New policies and guidelines are set to be implemented in Santa Catalina town, Negros Oriental after some 40 festival dancers passed out during their street dancing last Wednesday, April 24.

The dancers were participating in the annual Pakol Festival on that day to celebrate the feast of Santa Catalina de Alejandria around 2 p.m.

Guian Jeif Anqui, chief of operations of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management office of the town, said the dancers were not able to handle the extreme heat. He noted the dancers’ route was even shortened to one kilometer.

“Init gyod kaayo (It was extremely hot),” he said.

Based on their monitoring, the heat index that day reached 41 to 42 degrees Celsius.

Rescue vehicles on standby immediately evacuated the dancers. Two dancers from Barangay San Miguel were severely dehydrated and were rushed to the hospital.

“Gipasud sa sakyanan. Girehydrate with Orisol and ni balik og sayaw (They were brought inside the vehicle. They were rehydrated with Orisol then they danced again),” added Anqui.

They also prepared ice buckets, oxygen tanks and cold water for those who were already nearing dehydration. Others were already hyperventilating.

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Apart from the dancers, several spectators also passed out because of the heat.

Anqui noted the spectators are already feeling better.

Due to the incident, officials are now mulling to reschedule festival activities moving forward.

“If init kaayo, we can adjust sa schedule or time. Ang mga dancers, wala pod ni cool down (If it is very hot, we can adjust the schedule or time. The dancers also did not cool down),” he said.

State weather bureau PAGASA said the heat index range is already under the danger category which can cause heat cramps, heat exhaustion and probable heat stroke.