Singapore parents act to protect children's health amid scorching heat wave

SINGAPORE — Parents in Singapore are expressing concerns about the scorching heat wave affecting their children.

This comes after the city-state experienced a record-breaking heatwave on Saturday (13 May), with temperatures reaching 37.0 deg C. The National Environment Agency (NEA) reported that this temperature equalled a 40-year record for the highest daily maximum temperature.

Some parents said that the high temperatures have disrupted their children's daily routines and taken a toll on their health.

Eve Tan, a mother of two, shared her worries about her 13-year-old son who developed rashes on his back due to the relentless heat.

"We brought him to the doctor, and he said it's heat rash, but it might go away," she said.

Tan's son is involved in football co-curricular activities, which require him to spend significant time outdoors. She noticed that the heat was taking a toll on all the student-footballers.

"(My son) is all out in the heat most of the time. The coaches do allow the footballers to take frequent breaks but you will see that they are all like flushing," she said.

In response to the soaring temperatures, some secondary schools in Singapore have implemented changes to alleviate discomfort experienced by students.

Tan mentioned that a circular was issued from her son's secondary school to parents, explaining that students would be allowed to wear school T-shirts instead of full uniforms.

Education Ministry prioritising safety and well-being for all students and staff

The Ministry of Education (MOE) recognises the challenges posed by the heat and has taken steps to address concerns.

In a statement to Yahoo Southeast Asia last Wednesday (10 May), MOE stated, "Schools, with guidelines from MOE, have measures in place to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff when faced with higher temperature conditions in Singapore."

These measures include encouraging students to stay hydrated before, during, and after physical activities to prevent and alleviate exercise-induced heat strain.

Additionally, schools aim to minimise outdoor physical activities between 10.30 am and 3.30 pm, when the heat and ultraviolet levels are typically higher. Depending on the students' specific needs, schools may allow them to dress in PE attire or their school t-shirt to help them better manage the heat.

"MOE and schools will continue to monitor the heat situation and students and staff's well-being closely, especially those who may be more vulnerable to the effects of higher temperature conditions," the ministry added.

Combatting the heatwave with water-rich foods and soupy delights

Other parents have experienced the impact of the heat firsthand.

Esther Foong-Tan recounted how her 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter came home from school with headaches and pale faces, visibly affected by the warm weather. She immediately took action, providing them with cold fruit juice and have them take cooling showers.

Foong-Tan - who co-founded The Treasure Box Singapore, a company providing parenting resources and training - explained their adjustments to their daily routine.

"The week of warm weather coincided with the week of weighted assessments in school. Hence, my first priority was to ensure that my children do not fall ill," she said.

"We were mostly indoors on the weekdays, also because school work and revision were ongoing, and air-conditioned rooms were our hideout."

To further combat the heat, she altered her family's diet to include more water-rich foods and soupy meals.

She emphasised the importance of hydration, stating, "I think I was nagging the children quite a bit on drinking water. When they come back from school, I have them drink a glass of water right away. I also included more water-rich foods in our diet."

She added that fruits with high water content, such as watermelon, grapes, and oranges, became a staple, while heavy and heat-inducing foods like pasta and pizza were reduced.

More showers predicted for the upcoming fortnight

There might be respite amid the scorching temperatures in Singapore, as more rain is expected throughout the rest of May.

The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) and NEA said on Tuesday (16 May) that widespread thundery showers, accompanied by gusty winds from Sumatra squalls, will likely occur during the pre-dawn and morning hours on several days.

Singaporeans should nonetheless prepare for warm and humid nights due to prevailing winds.

MSS said: “The inter-monsoon conditions prevailing over Singapore and the surrounding region are expected to persist, with the low-level winds mostly light and variable in direction and blowing from the southeast or southwest on some days.”

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