Despite afternoon thunderstorms in the summer, people should not neglect the risk of heat injuries, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said yesterday, adding that Ministry of Health and Welfare data showed that there have been 510 hospital visits for heat injuries this year, as of Thursday, nearly twice the number of visits in the same period last year.
The Central Weather Bureau (CWB) issued an “orange” heat alert yesterday — forecasting highs of at least 36°C for three or more consecutive days — for Taipei and a “yellow” alert — forecasting a daily maximum of 36°C or higher — for Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Hualien, Taitung and Tainan counties, and as well as Kaohsiung.
A 75-year-old farmer in Nantou County’s Caotun Township (草屯) was found unconscious, with no heartbeat and not breathing near his vegetable garden on Sunday last week by his family. He was pronounced dead from heat exhaustion after being rushed to an emergency room, the HPA said.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
Common heat injuries include heat stroke and exhaustion. The former, which if left untreated or if treatment is delayed could lead to organ failure or even death, has a mortality rate of more than 30 percent.
HPA Community Health Division head Lo Su-ying (羅素英) said that heat injuries can be prevented, and data show that men account for more than 70 percent of cases, as women usually pay more attention to sun protection.
Lo urged people to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities, work or exercise in high heat, and to use sun protection and drink plenty of water when going outdoors.
Keeping good indoor ventilation is also crucial, as hot, humid and stuffy indoors could also cause heat injuries, Lo said, adding that elderly people, children, people with underlying health conditions or do outdoor activities have a higher risk of heat injuries.
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