New Delhi :SEEDS (Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society) as a part of its Honeywell Safe Schools Program organized a ‘Beat the Heat’ awareness building program at JJ Indira Camp, Kishan Kunj in East Delhi. The ‘Beat the Heat’ drive was organized to create awareness in the community about heatwaves, risks involved and ways to be prepared to mitigate the risks.

India is facing soaring heatwave conditions with temperature reaching beyond 40 degrees. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) 15^th April report, maximum temperatures was recorded at 45°C, which was substantially above the normal in large parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana.

This year, Delhi has witnessed an unusually hot March, with temperatures wavering between 36 to 39 degrees on an average. The IMD has predicted further increase in the intensity of the heat wave and its severity.

The ‘Beat the Heat’ awareness building exercise at JJ Indira Camp, Kishan Kunj in East Delhi, with over 75 community members, SEEDS team members along with volunteers from Honeywell India, stressed upon sensitising community members including children about the concept of heat wave, possible health issues that are caused due to the heat wave, and measures that need to be taken to protect themselves from extreme heat (what clothes to wear, what kind of food should be eaten etc.) via interactive sessions.

As a part of the ‘Beat the Heat’ session, parents and children of the community came together to be a part of an interactive Q&A session with SEEDS team members. The community members via the session were explained about the impact of heat waves and tips to keep the community safe during scorching summers. Following this, a ‘Hot-spot hunt’ was organized, wherein community members went around the locality to record temperatures across different spots and were educated on how to manage varying temperatures during heat waves. The ‘Beat the Heat’ awareness drive was concluded by a Cool Roof activity, wherein the community members painted roofs with lime wash. The lime wash activity educated the community on the positive impact; reducing surface temperature of the roof by 10-15 C degrees and cutting down electricity bills by 26%, eventually assisting them during peak summer months.

SEEDS along with Honeywell India as a part of the Honeywell Safe Schools Program organize monthly community outreach programs to build awareness amongst the people in East Delhi. Through these awareness building exercises, it is the endeavour of the Honeywell Safe Schools Program to ensure communities are well aware of everyday risks they are exposed to and ways to protect themselves and those around them.