What is the best drink during a heatwave in scorching summer?

Staying hydrated in brutal summer: Here’s the safest drink choice during a Heatwave

KARACHI: As temperatures in Pakistan cross 40°C and inch dangerously close to 50°C in cities like Jacobabad, Sibi, and interior Sindh, the blistering heat has become a serious health hazard. Sweating profusely, feeling lightheaded, or suddenly fatigued? These aren’t just summer side effects — they’re red flags that your body is dangerously dehydrated. So, what’s the best drink during this extreme weather? The answer is not expensive energy drinks or sugary sodas — it’s plain water, your most powerful, accessible, and natural remedy to beat the heat instantly.

Here’s how to keep your body cool and safe using water — and only water:

• Drink small amounts of water regularly, especially if you're outside — ideally one glass every 15–20 minutes. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty; by then, dehydration has already started.
• Avoid soft drinks, energy drinks, iced coffee, and excessive tea — they might seem refreshing, but the caffeine and sugar actually pull water out of your body.
• Electrolyte drinks or ORS powders are only needed if you’ve been sweating heavily for an hour or more. Otherwise, water plus a fruit-rich diet (like watermelon, coconut water, bananas) is more than enough.
• Skip alcohol altogether during a heatwave. It can impair your body’s ability to regulate temperature and delay your response to heatstroke symptoms.
• If you’re preparing water for children or outdoor workers, add a pinch of salt and sugar to 1 liter — this homemade ORS can help retain hydration and energy.
• For children in all-day sports camps, ensure they hydrate well before, during, and after activity.
• Keep them away from energy drinks entirely — they are unsafe and unnecessary.

Recognize heat illness early: Nausea, dizziness, headache, extreme fatigue, or skin that’s dry despite the heat. These are signs of heat exhaustion or even early heatstroke. Move the person to shade, offer cool water slowly, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms persist.

In a heat emergency, your best line of defense isn’t in a bottle from a fridge in the store — it’s already in your kitchen. Water is your instant first aid. It cools your core temperature, restores lost fluids, and helps your body fight back against heat stress.

So, this summer in Pakistan’s record-breaking heatwave, don’t chase fancy solutions. Stick to the basics. Drink water — early, often, and generously.

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