Everson Luhanga
The South African weather services have issued an extreme heat weather warning across the City of Johannesburg for the coming week.
Right up until the weekend, temperatures will peak in the high 30s, with Pretoria hitting highs of 38°C on Tuesday.
Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesperson Robert Mulaudzi said exposure to this kind of heat can easily lead to heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.
The South African Weather Services said Johannesburg will reach 36°C on Tuesday, with Vereeniging hitting 36°C.
The hot, dry and windy weather also presents the threat of veld fires and people are discouraged from dumping their burning cigarette butts in dry grass or leaving open fires unmonitored.
Johannesburg Emergency Services urged residents to follow some tips below:
- Keep indoors whenever possible
- Protect young children by making sure that they are wearing hats and sunscreen
- Stay away from direct sunlight, especially between 11h00 in the morning and 15 h00 in the afternoon
- Cool yourself in your local municipal swimming pools with supervising lifeguards to avoid drowning incidents
- Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration
- Take frequent breaks if you are working outdoors
- Avoid alcoholic, caffeinated or carbonated drinks
- Wear light, bright coloured clothes
