Health tips for outdoor workers from HMC

Source: Gulf Times

Published: Tuesday, 12 August, 2008, 01:09 AM Doha Time

Dr al-Kahlout … sound advice
By Noimot Olayiwola
WITH the temperature and humidity soaring higher, outdoor and bakery workers have been advised to take extra care of their health during the holy month of Ramadan when severe cases of heat stroke and exhaustion are most likely to occur.
Speaking to Gulf Times yesterday, Dr Baha Hamdi al-Kahlout, a specialist emergency physician at the Hamad Hospital’s emergency department, said fasting Muslims who work in less-ventilated work environment should ensure they drink plenty of fluid during Iftar and Suhour and if possible work the evening shift only during the period.
“Normally, the peak summer months are June, July and August but due to climate change the summer has shifted to July, August and September, the month in which Ramadan falls.
There is a need for employers of these categories of people to strictly adhere to the restriction on work timing during Ramadan in order to prevent any of their employees from the risks of suffering heat stroke or exhaustion,” he noted.
According to Dr al-Kahlout, the emergency department see up to 1,300 cases per day with 25% industrial-related minor injuries and between 10–15 cases of heat exhaustions, which he said could reach between 30-40 per day in more humid weather.
“This summer and specifically last month, we received five cases of heat stroke, a more fatal condition that could lead to instant death if medical intervention is not sought early enough. This is a high figure because normally heat stroke is very rare, you may see one or two cases throughout the whole summer. Thanks to the facilities and quality of staff on ground at the emergency, the five patients have since regained their health,” he added.
The physician explained that symptoms of heat-related conditions include headache, nausea, cramps and general body weakness and if all these are not attended to promptly, the combination could lead to dizziness and severe cases can cause cardiac arrest and instant death.
“What people at risk need to do is to try and understand the mechanism of circumstances that could lead to the situation. They should care for their hydration when they sweat excessively by drinking more juice than water because water is not enough and if they must drink water, salt should be added. Half teaspoonful salt to a cup of water will do,” Dr Kahlout said.
Some of the other emergency cases attended by the department are road injuries with at least one case resulting in serious injury or death per day, he said.
“The accidents occur during the heavy vehicular period,” he observed.
For the department to cope with the influx of patients, a walk-in clinic has been dedicated solely to male patients.
“Our walk-in clinics is an extension of a system put in place earlier called fast-track to deal with non-urgent cases and during peak period, which is usually in the mornings, we receive up to 200 cases and about half of that in the evening,” he said.
Presently, there are 180 physicians in charge of HMC Emergency and Al Khor Emergency plus eight urgent care centres spread across the country.