(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Up to 23 people, mostly blue-collar workers, collapsed due heat exhaustion and sun strokes during the summer months of May, June and July in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah.
Being exposed to direct sun rays for a long time is one of the reasons behind the cases registered, according to Dr Abdullah Al Nuaimi, manager of the RAK medical zone. "The Obaidullah Hospital received 13 patients while Saqr hospital attended to 10." This is in addition to extreme fatigue other patients sustained due to the summer temperatures, he added. "Those suffering diabetes, high blood pressure, and other internal diseases were more prone to heat exhaustion and stroke." The RAK medical zone runs a special campaign every year to develop public awareness on the preventive measures against heat exhaustion and sun strokes during the hot summer months. The main segment spans blue-collar labourers who work in open areas and construction sites. Mahra Sarai, manager of health media department at the RAK medical zone, said the campaign helps them get acquainted with workers' health needs and enlighten them about the risks of high temperatures. "Awareness brochures are distributed to workers in four languages - Arabic, English, Chinese, and Urdu - along with bottles of cold drinking water and juices." She added that the drive, to continue during the summer months, is a quantum leap in the awareness services being provided. Official figures show that 23 workers hit with sunstrokes were reported in 2015, against 24 sunstrokes in 2014, and 53 in 2013. "The significant drop in heat strokes is due to the stringent adherence to the mandatory labour ban during summer months." The RAK Medical Zone has run a variety of campaigns to develop workers' awareness on the grave risk of working under the sun during the summer months, Sarai underlined. "They were also trained on how to identify sunstrokes and how to deal with the same," she said, noting that there are three levels of heat emergencies - heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, with heat stroke being the most severe and life-threatening. Dr Mohammed Al Asqalany, internal consultant here, said unlike heat exhaustion, heat stroke symptoms develop over several days, especially among the elderly and people with chronic health problems. The signs and symptoms of heat stroke may include profuse sweating, accelerated (weak) heartbeat, rapid breathing, shallow panting, muscle cramps, hot, dry and red skin, nausea, vomiting, and discoloured urine. "As the nervous system becomes affected, further symptoms may emerge, such as confusion, coordination problems, seizures, headache, dizziness, anxiety, hallucinations, irrational behavior, and loss of consciousness."
Ahmed Shaaban Originally from Egypt, I have been in Dubai since December 2005. Before coming here, I worked as an English language instructor, chief En/Ar translator, proofreader, reporter in Egypt and Qatar. I have also worked as a reporter, correspondent and simultaneous translator with two satellite channels in Dubai. I have a masters degree in media, Cairo University, 2014, a bachelor degree in English language and translation, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 1996, and three post-graduate diplomas in English language and Instruction. With over 19 years of experience in translation, interpretation, EFL instruction, and reporting. I am interested in technology, aviation, politics, as well as community, parliament and defence issues. I enjoy reading, writing, exercising, and surfing the web.