Health dept issues heatwave advisory for Ludhiana residents

Ludhiana: As hot weather continues to prevail in Ludhiana, the health department on Thursday issued an advisory for residents in view of the heatwave. Dr Ramandeep Kaur, civil surgeon, Ludhiana, issued an advisory for all citizens regarding health protection in view of the rising temperatures.

According to the department officials, high temperatures can be quite dangerous, especially for children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals suffering from chroni66c illnesses. It added that it was crucial to take timely steps to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps (muscle spasms due to heat), and heatstroke.

Current situation and forecast:

According to the meteorological department, the heatwave was going on in several parts of Punjab, including Ludhiana, and no significant change in temperature is expected in the next few days. High temperatures were recorded in districts like Bathinda. However, some relief is possible from May 23 onwards with a chance of light rain and strong winds in some parts of region.

What to do:

Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water, even if you don't feel thirsty. Don't let your body become dehydrated. Individuals with epilepsy, heart disease, kidney, or liver conditions should consult their doctor before increasing their water intake.

Consume plenty of liquids: Increase your intake of home-made beverages like lemon water, lassi, coconut water, ORS solution, and fruit juices.

Stay indoors: Avoid going out between 11am and 4pm unless absolutely necessary, as this is the hottest part of the day. Schedule outdoor activities for the morning or evening.

Wear light clothing: Opt for light-coloured, loose-fitting, and cotton clothing.

Cover your head: When outdoors, always use an umbrella, hat, cap, towel, turban, or any other cloth to cover your head. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Eat hydrating foods: Consume water-rich fruits and vegetables like cucumber, watermelon, musk melon, orange, grapes, pineapple, and tomatoes. Eat small, frequent meals.

Keep cool: Take cold showers. To keep your home cool, keep curtains closed during the day and open windows at night for airflow. Putting straw on rooftops or growing vegetables can also help reduce indoor temperatures.

Look out for others: Keep an eye on the health of children, the elderly, pregnant women, and vulnerable individuals. If someone delivers items or food to your home or office, offer them water.

Stay in open and ventilated areas: Ensure proper ventilation, especially in cooking areas.Advice for farmers: Irrigate crops as needed, keep livestock in the shade, and provide them with clean, cool water for drinking.

What not to do:

Avoid direct Sun exposure: Don't stay in direct sunlight for extended periods. Avoid going barefoot outdoors.

Strenuous physical activity: Avoid strenuous physical activities during hot weather, such as playing sports or having PT periods in the afternoon. If exercising, start slowly.

Tight or dark clothing: Do not wear tight or dark-coloured clothing.

Alcohol and caffeine: Avoid consuming alcohol, tea, coffee, and overly sweet carbonated drinks (cold drinks), as they can lead to dehydration.

No stale food: Steer clear of stale or fried foods.

Leaving children or pets alone: Never leave children, the elderly, or pets alone in a parked vehicle.

Also, awareness campaigns are being pushed to educate people about the preventive measures and early warning signs of heat-related illnesses.

The advisory also said that workplaces should consider reducing the pace of physically demanding tasks or increasing the number of workers to reduce individual workload during periods of extreme heat.

As part of precautionary measures, the government has ensured that all public health centres are equipped with special beds, IV fluids, essential medicines and oral rehydration solutions.

Healthcare workers, including ASHAs and anganwadi workers, have been provided with ORS sachets to assist people in need, the advisory said.