Heat kills. And it’s the city’s homeless that is bearing the brunt of the heat wave conditions. The city is still counting the deaths due to heat stroke even though the weatherman predicted 'temporary relief from the sweltering temperature’ this week.
Sunil Kumar Aledia from the Centre for Holistic Development (CHD), that works with the homeless said: “Heat hits those forced to live on the streets the worst. Shelter homes can not function only as a tin-roof shelter for the night. The Government has to give these people the facilities that they are entitled too.’’
Recently, the Centre had written to the Delhi Government terming the period from March to October as lean period for night shelters.
``This has to change. Regular meetings are a must to ensure that the homeless don’t suffer. Most of the unidentified dead bodies are of the homeless and figures put it at 80 per cent. Of this 50 per cent deaths can be attributed to heat related causes,’’ he added.
But how does heat kill. Indian Medical Association’s Dr. K.K. Aggarwal explains: “Simply put rising unregulated temperature causes multiple organ failure. The vulnerable group includes people with heart condition, diabetics, those with excessive weight, elderly and children.’’
The most common symptoms include exhaustion with increased metabolic activity, drop in blood pressure, dehydration, excessive sweating and heightened body temperature clocking 104 degree F which then adversely affects the various organs.
“Prolonged heat exposure coupled with poor nutrition is a killer”, noted Dr. Aggarwal.
Yet another vulnerable group is pregnant women.
Dr. Nupur Gupta, Consultant and unit head, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician Well Women Clinic Gurgaon says: “Pregnant women have more chances of becoming dehydrated. Fluid from their body goes to the foetus and the amniotic fluid add to this increased sweating due to hot weather that leads to risk of dehydration. So, pregnant mums are advised to drink plenty of water.”
“Dizziness, nausea and fatigue are some of the warning signs”, she adds.
