Jakarta residents urged to be cautious of hot weather and dehydration

Jakarta — The Jakarta Provincial Government has urged residents to be cautious of hot weather in order to avoid dehydration over the coming days to anticipate health impacts from exposure to high temperatures in recent days.

“The Meteorological and Geophysics Agency predicts that the weather will be quite hot over the next one, two, three days, including today,” Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung told journalists at Pure Segera in North Jakarta on Sunday.

Pramono urged residents not to worry by preparing preventative measures, including the use of healthcare facilities operated by the Jakarta Health Service.

“So, residents in Jakarta need not be concerned,” he said.

Separately contacted, Jakarta Health Service Head Ani Ruspitawati explained that hot weather can affect health through conditions such as fluid deficiency (dehydration), fatigue (heat exhaustion), and heat stroke.

Vulnerable groups including outdoor workers, children, pregnant women and elderly people face heightened risk of health impacts from hot weather.

For general preventative measures, she advised consuming plain water and avoiding foods with high salt content such as coffee and tea.

Residents are also urged to use hats and umbrellas when outdoors and to limit strenuous physical activity outdoors during daytime hours, particularly for vulnerable groups.

When indoors, air conditioning or fans should be used to maintain room temperature.