Authorities issue alert as temperatures drop

The Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) expects the temperature to fall to 6 degrees Celsius and because of this change the Health Bureau (SSM) has issued a detailed warning to all citizens regarding the upcoming temperature drop.

The SMG explained in its warning yesterday evening that northerly winds in Macau will intensify and that temperatures will drop sharply, due to an intense winter monsoon that will reach the South China Coastal Areas today.
“It will rain and become very cold with the minimum temperature around 6 degrees Celsius early this week,” said the SMG’s statement.

The SSM added that the low temperatures “should maintain until the end of the week” and called for citizens to take precautions to safeguard against hypothermia. SSM noted that senior citizens and those suffering from chronic conditions will need to pay attention to their health.

Families and elderly care facilities have been advised to ensure that their elderly relatives and charges have adequate clothing.

Citing its own data, the bureau stated that the main victims of hypothermic conditions – classified by body temperature readings below 35 degrees Celsius – are males aged 65 and above who live mostly in isolation.

Other risk factors include chronic diseases, trauma, infection, alcohol, drugs or medical abuse, as well as prolonged contact with water or wet surfaces, the SSM said.

“Hypothermia can lead to complications, such as inhibition of the central nervous system, arrhythmia [and] renal failure that, in the most severe cases, [can] lead victims to a fatal crisis situation,” the SSM continued.

The SSM also called on residents to pay attention to the need for adequate ventilation and suitable temperatures of living areas and food – namely warm meals, soup and milk – and to maintain a degree of physical activity where possible.