Breaking the record of the earliest date in the history, Hangzhou Observatory on July 12 issued the first red alert for high temperatures this year as heat waves have stricken many regions in the country. While the city has entered sanfu on July 16, which refers to three 10-day periods of the dog days each year, the mercury had already hit 40℃ in days before that.

It is forecast that the city will be affected by scorching heat from July 22 with an experiencing high temperature above 39℃ again. Precautions have been taken to protect the public from the ongoing heat waves.

Multiple measures taken to relieve the heat

As an intense heat wave has swept through Zhejiang in recent days, residents have found that the once abandoned air-raid shelters are ideal cool caves where the temperature remains about 25℃. As a result, Hangzhou opens five such air-raid shelters to the public for free, including the two popular ones in Sipailou and Baimamiao.

As the construction and renovation projects related to the Asian Games are coming to an end, most roads will be gradually back into use in late July. About 200 new sunshades are planned to be installed on crossings in the Shangcheng, Gongshu, and Xihu Districts before the end of July, to provide a piece of shade for pedestrians and bike riders from the torrid sunshine while waiting for traffic lights. Considering that Hangzhou is subject to typhoons, the sunshades are removable and of low-cost. Their holding structures, printed with warning labels, can resist force eight typhoons. At the same time, the sunshades are printed with new patterns made up of the images of the Broken Bridge and Hangzhou's ancient pavilions with cornices.

From July 17, artificial precipitation has been carried out in Yuhang, Linping and Fuyang to alleviate the heat.

Measures are also in place to help the zoo animals survive the scorching summer. Two elephants in the Hangzhou Zoo eat more than 55 kg watermelons every day. Although they were born in the tropics or subtropics, they can barely tolerate the summer heat in Hangzhou without taking cool showers. The red pandas are seen staying in the air-conditioned rooms, served with extra cooling methods such as fans, ice cubes and fruit platters. The African lions at the Hangzhou Safari Park stay in the swimming pool to prevent themselves from having heat strokes.

As for plants, green plastic bags, named "garden maintenance drip bags", have been found on platanus on Beishan Street these days for protecting plants from the heat.

Heartwarming acts are so cool

Summer tea stalls are installed across Hangzhou by volunteers who have brewed tea and prepared disposable cups and free masks. To date, there are more than 100 herbal tea stalls in the districts of Shangcheng, Gongshu, Xihu and Binjiang.

Help yourselves! A local bank in Hangzhou has set up a special counter filled with free bottled water for those working under the scorching sun to quench their thirst. At the same time, a restaurant named Shared Menu near Santang Yingyuan Community kindly put out some free bottled water for outdoor workers. "They were too shy to take one at first. I kept reminding the deliverymen who came into the shop till they felt comfortable with it. We give away eight to nine boxes of bottled water a week," said the owner Mr. Yang.

A refrigerator filled up with drinks is also specifically prepared for deliverymen and people in need in the Longfor Paradise Walk shopping mall. "This is the first summer since our shopping mall opened last year. We hope to help those who are still working outdoors. Over 200 bottles of free drinks were given away on July 16," said a staff there.

Hangzhou has seen such loving deeds as a tradition. More than 300 "Love Stations" have been set up by the Hangzhou Labor Union to provide cool rest places, free water, Wi-Fi, chargers, microwave stoves and so on for the outdoor workers in summer days since 2017.

Be aware of and prevent heatstroke

Health authorities in Hangzhou remind the residents of not working long hours outdoors to avoid heatstroke. As of Monday, cases of siriasis-the most severe form of heatstroke-had been reported in Hangzhou, and at least one person died.

Liao Lyuzhao, an ED physician of Zhejiang Hospital, explains that excessive sweating leads to dehydration that could cause multiple organ failures and even loss of consciousness if the patient's body temperature rises above 40℃.

Awareness in preventing siriasis is very important, especially for infants, the elderly and some outdoor workers. Here are some tips to beat the heat.

1.Avoid exposure to high temperatures and take a rest in a cool place every 30 to 40 minutes.

2.Tools to block sun rays should be prepared if you have to go outdoors.

3.Drink plenty of water. The most recommended beverage is green tea, for its cool nature as an herb.

4.More vitamin C, carotene and minerals should also be taken.