By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
The ongoing heatwave gripping the country is no longer a routine weather phenomenon, but has become a serious public health threat, with 56 heat-related cases recorded, including two deaths due to heatstroke, since the beginning of the year.
More tragically, one of the fatalities involved a two-year-old child who was left inside a vehicle, while another involved a 42-year-old man who collapsed after participating in a marathon in Penang.
Both incidents occurred while the weather was under Heat Alert Level 1, underscoring that heatstroke can still occur even without extreme weather conditions.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said most cases involved heat exhaustion, exertional heatstroke, and heat cramps. More concerning, 58 per cent of cases were linked to physical activity in hot weather, including sports, training sessions and outdoor heavy labour.
This reflects a worrying trend where many still underestimate the risks of heat exposure, despite the human body having limits in regulating temperature when exposed for prolonged periods without adequate rest and hydration.
Heatstroke is not confined to strenuous sports activities alone; it can also occur in everyday situations, such as leaving a child inside a vehicle even for a short period. Such incidents must serve as a serious lesson to all.
As such, preventive measures must not be taken lightly. The public is advised to reduce outdoor physical activities, increase water intake, wear appropriate clothing, and take frequent breaks in shaded areas. High-risk groups such as children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses require extra attention.
Employers, schools and relevant agencies must also take greater responsibility in planning outdoor activities to avoid exposing individuals to excessive heat risks.
While hot weather may be unavoidable, loss of life due to negligence is preventable.
There must be no waiting for further tragedies before heat warnings are taken seriously and acted upon decisively.
