Life in informal settlements is no easy feat, especially as climate change turns up the heat – literally. Sweltering days and sleepless, sweat-soaked nights become the norm as temperatures rise. This unrelenting heat poses serious health risks, from dehydration to heat exhaustion. For vulnerable groups like infants and the elderly, it can be devastating.
For Roshida Lukas from Ekuphumleni in Malmesbury, Western Cape living in informal settlements, especially during the summer, becomes unbearable. She shares that even using a fan or opening windows offers little relief.
“Sunset and sunrise feel the same when you’re living in informal settlements. Even taking a bath is a struggle when it’s this hot,” she says.
She notes that she often gets sick and catches the flu due to extreme weather conditions. Lukas adds that while having a small tree nearby provides some shade, it’s nowhere near enough to counter the intense heat.
Struggling to beat the heat
Asavela Mntumni from Imizamo Yethu informal settlement in Hout Bay in Cape Town says having a ceiling provides some relief by slightly reducing the direct impact of the heat.
“Sunny days are the worst because the corrugated metal becomes extremely hot,” she says.
“You can imagine how uncomfortable it is when the material of your shelter changes with the weather conditions while you’re inside.”
Asavela Mntumni
Mntumni says she has adapted by staying hydrated and drinking iced or cold liquids to help cope with the heat.
She adds that for kids, during the day, they create “swimming pools” with basins and play with cold water to keep them safe and cool. “We also always wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Some people use fans to survive the heat.”
READ NEXT: Let nature take the lead by growing food forests
Building a cooler future
Dr Peter Johnston, a climate impact scientist from the University of Cape Town (UCT) says adaptation is the most important thing now, and being aware of the risks one faces, particularly extreme heat.
He says if your relatives are exposed to those temperatures, they should try and use measures that will reduce those temperatures, like planting trees or getting insulated roofs.
“Roof insulation doesn’t have to be that expensive. You can get materials that you can attach to a roof. Ceilings of new houses should be obligatory, and so they always have adapted into this.”
He further notes that local governments and communities can help by communicating the risks to people and suggesting building methods or building materials that can be used to reduce their exposure.
“Corrugated iron absorbs heat and then makes it very, very hot inside, over 40 degrees, in fact. And roofs made of corrugated iron do the same thing. They absorb the heat and then that heat is radiated inside. A ceiling would make a difference.”
Dr Peter Johnston
Johnston adds, “There’s very little we as individuals can do to stop climate change in its tracks. Even if we shift to a more carbon-friendly environment, it’s still going to take many, many years for carbon dioxide to settle down in reductions in the atmosphere to be reduced, or those reductions to make a difference.”
READ NEXT: Beat the summer heat with companion planting
Finding solutions
Backyard farmer and environmental activist Luleka Zepe from Site C in Khayelitsha, Cape Town says having food gardens throughout communities could help, as heat hits harder in areas with little to no natural vegetation.
“No matter how small it is, imagine if each home had its own garden. This would improve our environmental health,” she says.
Illegal dumping, pollution, and an unhygienic environment add to health issues.
Zepe adds that raising awareness about recycling can play a big role in improving how communities manage waste, and bringing clean air while reducing illegal dumping.
Dr Tara Southey, the founder and CEO of TerraClim, says if you want to offset climate change, you must have vegetation to create shade and create an ecosystem, which is much better than just having bare soil or a tin roof, like infrastructure that’s not insulated.
“The density of small housing in a small area limits air movement.”
Dr Tara Southey
Southey explains that plants release moisture into the air through transpiration. They create shade and facilitate air movement simply through the plant’s breathing process.
She further notes that in townships, all three events of climate change can occur: excessive rainfall, extreme heat, and strong winds.
“In a township, wind damage is possibly more significant.”
She recommends, “Having trees, which take a long time to grow, helps moderate wind, temperature, and rainfall. They also help prevent flooding in a township because vegetation holds the ground.”
Suffering the health consequences
According to Dr Omishka Hirachund from the Keready mobile clinics in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, heat-related health problems happen when our bodies can’t maintain our normal temperature (set by our brain) or when we become dehydrated through sweating.
She says the heat brings many health-related conditions with it, such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and severe dehydration.
“Also, it can trigger heart attacks, strokes, or worsen existing medical conditions.”
Dr Omishka Hirachund
Hirachund adds that people around 65 and older, babies and young children, pregnant women, those with co-morbid medical conditions, and people who live alone or far from others are at high risk.
She explains that heat stroke is a medical emergency where the body temperature remains above 40°C. Therefore, the person may become acutely confused and agitated and require immediate professional medical attention.
While waiting for the ambulance, Hirachund advises the following steps:
- Cool the person with ice packs and wet cloths under the arms and on the groin.
- Try to rehydrate the person with water.
- Remove all clothes and place the person in a cool area.
Stay safe in the summer by staying hydrated and cool! Contact 10177 and 10111 for medical assistance.
ALSO READ: Cape Town eco warrior grows food from scraps
Get the Health For Mzansi newsletter: Your bi-weekly dose of kasi health, wellness and self-care inspiration.
