Visakhapatnam: Over the last few days, quite a number of social media users have been waking up to being bombarded by messages about a sweeping heat wave as well as potential sunstroke deaths manifested by an ‘equinox phenomenon’ from March 22 to 28.
The messages warn the recipients to frequently take their blood pressure and drink at least three litres of fluids a day. They also wish them ‘Happy Hydrating Days’. The messages explain how the social media users can prevent heat strokes. According to experts, the messages are exaggerated. They add that the equinox is a normal weather transition that happens twice a year. They say that the equinox doesn’t bring on a heat wave or sunstrokes despite a slight increase in the temperature.
Here is one of the versions floating around social media platforms: “Dear all, due to the equinox phenomenon that will occur in the next 5 days, please stay Indoors, especially from 12pm-3pm daily. The temperature will fluctuate till 40 degrees Celsius. This can easily cause dehydration and sun stroke. Everyone should be consuming about 3 litres of fluids every day. Monitor everyone's blood pressure as frequently as possible. Many may get heat stroke. Cold showers are recommended as frequently as possible. Reduce meat, increase fruits and veg. Place a new, unused candle outside home area or exposed area. If candle melts, it’s at a dangerous level. Heat stroke has no indicative symptoms.
Heat wave is no joke! Once you have fainted, it’s seriously dangerous as organ failure may kick in. Always check lips, eye balls for moisture.” Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Karanam Ramachandra Rao, Director, Cyclone Warning Centre, Visakhapatnam, informed that the equinox is a general event that happens twice in a year. “Thee are two equinoxes every year — in March and September — when the Sun is directly above the Equator and the length of night and day are nearly equal. “Social media users are posting without checking the credibility of the messages,” Mr. Rao concluded.
