Managing Heat Stress in Singapore: Singapore launches heat stress prevention guide
Error loading player: No playable sources found

Soaring temperatures in Singapore has left its residents vulnerable to the effects of heat stress. The tropical nation has just logged its warmest decade on record. Authorities have responded by launching a set of guidelines to help residents minimize the risk of heat stress. CGTN's Miro Lu reports. 

In May this year, Singapore experienced its highest temperature in four decades. Experts are now warning that temperatures in the island nation will remain high and might even increase over the next six to 12 months.

PROF. BENJAMIN HORTON, Director of Earth Observatory of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University "It is located around the equator, so it has hot temperatures all year round, it's influenced by natural climate variability such as El Nino which can cause spikes in the temperature Because of the urban heat island effect, because of the greenhouse gases, means Singapore's average annual temperature is now three to four degrees C warmer than when the country began."

To help its residents manage their health and reduce the risk of heat-related illness, Singapore has released a national heat stress advisory.

It follows three levels of risk – Low, Moderate, and High. And aims to provide simple tips to the public so that they can adapt their routines, take precautions, and dress suitably based on the weather.

ASSOCIATE PROF. JASON LEE, Director of Heat Resilience & Performance Centre, National University of Singapore "I think this is step number one to create awareness so that at least I know okay I have an elderly parent who is living alone, when the weather is hot with this advisory, I better give him or her a call to check whether he or she is doing well. I think that itself could potentially save lives."

The advisory is based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature or WBGT, an internationally recognized measure that factors in air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation.

The Meteorological Service of Singapore however warns that while the WBGT considers environmental factors, personal health, activity levels, and job conditions are just as crucial. They strongly urge the public to watch out for signs of heat stress like headaches, nausea, dizziness, irritability, and confusion.

ASSOCIATE PROF. JASON LEE, Director of Heat Resilience & Performance Centre, National University of Singapore "The three factors that determine a hot body are environment, attire and work. Which means even when the environment is mild, for whatever reason you put on layers of clothing because of let's say work requirements and for whatever reason you work exceptionally hard – you can incur heat injury."

Experts see the advisory as primarily a short term measure. In the long run, Singapore needs to focus on nature-based remedies to cool down the concrete jungle. And the city-state can in turn serve as a living urban lab for cooling solutions across the globe. Miro Lu, CGTN, Singapore.

`