A total of 127 heat stroke cases were reported at Sharjah’s Kuwaiti Hospital in July. All the cases were treated and the patients were provided with the necessary instructions and awareness to prevent the recurrence of the stroke.In most of the cases, patients were discharged in one or two days but in some cases patients are still admitted in the hospital due to their critical conditions.
Dr Yousif Al Serkal, Director of the Kuwaiti Hospital, said that the number of heat stroke cases reported this July are much more than cases that were reported last year during June and July which were not more than 24. He attributed the increasing heat stroke cases to the soaring temperature in July.
“This year the summer temperature is much more than that of previous year’s,” he commented.
Ninety per cent cases are among workers of contracting companies. — KT photo by M. Sajjad
The hospital is always equipped and prepared to handle such cases during the summer season. He pointed out that 90 per cent of the heat stroke cases were among the workers of contracting companies despite the implementation of the decision of the Ministry of Labour about midday break for workers.
But the number is high due to the extreme hot weather during July.
He pointed out that workers who stayed out in the open during the middle of the day were at the risk of developing symptoms of heat exhaustion and stroke including dry skin, a rapid and slow pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and unconsciousness. “ It seems that some companies were not providing workers with enough water to keep them hydrated,” he commented.
Supervisors should also be familiarised with heat stroke symptoms that include headache, dizziness, confusion, seizure, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty, high body temperature, loss of consciousness, rapid heartbeat as well as hallucinations, Al Serkal said.
Al Serkal said that contracting companies should provide the supervisors of these workers with training courses to educate them about the immediate first-aid measures they can take while waiting for help to arrive.
“Unfortunately, most of the construction companies do not abide by the rules and regulations of protecting the rights of these workers and do not even bother to provide them with the necessary medical emergency aids that can save their lives,” he added.
