Belizeans look for ways to beat the heat
The lifeless body of B.D.F. recruit Rafael Pop tonight remains connected to a respirator machine, but it is expected that the family will soon consent to its removal. Pop collapsed on Friday afternoon during a training run in Ladyville and his demise has raised concerns about the sometimes harsh treatment endured by incoming members of the Belize Defence Force. The incident has also prompted members of the public and the medical community to take a close look at how we deal with the heat. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods reports.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Studies conducted in the United States reveal that four hundred people in that country die each year due to heat related illnesses. In Belize, the phenomenon has just gained national attention following the plight of B.D.F. Recruit, Rafael Pop.
Today, most of the country experienced temperatures in the nineties. However it did not feel so hot, thanks to a southeasterly breeze that should last for three days. But we all know the hot weather can be unbearable, so what do persons, who must work outside all day, do to help cool down?
Ian McField, Athlete
“Well basically you just drink a lot of water and that will keep you fresh if you don’t have A.C.; cold water.”
Gilbert Saunders, Car Park Attendant
“You could drink a lot of lime juices and thing and just go with it. Because my position here, I noh have no way to dodge from the heat, I just have to go with it until sunset.”
Rendolph Audinett, Taxi Operator
“What we do is keep on the A.C. and drink a lot of water to stay cool.”
Valetta Myvette, Traffic Officer
“We just basically deal with it and we may be out here, but we do not always stay in the hot sun.”
Jacqueline Woods
“You need to take some breaks?”
Valetta Myvette
“Like two minutes, we stand in the shade, but in the opening where people can see us.”
Jacqueline Woods
“And do you drink a lot of liquids as well?”
Valetta Myvette
“Well you have to drink a good amount of water so you could stand up; you can’t get dehydrated and drop down.”
Rafael Pop is the first Belizean soldier to be so critically injured while on physical training under hot conditions. However, former Belize Defence Force Captain, Bernard Adolphus remembers when a British soldier lost his life due to another heat related illness.
Bernard Adolphus, Former Captain, B.D.F.
“We use to exercise midday, sometime in the morning sometime in the afternoon. And we use to do jungle workout also, jungle training, and when I heard the news, yes it is sad that a soldier died, but I can recall in ’79 we had two Belizeans, myself and a fellow named Pierce and we went to the jungle to do a severe training for two months, and a British soldier died from heat exhaustion. A simple exercise like climbing a hill and the man died because of heat exhaustion. I can recall that quite vividly.”
Construction workers are one group of people susceptible to heat injuries. The men working on this four story building say the weather has been difficult, but they do what they can to deal with the climate.
Enfield Martinez, Subcontractor, Caribbean Engineering
“It’s kind of rough, they are not use to it. We stay have to go buy ice, I would say almost everyday we are buying ice, every Christ day.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Do you take breaks during the day?”
Enfield Martinez
“We get two breaks, we get quarter past ten and between twelve and one, and still there are times that the guys they have to hide a next fifteen, twenty minutes from us you know. But it’s really rough, this heat has to go.”
Physician Specialist, Doctor Daniel Godinez says many times we go throughout the day without realizing we are getting dehydrated and may experience conditions that can affect us after we have spent a prolonged time in the sun.
Dr. Daniel Godinez, Physician Specialist
“You can have something as simple as swelling in your hands or your feet due to the heat, or you can have patients who fainting because of the heat, or this situation that we call heat exhaustion, which includes things like headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and a high temperature. And as I said going to the severe problem called heat stroke… Usually heatstroke affects the brain, can cause swelling in the brain, coma, epilepsy and even death.”
Once we feel hot, it’s easy for us to quickly grab a soft drink to quench our thirst, but Godinez says we may be doing more harm than good. The sweet drink may cause us to be more dehydrated. The doctor says it’s more healthy to drink water, Gatorade or any other commercial product that contain electrolytes like sodium and potassium.
Dr. Daniel Godinez
“We recommend that persons should drink enough liquids, enough water. And another thing is you have to be on the lookout for the weather conditions and avoid prolong periods of sun exposure. And then the clothing is very important, we want the person to have a very light clothing preferably cotton type, loose fitting, because that allows the exchange of heat between the body and the environment.”
Godinez says your physical condition will determine just how susceptible you are to any heat related illness, but cautions everyone that there will be a point when the body will not be able to stand any more heat. That is why he advises the public that during these hot days it’s best to take it easy. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
The B.D.F. continues to investigate the incident involving recruit Rafael Pop.
