KUALA LUMPUR: Outdoor school activities in areas hit by a Level 1 heatwave should be temporarily suspended, the Health Ministry advised.
Level 1 refers to the daily maximum temperatures of 35 to 37 degrees celsius for at least three consecutive days.
Health director-general Datuk Dr Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan advised parents to ensure their children remain hydrated by consuming sufficient water.
"For those who are fasting, make sure to drink enough water during sahur (pre-dawn meal) and break of fast.
"Monitor the children's hydration level and health during the fasting period," he said in a statement.
He said prolonged exposure to the hot weather could affect health, especially in high-risk groups such as children, senior citizens and individuals with chronic illnesses.
He said school students were among those exposed to health problems following exposure to the heatwave, due to physiological factors and lack of water intake.
He said the Education Ministry could take further action if the weather changes to heatwave status as stated in the Action Plan to Address The Heatwave 2016, Health Risk Management Action Plan 2021 issued by the Health Ministry and Guidelines to Education Institution Closure during Hot Weather issued on April 18, 2023.
Visit websites https://www.met.gov.my/iklim/status-cuaca- panas/ to get the latest updates on the weather and http://www.myhealth.gov.my/cuacapanas-a-kesihatan to learn about preventive measures against health complications caused by hot weather.