The World Health Organization has cautioned against relying on electric fans in poorly ventilated areas during extreme heat, noting that such conditions can trap heat indoors and create what specialists describe as an “oven effect.”
Reports indicate that when surrounding temperatures are already high, electric fans may no longer provide relief. Instead of cooling the body, they circulate warm air, which can intensify the sensation of heat rather than reduce it.
In a GMA News 24 Oras report, professional mechanical engineer Ian Willien Mamaril explained that fans become ineffective once temperatures reach a certain level. “If the temperature reaches 35 degrees or higher, it no longer has value because it only circulates 35-degree air. It directs the heat even more toward our body,” he said.
Experts also pointed out that household appliances contribute additional heat indoors due to electricity use, which can further raise room temperatures. Continuous operation of electric fans under extreme heat may also lead to damage if the devices are not given time to rest.
The conditions, they warned, may increase the risk of dehydration as the body struggles to cope with sustained high temperatures.
To help manage heat exposure, the Department of Health advised the public to maintain proper hydration. “Just drink water—eight to ten glasses. When we sweat, our body cools down,” said DOH Spokesperson Undersecretary Albert Domingo.
