Department of Health (DOH)-accredited hospitals were instructed to establish cooling centers and hydrating stations amid the possible heat stress this summer.

The DOH released, on Sunday, 9 March, the updated guidelines on preventing and managing extreme heat health impacts as the heat index is expected to rise in the next few days, heading into the peak of the country's dry season.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa directed all DOH units, including Department-retained hospitals and health facilities like the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) centers, to implement key strategies and to cascade them with local government units.

The key strategies are grouped into service continuity, which includes facility and staff preparedness and networking; public health literacy; establishment of cooling centers; climate-resilient health infrastructure, which includes hydration stations; and prompt detection and monitoring of heat-related illnesses.

Cooling centers are air-conditioned or well-ventilated areas close to public transportation routes that shall be made available and accessible to the general public, with priority given to the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.

Hydration stations will make clean and safe drinking water continuously available to the public in all DOH facilities, especially during the anticipated peak hot hours from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Herbosa also urged the public to monitor the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration forecast of the heat index for their area or vicinity.

"Wear loose, white or light-colored, and lightweight clothing," he added.

"Always drink clean water, and avoid the heat from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Call 911-1555 (DOH), or 143 (Philippine Red Cross) for emergencies."

He also assured that the DOH, together with the entire government, is prepared to face the hot weather.