Anticipating severe heat waves towards the end of March for the next two to three months, the state government has prepared an action plan for heat and has issued an advisory. Following the instructions from the government, the health officials in GB Nagar are also advising people to take appropriate care and avoid moving out in the afternoon specially between 12 pm to 3 pm until necessary.
The health officials said that while excessive heat during the peak summer season. Through the heat action plan people as well as medical teams are being sensitized about heat exhaustion, heat strokes and other clinical manifestations that may occur in patients of different ages and health conditions.
The disaster management department in the state has also issued preventive guidelines on how to avoid getting ill as the temperature rises. Cases of dehydration and heat stroke usually spike in the OPDs during the summers.
The health officials explained the heat exhaustion and heat stroke are very common during the summers, but cane severely impact the health of the people.
While heating exhaustion can show up symptoms like felling overheated, light-headedness, weakness, feeling of vomiting, sweaty an excessive thirst, heat stroke can cause symptoms like disorientation, lack of alertness, convulsion, or other altered mental status.
The guidelines issued under heat action plan suggested some measures for managing patients suffering with heat strokes and other complications.
The guidelines say that in case a person shows any of the heat induced symptoms the first response should be to shift the patient to a cool place. Loosening of clothes, sponging with wet cloth, consuming ORS solution and lime water can help in maintaining a person’s consciousness and strength. Additionally light massage to loosen the muscles and monitoring the body temperature can also help in improving the health of the affected person.
Dr Amit Kumar, a public health expert and district surveillance officer in GB Nagar said, “There has been weather prediction about excessive heat wave across the country in the coming summer season. Since a lot of people get affected with heat stroke during the season the government has issued heat action plan. We are trying to educate people to take utmost care through awareness drive and also in hospital OPD’s.”
