The past few days have seen searing heat hit the Maltese islands, so much so, that the Department of Health issued a warning for people to drink a lot of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.
Yet, the public seems to sometimes ignore these warnings, taking that attitude that we are used to the heat and can cope with it without taking precautions.
Well, this may not be the case. It is becoming quite obvious that climate patterns, even in Malta, are changing. The heat is becoming much more oppressive and the sun’s UV rays ever stronger.
Some people do not seem to want to heed the warnings. Perhaps the public should take heed of the example set by public works employees who can regularly be seen working with wide brimmed hats and applying sun protection to fend off the harmful rays of the sun.
Older people and young children are particularly at risk.
But while the Health Department warns us to keep out of the sun at peak times, to keep hydrated and to remain as least active at possible, many people simply do as they please. Some even jog during the searing heat of the early afternoon which is sheer madness.
One is not suggesting that the whole country should come to a stop in the afternoon. That is not possible. But we are being given guidelines for our own well being, but people seem not to care.
Perhaps the government should embark on an educational campaign – some television spots, talks in schools and a few more leaflets would definitely create more awareness.
One also wonders whether people are taking in the recommended daily quota of water. In summer the body sweats and loses much of its moisture through evaporation which is exactly why we need to take more water on board.
People should also try to avoid driving in peak times as this is also quite dangerous. Temperature levels in cars can reach extreme highs in the heat of the afternoon and people should pay attention to make sure that they do not leave children, older people or even pets inside as it can be quite dangerous, if not fatal.
In fact, earlier this summer in an interview with this newspaper, Civil Protection Department Chief Peter Cordina had said the same thing. He warned that people should not do this as it could lead to heat stroke.
Which brings us to the final and most important aspect – sunbathing. We have been warned time and time again to not underestimate the power of the sun rays and their capacity to cause serious harm. There is an incidence of melanoma in Malta and it can affect anyone, even those who are dark skinned. Yet people still sit or lie outside in the sun all afternoon, all in the name of getting a suntan.
This is extremely dangerous. People should always, no matter what their skin tone, use a reasonably high factor sun block. Applying sun block is also not simply a case of putting it on once when one arrives at the beach.
It should be constantly reapplied throughout the day, especially after swimming, even if the material being used is supposedly waterproof. It still comes off.
Sunscreen should not only be used at the beach, but also as part of a daily routine. Again, it should be used while one is driving as the rays coming into the car are sometimes amplified through reflections off the road surface or through the windscreen.
The sun is a beautiful thing, but just as much as it creates life, it can also take it away. People need to ask the question – is a suntan more important than their life?