The Very Hot Weather Warning is now in force. Under the influence of prolonged heat, members of the public should stay on the alert to prevent heat stroke or other discomforts related to very hot weather and pay due attention to health conditions. If symptoms such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion develop, take rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible. Elderly persons, pregnant women, infants and children, those with chronic illnesses, such as heart disease or high blood pressure, as well as the obese are more vulnerable to heat stroke. Watch out for any symptoms of heat stroke. When engaged in work under hot weather or high-temperature environments, please refer to the Guidance Notes on Prevention of Heat Stroke at Work of the Labour Department and take necessary precautions. When engaged in outdoor activities, drink more water and avoid over exertion. If not feeling well, take a rest in the shade or cooler place as soon as possible. Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon. During indoor activities, replenish water timely. If there is no air-conditioning, then windows should be kept open and fans be used as far as possible to maintain adequate indoor ventilation. Public facilities with heat sheltering may also be used. Avoid prolonged exposure under sunlight. Light-coloured and air-permeable clothing, a wide-brimmed hat that covers the back of your neck and ultraviolet (UV) blocking sunglasses can reduce the chance of sunburn by solar UV radiation. Choose a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen product with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 30 or higher when doing outdoor activities and apply liberally; reapply every two hours if you need to stay outdoors for a prolonged period, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off. Beware of health and wellbeing of elderly or persons with chronic medical conditions. If you know of them, call or visit them occasionally and check whether their household ventilation and air-conditioning devices function properly. Those more vulnerable to heat stroke should avoid outdoor activities and stay away from hot environment as far as possible. Stay in cool, well-ventilated or air-conditioned places. Dispatched by Hong Kong Observatory at 06:45 HKT on 22.05.2025
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