# Deadly threat of heatstroke must prompt better heat safety education > Source: > Published: 2026-06-30 23:15:12+00:00 # Deadly threat of heatstroke must prompt better heat safety education Following an 11-year-old’s death from suspected heatstroke, extreme heat must be treated as a public health crisis [an 11-year-old died in Tseung Kwan O](https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3358614/boy-dies-after-suspected-heatstroke-tseung-kwan-o-sports-ground-hong-kong?module=inline&pgtype=article)from suspected heatstroke. The boy, described as previously healthy, reportedly had symptoms, including vomiting and fainting, after a 400-metre training run at a sports ground. [“very hot weather” warning](https://www.scmp.com/weather/hong-kong/article/3354839/hong-kong-issues-years-first-very-hot-weather-warning?module=inline&pgtype=article)of the year on May 26 and posted a [high](https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356096/hong-kong-records-hottest-day-year-so-far-temperatures-soar-past-34-degrees?module=inline&pgtype=article)of 34.6 degrees Celsius (94.3 Fahrenheit) on June 5. The city’s observatory has warned that 2026 could rank among the top 10 warmest years on record as a powerful El Nino weather pattern forms. Already, Europe is gripped by a historic heatwave with 40-degree temperatures. [heat stress monitoring](https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349913/hong-kong-expands-heat-stress-monitoring-better-protect-outdoor-workers?module=inline&pgtype=article)from two to 10 sites across the city. However, the recent death prompted health experts to warn about the risks faced by children, the elderly and athletes. Susceptibility to heatstroke is even more pronounced when chronic illnesses, pregnancy or excess weight are factors. According to the World Health Organization, heat stress is a top cause of weather-related mortality. Exposure to extreme heat and related deaths have grown exponentially. Between 2000 and 2019, there were about 489,000 such deaths each year, with 45 per cent in Asia. Precautions include drinking water regularly, wearing lighter clothing, avoiding sun exposure and outdoor activities. Education about such steps and better heat safety protocols should be explored. Such efforts need to extend beyond workplaces to include schools, sports clubs and youth training programmes. Adapting to the new climate normal requires treating extreme heat as a public health crisis before more preventable tragedies happen.