Heat Wave Awareness session with Philippine Red Cross

by Arushi Mukherjee (IB-1)

On May 23, 2025, from 7:30 to 8:50 a.m., a Heat Wave Awareness session, co-hosted by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), was held in the library extension as a part of my CAS Project.

In this session, the two resource persons from the Philippine Red Cross: Steve Laranjo, the Technical Officer who works with the Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction (DPRR) Unit, and Mia Grace Ligutan, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Anticipatory Action Officer of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in the Philippines, discussed the impacts of a heat wave (climate change, rising sea levels, and more), and ways of dealing with it (e.g. stay away from the sun for a long time, use fans, etc.)

We learned that climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. Those impacts can affect them economically and environmentally.

Human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, which cause widespread shifts in weather patterns, that can lead to more frequent and intense extreme weather events (heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires).

We learned that Extreme Heat is a risk to human health and well-being. It can lead to people getting dehydrated, developing illnesses, and the worsening of chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It happens during a long period of high temperatures and high humidity. It causes temporary modifications in lifestyle and may have adverse health effects on the affected population.

Thank you to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in the Philippines for allowing their time to help us understand the topics of heat waves and their nuances.

Thank you to grade 11 and grade 9 students for participating in this session!