Heatwave alert! As India sees unusual temperature rise, Centre issues health advisory

The list of ‘Dos and Don’ts’ comes after the India Meteorological Department issued its first heat warning for 2023.

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Amid
unusual
rise
in
temperatures
in
some
places
of
the
country,
the
Union
Health
Ministry
on
Tuesday
issued
an
advisory,
listing
the
dos
and
don’ts
for
protection
against
the
expected
heatwave.

The
list
of
‘Dos
and
Don’ts’ comes
after
the
India
Meteorological
Department
issued
its
first
heat
warning
for
2023.

As
part
of
a
national
action
plan
on
heat-related
illness,
the
ministry
has
advised
citizens
to
avoid
high-protein
food
and
cooking
during
the
peak
summer
hours
besides
asking
them
to
not
get
out
in
the
sun
especially
between
12
noon
and
3
pm.

In
the
advisory,
the
ministry
has
also
asked
people
to
drink
sufficient
water
whenever
possible,
even
if
not
thirsty.

It
has
also
asked
people
to
use
Oral
Rehydration
Solution
(ORS),
and
consume
homemade
drinks
like
lemon
water,
butter
milk/lassi,
fruit
juices
with
some
added
salt
and
stay
indoors
in
well
ventilated
and
cool
places.

Residents
have
also
been
advised
to
consume
fresh
fruits
such
as
watermelon,
cucumber,
lemon,
and
orange,
wear
thin,
loose,
cotton
garments
preferably
light
coloured
ones,
cover
head
using
umbrella,
hat,
cap,
towel
and
other
traditional
head
gears
during
exposure
to
direct
sunlight
and
not
go
out
barefoot.

After
hottest
February
since
1877,
IMD
predicts
India
likely
to
witness
extreme
weather
condition
in
April-May

The
ministry
further
urged
citizens
to
listen
to
the
radio,
read
newspaper
and
watch
television
for
local
weather
news
and
also
track
the
IMD’s
website.

It
has
asked
people
to
watch
out
for
symptoms
of
“heat
stress”
which
include
dizziness
or
fainting,
nausea
or
vomiting,
headache,
extreme
thirst,
decreased
urination
with
unusually
dark
yellow
urine,
and
rapid
breathing
and
heartbeat.

It
said
citizens
should
call
on
108/102
immediately
if
they
find
someone
with
high
body
temperature;
and
is
either
unconscious,
confused,
or
has
stopped
sweating.

“Do
not
leave
children
or
pets
in
parked
vehicle.
Temperature
inside
a
vehicle
could
get
dangerous,”
the
advisory
read.

“Block
direct
sunlight
and
heat
waves:
Keep
windows
and
curtains
closed
during
the
day,
especially
on
the
sunny
side
of
your
house.
Open
them
up
at
night
to
let
cooler
air
in.

“If
going
outdoors,
limit
your
outdoor
activity
to
cooler
times
of
the
day
i.e.,
morning
and
evening,”
it
stated.

The
advisory
also
mentioned
a
list
of
“vulnerable
population
which
includes
infants
and
young
children,
pregnant
women,
people
working
outdoors,
people
having
mental
illness,
people
who
are
physically
ill
especially
with
heart
disease
or
high
blood
pressure
and
people
coming
from
cooler
climate
to
hot
climate.