep cool. This is one way of building resilience to this extreme heat challenge we face.

HEAT EXHAUSTION

Being a largely agricultural economy, farmers and labourers toil in the fields at risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration. Who is making them aware of the lurking public health risks they face and how they can mitigate against them?

Heatwaves are expected to be more intense, increase in frequency, and last longer in the years ahead. We live in the tropics but heatwave planning cannot be shoved aside. Should we be looking to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management to set guidelines for preserving life and property during a heatwave in the same way it prepares the nation for other disasters?

The year 2022 was declared the hottest year in 122 years. Then came 2023 and heat records are tumbling again. The adverse effects of hot weather and heatwaves can be planned for. However, it requires action at all levels, including timely healthcare advisories. We ignore heat-health planning at our peril.

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