Doing whatever one can to stay cool in this weather

PETALING JAYA: Amid soaring temperatures, cash-strapped youths are using all means possible to cope with the heat.

Over the past weekend, temperatures in the Klang Valley averaged around 34 to 36 degrees Celsius.

While some are opting to stay indoors, others are seeking out alternative ways to cool off, including taking long car rides or visiting air-conditioned public premises.

Batrisyia Iskandar, 26, said the hot weather saw her going on frequent car rides with no specific destination just to enjoy the vehicle’s air-conditioning.

“It is extremely hot during the afternoons and due to this, I just drive out randomly to grab an ice cream or visit a nearby mall.”

She said she and her two siblings, who share a room, sleep with the air-conditioning on due to the heat.

“I now share a room with my two siblings to reduce electricity usage because we need the air-conditioning as it gets too hot, but at the same time, I do not want the electricity bill to skyrocket,” she said.

Wan Emir Zafir, 21, said outdoor activities and plans with friends and family had either been cancelled or postponed because of the extremely hot weather.

“I mainly stay indoors now to keep away from the sun and bring my own portable fan wherever I go,” said the internet and communication technology student.

Nixon Lee, 25, said the recent heatwave had become so unbearable that one could not just casually walk around without some form of shade, such as an umbrella.

“I’ve been trying to stay indoors more. But when I do have to go out, I make sure to bring along enough water to keep myself hydrated and an umbrella,” said the final-year bachelor’s degree student.

He added the government should encourage more people to carpool to reduce the number of cars on the road and clamp down harder on open burning, as both increase carbon emissions, which would subsequently cause temperatures to rise.

Varsity athlete Norfatiehah Ariesha Mohd Shahriman, who is currently training for the upcoming Sukan Institusi Pengajian Tinggi (Sukipt) 2022, takes more than four showers a day to cope with the heat.

“Honestly, I shower a minimum of four times daily, and fortunately the heat on-campus, where I train now, is bearable because there are a lot of trees,” she said.

Norfatiehah Ariesha added that she also had to double the amount of her regular water intake during training due to the extreme heat.

“Since it is the semester break now, I spend most of the afternoons in my room but have had to seek refuge in the air-conditioned library the last two weeks before the semester ended as it was far too hot to be outside,” she said.