Chittoor district officials gear up to prevent sunstroke deaths

Tirupati: The District Medical and Health department gears up to take all kinds of preventive measures in this summer and to bring sunstroke deaths to near zero. Awareness programmes will be conducted to people on how to protect themselves from blistering heat.

The District Collector PS Pradyumna has already convened a meeting with Health department and other line departments like RWS, Panchayat Raj, RTC etc., and directed them on the steps to be taken by chalking out an action plan.

As people require ORS to cope with heat conditions, distribution of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) packets has been going extensively on a massive scale at all PHCs, group gatherings on various festive occasions and other places. They were being supplied in buses also along with water. The RTC depot managers were asked to provide drinking water in all buses and this will continue during the whole season, said the DM&HO Dr B Ramagiddaiah.

He told The Hans India that pamphlets, banners, posters were printed and being used as part of creating awareness. All medical officers, health educators and other staff have been engaged in awareness programmes.

Dr Ramagiddaiah added that sun stroke may result from prolonged exposure to high temperatures which causes dehydration. Those suffering from heat stroke will have severe headache and may run high temperatures. Heat stroke is a case of medical emergency and requires immediate medical care. They must be taken to a nearby hospital by calling 108 ambulance, he said.

He told that children, pregnant women and aged people are more prone to the strokes and they should take every care and should not come out during the day time.

Three men committees comprising of Medical officer, Tahsildar and Police officer at every manual will take stock of sudden deaths to ascertain whether it was due to heatstroke or due to some other sicknesses. The DM&HO has advised the people to protect themselves from scorching sun. Water kiosks were also being set up at several places in the district with the cooperation from philanthropists.