The Department of Health (DOH) clarified what is spreading that “must be avoided” whenever the weather is too hot — some of them, they say, has no basis.
There is misinformation that people’s veins “explode” when they drink cold water whenever the temperature is 40°C. That’s apart from the saying, “you have to wait 30 minutes” before wetting the part of the body exposed to the sun.
“‘Yung ‘bawal ‘na maligo o bawal dampian ng tubig for about 30 minutes, that’s not true. Ang ginagawa nga ho natin… kinu-cool down natin ang kanyang katawan and ang most effective po diyaan ay mabigyan natin ng shower ‘yung pasyente,” said DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire.
“Basta conscious siya, kaya niya tumayo… Mabuhusan man lang siya ng tubig just so the body of the patient can cool down.”
This was Vergeire’s explanation a few days after the start of the summer or “hot dry season” that will bring higher temperatures until May.
PAGASA recently announced the possibility of an El Niño in July that could last until 2024. This refers to the increased possibility of “below-normal” rainfall conditions.
DOH clarifies tips on how to beat the heat in PH
“Ito pong mga haka-haka na sinasabi ‘bawal’ nating painumin ng malamig na malamig na tubig ang isang taong nagsu-suffer ng ganitong kondisyon, it will depend on the status of the patient,” added Vergeire.
“If the patient is unconscious o wala pong malay, ‘wag nating papainumin ng tubig. Pero kung conscious naman po siya, maaari po nating painumin ng malamig na tubig. Paunti-unti nga lamang.”
“Physiologically, as a doctor, kapag tayo ay biglang umiinom ng malamig na tubig kapag galing tayo sa init, nagkakaroon po tayo ng changes doon sa ating blood vessels. And sometimes, this could cause headaches to the individuals.”
She said one should avoid drinking water to a person who passed out due to the heat because he could vomit, which could end up with the water entering the lungs.
Although there are many reported cases of “heat stroke” right now, the DOH official explained that there are more levels: “heat stress” and “heat stroke.”
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