Cool ideas for hotter days

The Star

2 days ago

Staying hydrated: Workers drinking water at a site in Gombak, Selangor. With the hot season, they need to drink more. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
M'sians get creative in handling the heat and staying well
PETALING JAYA: With hotter days ahead, Malaysians are getting creative in handling the rising temperature.
While some are ducking into malls or air-conditioned areas and others are slowing down on their road trips, one delivery rider has found a new vocation – selling air-conditioners.
Adam, 33, said he had been receiving inquiries from potential customers wanting to buy air-conditioners.
'So far, I am able to focus more on selling air-conditioners becau­se there have been more people interested in installing them.
'People want air-conditioners that are also friendly on the electricity bill, so typically I offer the types of air-conditioners and their horsepower capabilities based on the size of their homes,' he added.
Fellow delivery rider, Iqbal Ishak, 28, is taking shelter at local mosques or malls to avoid being exposed outdoors for too long or risking heat stroke.
'It has been scorching hot lately, so the usual places I wait for orders – like near stalls or parking lots – are not suitable.
'Nowadays, I go to the mosque or surau, which are air-conditio­ned during or bet­ween prayer times.
'During peak hours, I wait in malls or shops that have high order volumes. The restaurants give us water to stay hydrated when delivering orders,' he said.
While Iqbal has no intention of slowing down despite the heat, another delivery rider based in Subang, Harris M, 23, said he may take fewer orders now.
'This is a part-time job for me as I am a student. It is harder to find shade during peak hours such as lunchtime, and we have to wear proper attire when deli­vering orders and that's when the day is hottest.
'Right now, I just need to ensure I do not get heat stroke,' he said, adding that he also brings a bottle of water and essential supplements on his rounds.
On Monday, the Malaysian Meteo­ro­lo­gi­cal Department (Met­Malaysia) issued a statement indicating that six areas in Peninsular Malaysia are now at Level 1 (alert) for three consecutive days due to ongoing hot weather.
The affected areas include Larut and Matang, Kuala Kangsar and Perak Tengah in Perak, Machang and Kuala Krai in Kelan­tan, and Bandar Baharu in Kedah.
Checks on the MetMalaysia web­site also showed that the Klang Valley would either experience no rain in the next few days or get isolated rain or thunderstorms in certain parts.
While air-conditioners are hot items now, Sirim Bhd's president and group chief executive officer Datuk Indera Dr Ahmad Sabirin Arshad has issued a reminder for people to use them cautiously.
In a Facebook posting, he explained that constant exposure to cold air can strip moisture from the skin and respiratory tract, and speed up the evaporation of sweat even when the body is at rest.
'During warmer days, people tend to sleep with the air-conditioner on. Some even sleep with both the fan and air-­conditioner running throughout the night.
'However, this can lead to dehy­dration without one realising it.
'We may wake up feeling tired, dizzy, with a dry mouth or a headache – all of which are early signs of dehydration. If left unchecked, dehydration can impair kidney function, reduce concentration and weaken the immune system.
'It is important to ensure that the ­bedroom temperature is not too low, make it a habit to drink enough water before bed and consider using a humidifier to ­maintain moisture in the air,' he wrote.