Materia Medica Malaysiana

Drink More Water And Stay Indoors During Equinox

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (Bernama) -- Drink more water and stay indoors during the hot spell, especially during Monday's equinox.
This is the advice of Disease Control Department director Dr Ramlee Rahmat.
"Firstly, people should avoid hot areas. If they feel hot, they should consume more fluids. If there is a need, people can take a bath to cool down their body.
"If possible, stay indoors during the hot spell. Good ventilation is also important to keep the body cool," he told Bernama Friday.
The spring equinox on Monday, when the sun is directly over the Equator, might result in excessive heat causing blackout of vision, nausea or heatstroke, but Dr Ramlee said only those exposed to heat continuously for a long period of time would experience such symptoms.
He said those who experienced such symptoms should be given ample ventilation and should be admitted to hospitals to avoid further complications such as oxygen-deprivation which might lead to damaged organs.
The spring equinox falls around March 21 and the autumnal equinox around Sept 23, the dates varying during leap years.
Meteorological Services Department Director-General Chow Kok Kee was quoted by the media Friday as saying that Malaysia would not experience any significant temperature change during the equinox as the country is already located near the Equator.
However, the weather in the country had been hot and dry in recent weeks.