Indonesian Association of Practitioners of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (APITU) deputy head Mochammad Riduwan said the demand for AC services from Jakarta consumers had been growing significantly.

“[...] Many AC users are still feeling hot indoors and request at least a check-up [of their AC]. There was a surge in demand by 30 to 40 percent,” Riduwan said as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that although there were hundreds of AC technicians who were members of APITU, the association still could not handle the surging requests for AC repairs around Jakarta.

“We have 300 to 400 technicians, but it is still not enough because not all of them are active members and some are only freelancers. Fortunately, the city has some other similar associations or communities,” Riduwan said.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued warnings that regions south of the equator, predominantly across Java and the Nusa Tenggara islands, will be exposed to hot temperatures until Sunday.

The agency’s meteorological stations across the country have recorded an average maximum air temperature of 37 degrees Celsius since Oct. 19, with three stations in Sulawesi recording temperatures of 37.8 degrees to 38.8 degrees on Oct. 20.

In Java and the Nusa Tenggara islands, temperatures reached 35 degrees to 36.5 degrees last week. Meanwhile, intense heat felt across the capital on Monday was measured at 36.5 degrees during the day despite strong winds. Regular daily temperatures in Jakarta are between 28 and 30 degrees.

The Kramat Jati community health center in East Jakarta recorded a spike of patient visits during the recent hot weather, receiving 800 people per day, many of whom arrived with symptoms related to heat exposure.

Jakarta Health Agency head Widyastuti has called on the public to take six steps to maintain their health if the weather continues to be exceedingly hot in the next few days.

“The public should anticipate the possibility of not only dehydration but also heatstroke,” she said as quoted by antaranews.com.

Symptoms of heatstroke include extreme dizziness, exhaustion, throbbing headaches, light-headiness, nausea, vomiting and a rapid heartbeat. In more severe cases, it can also lead to seizures and even death.

The six steps encouraged by the agency to stay healthy when temperatures are above normal include, firstly, refraining from outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. as much as possible.

The second step is not to wait to get thirsty but drink water every two to three hours, or a total of 2 liters of water per day. In relation to that, the third step is to support the body’s hydration by consuming more fresh fruits that contain lots of water.

To avoid dust and protect the skin from sunburn, use a face mask and an umbrella when venturing outside, and make sure to wear sunscreen.

Lastly, the agency also suggests plenty of rest and sleep.

East Jakarta Fire and Rescue Agency head Gatot Sulaeman, said that the intense heat in the capital could lead to a greater potential for fires. He advised residents to be aware of these risks and avoid burning trash near residential areas, and not to plug too many cables into one electric socket to prevent short circuits. (syk)

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