The State government has initiated steps to educate people about the measures they should take to avoid the ill effects of heat wave conditions as the summer has set in.
The day time temperatures have started rising considerably in many parts of the State with the approaching summer. The temperatures are likely to escalate further between April and June when the summer will be at its peak. The State witnessed illness and loss of 108 deaths in different districts due to heat wave conditions last year.
“This year, scientifically it is being argued that due to reduced span of winter, heat wave 2018 will have an early onset and will extend for prolonged spells leading to severe impact on life conditions,” Disaster Management Commissioner R.V. Chandravadan said in a circular sent to different departments. The departments had been directed to initiate an advance plan of action regarding preparedness, response, relief and mitigation measures to ensure zero human deaths due to heat wave.
Adequate stock
Accordingly, awareness should be created on the symptoms of heat stroke and its consequences as also the precautions that should be taken.
Medical and Health department should keep stock of ORS, IV fluids, glucose, Pot Chlor (Potassium Chloride), derma allergic creams and other essentials in adequate quantities while it should ensure uninterrupted telephone link to all its facilities (institutions) so that people in distress could make an emergency contact with them.
The village secretaries and other officials concerned should conduct gram sabhas and publicize the do’s and don’ts besides ensuring dependable water supply. Persons hailing from the weaker sections who suffer heat strokes should be given free treatment at the government hospitals while effort should be made to rope in NGOs and other voluntary bodies to run water and butter milk supply centres.
The Labour department on its part should sensitise and encourage employers to shift outdoor workers’ schedules away from peak afternoon hours during heat alert. Effort should be made to ensure all amenities to children appearing for examinations in addition to prioritising maintenance of power to all critical facilities like hospitals and drinking water supply schemes. District collectors should prepare their district specific heat wave action plans, the circular said.
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