JOHANNESBURG – A heatwave warning has been issued by the South African Weather Service for parts of Gauteng, North West province, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Temperatures are projected to be over 30 degree Celsius over the weekend, with little chance of rain to relieve the heat.
William Ntladi, spokesperson of Ekurhuleni Emergency Services, stated: “In these weather conditions, people are advised to stay indoors if possible, keep cool by taking lots of fluids and wearing light clothing.
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“Parents are especially advised to keep an eye on their children and ensure that they are protected from the sun by wearing hats and applying sunscreen.”
Ekurhuleni Emergency Services issued some tips on how to survive the heat wave:
- Avoid direct sunlight by wearing a hat and use sunscreen.
- Don’t leave children or pets in parked locked vehicles.
- Stay in shade/under shaded trees.
- Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration.
- Take frequent breaks if you are working outdoors.
- Avoid strenuous activities.
- Avoid alcoholic, caffeinated or carbonated drinks.
Parents are advised to follow some safety guidelines around the pool:
- Install a four-sided fence around swimming-pool.
- The fencing around the swimming pool must be high enough to keep children from climbing over it and it must have a self-closing or self-latching gate that is above the reach of children.
- There should not be anything near to the pool that would allow children to climb up over the fence to access the pool.
- Pool covers, door alarms, and pool alarms are not a substitute for a fence.
- Swimming pools should be covered with a pool-net whenever not in use.
- Keep toys away the swimming pool and its surrounding area when not being used.
- Air filled or floating devices are not substitution to life jackets. They are not meant to be used as safety devices.
