Meteorology, heat waves situation is an abnormal high and low temperature for
three or more consecutive days in any region.
Over the last few years, the world has suffered from heavy losses as a result of
increased numbers, duration, and intensity of the weather and disastrous events
associated with climate change which are projected to intensify in the future (Meehl
and Tebaldi 2004). Like other countries, Pakistan also experiences different types of
climate-related hazards such as floods, drought, earthquake, heat waves, etc. Heat
waves cause several deaths during summer in Pakistan. The recent worst case
happened in Karachi where dozens of deaths were reported in a few days in the
summer 2015.
Many developed and developing nations have suffered from heat waves due to
their destructive nature during the recent years. Western Europe experienced the
deadliest heat waves causing almost 70,000 human deaths in 2003 (Robine et al.
2008). Heat waves resulted in more than 500 deaths in Australia (Akompab et al.
2013) and 15,000 deaths in Russia in 2009 (Dole et al. 2011). Heat waves occurrence
is frequent in Asian countries as well, as they resulted 3000 deaths during the
summer 2003 (Dos and Smith 2012) and 500 deaths in 2013 in India (TNN 2013).
Southern parts of Pakistan, particularly southern Punjab and Karachi have faced
severe heat waves in recent years. Duration of heat waves also extended in these
years since 1980, causing a severe damage to limbs and lives (Vidal and Sethna
2013). During the last decade, several deaths were reported in the national newspapers due to heat waves in Pakistan. In 2007, extreme heat waves took the lives of
232 people, in addition to several hospitalizations (Deutsche Presse Agentur 2007).
Impact of heat waves is enormous for vulnerable segments of the society. Heat
waves make the situation worse for elderly individuals and children particularly
(Sheridan 2007; Hansen et al. 2011). Those already having health problems are
vulnerable to heat waves and chances of mortality and morbidity are too high
among such people (Vandentorre et al. 2006). Kosatsky et al. (2009) argue that
vulnerability to heat waves is too high among individuals suffering from heart and
lung problems and therefore, mortality and morbidity rate increases for these people
(Kovats and Hajat 2008). In Pakistani context, impoverished people such as laborer
and farm workers are at high health risk due to heat waves. Such individuals have
no and/or very few means to use precautionary measures while working under
starching heat. Thus, admission in hospitals increases for heat stroke, hyperthermia,
lung and heart problems. Furthermore, poor people are badly affected as they have
little access to health facilities. Limited medical facilities in the underdeveloped
districts increases the misery of poor people.
2 Knowledge and Perception About Heat Waves
The destructive health impacts of heat waves are mitigated by improving environmental conditions and infrastructure designs as well as controlling exposure to
heat waves (Menne and Matthies 2009) and adopting protective measures.
192
K. Bakhsh et al.
three or more consecutive days in any region.
Over the last few years, the world has suffered from heavy losses as a result of
increased numbers, duration, and intensity of the weather and disastrous events
associated with climate change which are projected to intensify in the future (Meehl
and Tebaldi 2004). Like other countries, Pakistan also experiences different types of
climate-related hazards such as floods, drought, earthquake, heat waves, etc. Heat
waves cause several deaths during summer in Pakistan. The recent worst case
happened in Karachi where dozens of deaths were reported in a few days in the
summer 2015.
Many developed and developing nations have suffered from heat waves due to
their destructive nature during the recent years. Western Europe experienced the
deadliest heat waves causing almost 70,000 human deaths in 2003 (Robine et al.
2008). Heat waves resulted in more than 500 deaths in Australia (Akompab et al.
2013) and 15,000 deaths in Russia in 2009 (Dole et al. 2011). Heat waves occurrence
is frequent in Asian countries as well, as they resulted 3000 deaths during the
summer 2003 (Dos and Smith 2012) and 500 deaths in 2013 in India (TNN 2013).
Southern parts of Pakistan, particularly southern Punjab and Karachi have faced
severe heat waves in recent years. Duration of heat waves also extended in these
years since 1980, causing a severe damage to limbs and lives (Vidal and Sethna
2013). During the last decade, several deaths were reported in the national newspapers due to heat waves in Pakistan. In 2007, extreme heat waves took the lives of
232 people, in addition to several hospitalizations (Deutsche Presse Agentur 2007).
Impact of heat waves is enormous for vulnerable segments of the society. Heat
waves make the situation worse for elderly individuals and children particularly
(Sheridan 2007; Hansen et al. 2011). Those already having health problems are
vulnerable to heat waves and chances of mortality and morbidity are too high
among such people (Vandentorre et al. 2006). Kosatsky et al. (2009) argue that
vulnerability to heat waves is too high among individuals suffering from heart and
lung problems and therefore, mortality and morbidity rate increases for these people
(Kovats and Hajat 2008). In Pakistani context, impoverished people such as laborer
and farm workers are at high health risk due to heat waves. Such individuals have
no and/or very few means to use precautionary measures while working under
starching heat. Thus, admission in hospitals increases for heat stroke, hyperthermia,
lung and heart problems. Furthermore, poor people are badly affected as they have
little access to health facilities. Limited medical facilities in the underdeveloped
districts increases the misery of poor people.
2 Knowledge and Perception About Heat Waves
The destructive health impacts of heat waves are mitigated by improving environmental conditions and infrastructure designs as well as controlling exposure to
heat waves (Menne and Matthies 2009) and adopting protective measures.
192
K. Bakhsh et al.