Beat the heat: How to stay safe as Karachi swelters

Note: venting on Twitter will not help

KARACHI: As the port city has been hit by a heatwave, residents are advised to take precautions to avoid heatstroke while venturing outdoors.

The health department issued a red alert for both Thursday and today (Friday) after the Pakistan Metrological Department’s warning for the Karachi division. The temperature in the metropolis soared to 44˚ Celsius on Thursday and the Met department has forecast that the heatwave will continue today, with temperatures reaching 42˚C.



Here's how you can take care of yourself in this scorching heat.

• Slow down and avoid strenuous activity which will stimulate your body and rise its core temperature


• When temperature is high always wear appropriate footwear. Hot asphalt can damage your feet and increase body temperature


• Never leave children in a parked car, even with windows rolled down. The car will become a hot furnace in no time and lead to total heat strokes


• Use chrysanthemum tea. Practitioners say chrysanthemum tea is a cooling herb which clears the head


• Eat small meals but often


• Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat


• Run cold water over your wrist for five seconds every now and then. It will help cool the blood in the main vein


• Sleep on a feather or down pillow with a cotton pillowcase, synthetic pillow retains heat


• Replace your usual body moisturiser with cooling aloe-vera after sun products

These precautions are especially for those who think venting on Twitter will eradicate global warming.

During this heatwave, please remember to dress for the body you have, not the body you want😂😭

— Smol'nt (@Wottbruh) May 4, 2018

https://twitter.com/Usamiii99/status/992035379271360515

One has to make a helmet of watermelon 🍉 like "Nadan Nadia" to put it on the head during this hot weather in #Karachi 😑 #HeatStroke #HeatWave

— 𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒅 - ᴇxᴛᴇʀɪᴏʀ ᴍɪɴɪꜱᴛᴇʀ 🗿 (@masood_619_) May 3, 2018

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