3 Cagayan septuagenarians die of heatstroke

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – Three septuagenarians died of heatstroke in Cagayan last Saturday as the temperature in the country’s northernmost mainland province continued to go up. 

Reports identified the three as Trinidad Tecson, 73; Manuel Pascual, 72; and Felipe Catsili, 71, all of Lapogan village in central Gattaran town, about an hour’s drive from Tuguegarao City, the provincial capital and regional center. 

The three septuagenarians, the reports said, experienced shortness of breath and chest pains due to the extreme heat.

The temperature in Tuguegarao City and surrounding towns at the time of their deaths hovered between 25 and 38 degrees Celsius.

The hottest temperature in the country – 42.2 degrees Celsius – was recorded in Tuguegarao in 1962.

Last month, the temperature in the city reached 39 degrees Celsius, the highest so far in the country this year. 

Health authorities have advised residents to avoid too much exposure to sunlight from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., during which the temperature is usually at its peak.

This is so to avoid heat-generated illnesses that may lead to complications such as hypertension, heart ailment, respiratory problems and asthma.    

To prevent heatstroke, which is defined as a body temperature of greater than 40.6 degrees Celsius, experts advise one to drink plenty of liquids to complement fluids lost from extreme sweating.

The risk of heatstroke can also be reduced by using light, loose clothing to allow perspiration to evaporate and cool the body, and wide-brimmed hats in light colors to keep the sun from warming the head and neck as well as prevent radiation from hurting the eyes.