Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has extended the cancellation of face-to-face (F2F) classes from preschool to senior high in all public and private schools in Bacolod City to Thursday and Friday, May 2 and 3, because of the forecasted excessive heat.
Asynchronous classes/distance learning will instead be conducted because the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecasted heat index for Thursday and Friday is 43 degrees Celsius, the mayor’s spokesman Caesar Distrito said.
For private schools with air-conditioned classrooms, and those in the tertiary level, Benitez has left it to the discretion of the school administrators whether to suspend F2F classes, Distrito added.
The mayor is advising everyone to stay indoors and to always drink water, Distrito said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health in Western Visayas warned the public on Wednesday that temperatures from 33-41 degrees Celsius should be approached with “extreme caution”, while 42-51 degrees Celsius should be considered “dangerous”.
Prolonged exposure to extreme heat and the conduct of vigorous activities, may cause heavy sweating, dehydration, fatigue, warm flushed skin, fainting, dizziness, weakness, headaches, very high fever of 41 degrees Celsius, rapid heartbeat, convulsion and unconsciousness, which might cause death if left untreated, the DOH said.
Symptoms like those should never be ignored, once they are observed immediately move the affected person to a shady area and elevate the legs. If the patient is able to drink liquids, encourage the person to sip cool water, it added.
It is also recommended to remove the clothing, apply cold packs onto the skin, on the face, neck, wrists, ankles, and especially those covered areas such as the armpits, groin and provide proper ventilation, the DOH said.
It is also best to bring the patient to the nearest health facility for immediate medical management, it said.
The DOH reminded everyone to drink plenty of fluids, wear light and loose clothing, and use protective gear like hats, umbrellas, and sunblock.
Avoid strenuous physical activity most especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the DOH said.
“The public is also being warned of other health effects that this weather phenomenon brings including the increase in cases of skin, food and water-borne diseases and the exacerbation of pre-existing non-communicable diseases,” it added.
The DOH is urging Local Government Units, health facilities and the community to prepare for the dwindling or intermittent water supply, control water contamination in the facility and to use water efficiently. Anticipate the intermittent supply of electricity, and implement energy saving strategies, it said.*