Awareness booklet on Heatwaves released 

Chandigarh, July 26, 2022: Recently, India has seen early and prolonged heatwaves affecting the general public. Nowadays, Europe, US and Canada are facing severe heatwaves and the temperature has broken previous year's records. This shows that there is a climate urgency and we need to educate the public to minimize its adverse consequences. Considering this, Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and Dr. Suman Mor from Panjab University, Chandigarh, conceptualized and designed a comic booklet on heatwaves to inform and engage citizens about the concern and enhance their quality of life.

Dr. Nakul Parashar, Director, Vigyan Prasar, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, released their new comic series on "kids, vaayu & climate change: heatwave strikes". During an online release event, Dr. Parashar mentioned that we are observing a substantial rise in extreme weather events related to climate change. He specified that we are also now witnessing the increased frequency, duration and intensity of heatwaves. Dr. Parashar added that is an urgent need to minimize the heatwave's effects and prevent severe illness or death from heatwaves through climate education. He appreciated the author's efforts and mentioned that coming up with a comic series on climate change will fascinate children and help to draw the public's attention on climate change for a better tomorrow. Dr. Parashar emphasized that children could play an essential role in raising awareness about heatwaves and heat-related diseases. He specified that Vigyan Prasar welcome any innovative idea to empowering citizens through various science popularizing schemes. 

The event also included a short workshop on Climate Change and Heatwaves. The key speakers included Shri. SC Bhan, Scientist F, India Meteorological Department, New Delhi, and Dr. Aakash Shrivastava, Addl. Director & Head, Centre for Environmental & Occupational Health, Climate Change & Health, NCDC, New Delhi. . Shri. Bhan mentioned that we are observing a hotter baseline for summer temperatures and extended duration of heatwaves over the year, which also increases the risk of forest fires and droughts. Dr. Shrivastava highlighted that globally heatwaves claim thousands of lives every year; however, Indian states were able to minimize the death and disease burden by successfully implementing a heat-related illness mitigation plan through the engagement of the health sector.

Dr. Ravindra Khaiwal, Professor of Environmental Health, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, mentioned that heatwaves are silent killers and do not get much attention as other disasters. He stated that heatwaves are linked with respiratory and cardiovascular disease, kidney disorders and mental health issues. Dr. Khaiwal added that these adverse health conditions vary from minor symptoms such as excessive sweating to heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heat stroke. Therefore, the current focus of this comic is to reduce the burden of heatwave-related morbidity and mortality, which could be minimized through proper adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Dr. Suman Mor, Chairperson, Department of Environment Science, Panjab University, Chandigarh, emphasized that this booklet aims to educate readers of all ages about the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to minimize them to achieve the goal of ZERO heatwave-related deaths. She highlighted that this comic booklet is being released in more than 20 regional languages.

They mentioned that this comic series provides thoughtful information about climate change and how our earth's atmosphere changes. The superhero "VAAYU" provides information about climate change reduction strategies. The comic uses pictorial ways to define the heatwaves and depicts various heat-related illnesses and their symptoms. Further, the comic guides how we can beat heatwave and heat-related illnesses through simple preventive measures.

The primary focus of the awareness comic is to engage and educate children and the general public using an innovative comic style to achieve the goal of zero-heatwave-related deaths and diseases in a changing climate.