Qatar see reduction in number of heat-related medical cases this year

The temperature in Qatar may be climbing like never before, but the number of reported cases of heatstroke has taken a nosedive.

This is being attributed to an increased compulsion among companies, thanks to stricter monitoring and punishment, to stick to guidelines regarding summer working hours.

Heat cramps, exhaustion, respiratory tract infection, rashes, and in extreme cases, heat stroke are reported during summer. But its numbers have come down significantly, reports The peninsula citing health experts.

This year, most cases of heat-related illnesses were minor in nature —intense sweating, fatigue, dizziness and weak heart beat.

“This year, we’ve seen a significant decrease in the number of major heatstroke cases. This can be due to measures taken by companies to prevent heat-related illnesses,” said Dr Sameer Kalandan, Specialist in General/Internal Medicine.

People with minor heat related problems recover within 30 to 45 minutes if moved to a cool place and take plenty of liquid.

Last month, Hamad Medical Corporation said there was no significant rise in the number of patients requiring emergency care at Hamad General Hospital during Ramadan, despite fasting in one of the hottest months.

Photo Courtesy: QL FLickr Group/Thasleem MK