The number of elderly Hongkongers taken to hospital has risen by 20 per cent within a week amid persistently high temperatures, a senior citizens’ charity has said.
The Senior Citizen Home Safety Association (SCHSA) and the Hong Kong Observatory held a joint press conference on Thursday to warn residents, and in particular older members of the public, of “extremely hot” weather expected this summer.
Temperatures soared to 34.4 degrees Celsius in Tsim Sha Tsui on Thursday, making it the hottest day of the year so far, as the Very Hot Weather Warning remained in force for a seventh consecutive day.
“During the recent persistently very hot weather, the SCHSA has seen a significant increase in the number of help requests from the elderly and recorded a surge of over 20 per cent in the number of elderly individuals being sent to hospitals within a week,” CEO Maura Wong said.
Elderly people are more vulnerable to the negative effects of high temperatures such as heatstroke, especially those living alone, in sub-standard living conditions, or without air conditioning.
“We urge the elderly and their families to remain vigilant in very hot weather to prevent heatstroke. If they feel unwell, they should immediately seek help through the ‘Care-on-Call’ service or seek medical advice,” Wong said.
“Given that extreme weather is becoming more frequent, we call on the public to proactively care for the elderly around them and remind the elderly to pay attention to the weather conditions and take precautionary measures.”
Under the influence of a subtropical ridge, high temperatures were expected to continue on Friday, perhaps reaching 35 degrees Celsius or above, the Observatory forecast on Thursday.
Cheng Yuen-chung, the Observatory’s acting assistant director, said: “Members of the public should pay attention to the changes in weather and take adequate protective measures against the heat.”
The city has already experienced its hottest April since the Hong Kong Observatory started keeping records in 1884, a phenomenon that was repeated across the globe. The government forecaster has predicted that 2024 could be one of Hong Kong’s hottest on record.
Climate experts have warned that extreme weather will become more frequent in Hong Kong, including higher temperatures, heavier rainfall and more frequent and intense typhoons. According to environmentalists, the city must implement more progressive and proactive environmental policies to address the climate crisis, including conserving the natural environment and speeding up the transition to green energy.
Recent analysis by Climate Central, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, and World Weather Attribution estimated that 6.3 billion people – about 78 per cent of the global population – experienced at least 31 days of atypical warmth over the past year. The study, published on May 28, noted that 76 extreme heatwaves occurred between May 15, 2023 and May 15, 2024 across 90 countries, threatening food and water security.
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