DUE to extreme heat inside classrooms, 25 local government units in Pangasinan cancelled face-to-face classes and shifted to distance modular learning on April 8, 11 and 12, and possibly next week too in order to keep learners’ health protected.

With daily heat index of 41 to 44 degrees Celsius in Pangasinan and at one time 51 degrees celsius in Dagupan, town and city officials expressed alarm over the health and welfare of learners and their teachers.

The local governments that cancelled classes as of April 12 were Aguilar (all levels), Alcala (pre-school to high school), Basista (pre-school to high school), Bautista (all levels), Bayambang (all levels), Binmaley (all levels), Calasiao (all levels), Dagupan ( pre-school to senior high school- public schools only), Labrador (preschool to senior high school), Laoag (preschool to senior high school), Malasiqui (preschool to senior high school);

Manaoag (all levels), Mangaldan (preschool to senior high school), Mangatarem (all levels),  Mapandan (preschool to senior high school), Rosales (all levels), San Carlos City (all levels), San Fabian (all levels), San Jacinto (all levels), San Manuel (all levels), Sison (all levels), Urbiztondo (all levels), Urdaneta City (all levels) and Villasis (pre-school to senior high school).

Health authorities advised people to take shelter or else remain indoor when the heat of the sun is at its hottest from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

With no rain at any time last week, the heat wave was aggravated by the El Niño phenomenon that already dried up once free-flowing creeks and river, providing insufficient supply for water to the farms.

Heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are prevalent when heat indices are high which could be fatal to elderly people and people who are immuno compromised.

In Dagupan, City Health Officer Ophelia Rivera advised employees of the Dagupan City government to always drink not only eight glasses of water but more and to always bring with them a plastic bottle of water when they go out of their respective offices.

She said when a person is persistently sweating due to extreme heat, it is advisable for keep body wrapped with towel soaked in cold water to lower one’s body temperature. (Leonardo Micua)

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