Clothing, not air conditioning, should be 1st layer of response to extreme heat
Clothing plays a crucial role in how the human body copes with extreme heat, yet it is often overlooked in India's heat action plans. The increasing intensity and duration of heatwaves in India necessitate a reevaluation of clothing choices, especially in institutional settings where uniforms and dress codes are standard. A more integrated approach that considers fabric performance and thermal comfort could help mitigate heat stress and improve public health outcomes.
- ▪The human body cools itself primarily through the evaporation of sweat, which is influenced by clothing.
- ▪India's heatwaves are becoming longer and more intense, leading to increased heat stress.
- ▪Clothing systems in India often rely on synthetic materials that can trap heat and moisture, exacerbating heat exposure.
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Advertisement The human body cools itself primarily through the evaporation of sweat. For this to work, heat and moisture must escape efficiently from the skin. Clothing directly governs this exchange. It can enable cooling — or trap heat, restrict airflow, and increase thermal stress. In extreme conditions, this is not about discomfort. It is about bodily strain. India’s heatwaves are no longer short-lived events. They are longer, more intense, and increasingly accompanied by “warm nights”, where temperatures remain elevated after sunset. This matters because the body depends on cooler nights to recover from daytime heat exposure. When that recovery window disappears, heat stress accumulates across consecutive days. Under such conditions, what people wear is not incidental.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Indian Express.
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