Heatwave Health Threat Warning

A new study by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) warns that a heatwave in South Africa poses a serious health threat to residents.

According to the research, infants, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and those who are on chronic medications are the most vulnerable to death as a result of exposure to extreme heat.

The study also found that the majority of studies on the relationship between extreme heat exposure and morbidity and mortality have been carried out in high-income countries. This highlights a lack of knowledge about the effects of heatwaves on health outcomes among different sub-groups in low and middle-income countries.

Residents of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have been urged to prepare for temperatures as high as 39 degrees Celsius this week. To help prevent heat-related illnesses, experts recommend drinking water regularly, cooling arms and feet in a basin of water, using shade when outdoors, and wearing a hat. Outdoor workers should wear cool clothing and hats, and drink plenty of water to keep hydrated.

The SAMRC also found that most people perceived their homes to be too hot when temperatures were high outdoors, and relied on recommended heat-health actions such as sitting outdoors in the shade or opening windows to try and keep cool.

The study concludes that preparedness and resilience are key as South African temperatures are expected to become warmer than the projected global average, and that an all-encompassing approach, including education campaigns, climate-proofed housing, access to basic services, and financial considerations that will help support resilient coping among South Africans is urgently required.