• Society

Health Ministry Warns Against Hot Weather

• By Te Chhaysinh
• April 10, 2023 7:11 PM

PHNOM PENH – Health Minister Mam Bunheng has advised all citizens to take care of their health in the coming days: As people prepare to travel for the Khmer New Year, temperatures are reaching their highest levels of the year.

In a press release published on April 10, the ministry warned about the consequences of hot temperatures on the human body, citing data from the World Health Organization stating that at least 15,000 people died because of the extreme heat in Europe in 2022.

In another study, published by the Lancet, 356,000 people died due to extreme heat in nine countries in 2019.

“As a result of climate change which causes unpredictable weather around the world, Cambodia is affected by hot weather, which can easily harm people's health, cause them to become ill, or even cause them to die,” the statement read.

Health Minister Mam Bunheng told citizens to protect themselves and their families from the extreme heat.

He advised people to drink more than two liters of clean water daily, consume good food to prevent diarrhea, wear sun-protective clothing as well as a hat or an umbrella, and apply sunscreen to avoid sunburns.

Moreover, he advised people to avoid drinking beverages that dehydrate the body such as alcoholic drinks, tea, coffee, and beverages containing caffeine and sugar.

People should also reduce their intake of foods containing high levels of sugar, salt, protein, and fat. Instead, they should increase their consumption of fiber and water-rich foodstuffs, he added in the statement.

In his three-page-long document, the minister stressed that people should not spend too much time under direct heat, and should avoid taking a cold shower immediately after being exposed to heat as it “drastically lowers the temperature and poses a risk, especially to children and the elderly.”

“As for people at risk, such as the elderly who are 65 years old or older, patients, children who are 5 years old or younger, people with multiple diseases, and people with mental breakdowns, they should be checked at least twice a day during hot weather,” the statement added with no further clarification.

People with symptoms suggesting that they suffer from extreme heat, such as dizziness, nausea or vomiting, headache, or muscle cramps, should find a resting place and take a 2 to 5-minute break, and drink cold water slowly.

Khmer New Year will be celebrated from April 14 to 16. It is the time of the year when Cambodia experiences the hottest temperatures of the year, with thermometers being close to 40 degrees Celsius in the daytime.