KUALA LUMPUR – The Health Ministry (MoH) has advised schools located in areas where temperatures range between 35 and 37°C to suspend all outdoor activities.
This comes after the recent announcement by the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) and the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry regarding a heatwave in certain regions, with some areas reaching Level 1 hot weather conditions where daily temperatures up to 37°C.
MoH director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan also advised schools in the Level 1 locations to activate the Education Ministry’s contingency plans if the temperature breaches a heatwave.
Among the contingency plans suggested are the Action Plan to Cope with Heat Wave 2016, the Health Risk Management Action Plan due to Heat Wave 2021, and the guidelines for the closure of educational institutions under the Education Ministry during hot weather, issued on April 18 last year.
“Prolonged exposure to extremely hot weather is harmful to high-risk groups, especially children, the elderly, those with chronic diseases, and school students due to (their) physiologic factors and lack of water intake.
“We (the ministry) advised parents to ensure their kids consume adequate water intake, especially those who fast in Ramadan. Please make sure to consume enough water during suhoor and iftar.
“Please (also) be mindful of your hydration’s level and your children’s health at all times,” he said in a statement today.
He said MetMalaysia noted that Perlis has been experiencing heat waves with a daily temperature of 37 to 40°C since March 19.
Meanwhile some parts of Kedah, including Langkawi and Kota Setar, are also considered Level 1.
He also said that three districts in Perak, namely Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, and Kinta, are also under the Level 1 heatwave category.
Radzi said MetMalaysia has also predicted that some states in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah will experience hot and humid weather with temperatures above 35°C until April. – March 23, 2024