Heat wave is now flowing over more than 45 districts of Bangladesh including Dhaka. Along with that, the average temperature of the day has increased by several degrees. Due to intense heat, people’s life has been disturbed all over the country. In this situation, the Department of Meteorology is making the people aware by issuing heat alerts from time to time. Last night, the agency issued a heat alert for the next 72 hours.
Heat stroke has become the name of fear this summer. Every day news of death due to heat stroke is coming from different parts of the country. The health department says that death due to heat stroke is coming every day from different parts of the country. But these deaths are not due to heat stroke. So far two have died due to heat stroke.
Three people died of heat stroke across the country on Wednesday (April 24), the families of the deceased claimed. Among them, one is a student of North South University, Istiaq Waresch Turya, another is a retired school teacher named Nurul Islam from Goland area of Rajbari and a laborer named Naya Mia Fakir (50) from Taltali area of Barguna.
Earlier on Tuesday (April 23) 9 people including a police constable died in the capital Dhaka and various districts. The cause of their death was heat stroke in the media.
Analyzing the news of various media, it has been found that more than 36 people died of heat stroke across the country in five days from April 20 to Wednesday (April 24).
The health department is unwilling to accept so many deaths
It is said from the control room of the Department of Health, that most of the news published in various newspapers about death due to heat stroke in the country are false. As far as heat stroke deaths have been reported in news reports, we analyzed each news report and patient data. As far as we know, two people have died of heat stroke so far. And two more people are under treatment in the hospital due to heat stroke.
A senior official of the department, who did not wish to be named, said that most of those who have died of heat stroke so far died around 7.8 am. When heat stroke is not supposed to happen. Moreover, these people did not die after arriving at the hospital, they were all brut deaths (death before being brought to the hospital). And when brute death comes to the hospital and death is confirmed, no one can call it heat stroke. As a result, when the civil surgeon offices were contacted, they also denied our case of heat stroke.
According to control room sources, one of the deaths due to heat stroke in the country so far occurred on Tuesday (April 23), while the second died yesterday (April 24). One of them died in Chuadanga district, the other in Khulna district. And the two who are under treatment, one in Bogra and the other in Rangamati district.
Not all deaths in the media are due to heat stroke: Director General of Health
Director General of the Department of Health Professor Dr. ABM Khurshid Alam said that the country is hotter than other times this time. Due to which people are suffering from various diseases. As far as we can see every hospital has slightly higher patient pressure than usual. There is no substitute for awareness to keep yourself healthy in this situation.
Regarding death due to heat stroke, he said, we are getting news of death due to heat stroke every day from all over the country in newspaper and television news. But as far as we know, most of them died of other causes. Some of them died of stroke, some heart attack. Died during extreme heat, so it is thought that they died of heat stroke. So no news can be broadcast which causes panic among people.
Same situation in Dhaka hospitals in summer
Patient pressure has increased in the capital’s hospitals due to intense heat. Patients are being admitted to the hospital suffering from various diseases including cold-fever, pneumonia, diarrhoea.
It has been found that most of these patients are children and elderly. However, at present, there is no information about death or admission to any hospital in the capital due to heat stroke.
Officials said that after contacting several hospitals including Mugda Medical College Hospital, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Kurmitola General Hospital in the capital, there is no information about heat stroke victims. Every hospital has a high number of patients admitted with other heat related diseases.
According to Bangladesh Children’s Hospital and Institute, 700 to 800 patients used to come to the hospital daily for treatment before the heat intensified. Now there are 1100 to 1300 patients receiving outdoor treatment every day. 87 children are admitted to the hospital only due to pneumonia. Also at present patients are coming for treatment every day with fever, diarrhoea, asthma, common cold related problems.
It has been found that the number of patients suffering from diarrhea is increasing in the hospital with increasing heat. After April 19, the number of patients did not fall below 500. Where normal patients are admitted from 300 to maximum 350 people.
According to the statistics of the hospital, 543 people on 20th April, 522 people on 21st April, 500 people on 22nd April, 524 people on 23rd April and more than 400 patients have received treatment in the hospital till the evening of 24th April.
Meanwhile, only 20 patients are admitted and receiving treatment in the diarrhea ward of the capital’s Mugda Medical College Hospital.
What is heat stroke, who is more at risk?
According to medical science, heat stroke is a condition of overheating. In extremely hot weather, the body’s ability to control heat is lost. Then, when the body temperature exceeds 105 degrees Fahrenheit, sweating stops and the affected person may faint. Which is called heat stroke in medical terms.
According to doctors, the possibility of heatstroke increases in children and the elderly as they have less ability to control heat. In addition, those suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney, liver or heart disease, stroke or cancer are more at risk of suffering from heat stroke. As a result, the risk of heat stroke can be avoided by following some precautions on hot days.
Drink plenty of water and other fluids in this condition. In summer, both water and salt are excreted with sweat. So along with water, you should also drink salty drinks like food saline, fruit juice, lachi etc.
Health Department guidelines to reduce risk of heat stroke in extreme heat
The Health Department has given 4-point instructions to reduce the risk of heat stroke in the country due to intense heat. The instructions are;
>> Stay away from intense heat, rest occasionally in the shade.
>> Drink plenty of safe water. Avoid street food and drinks to avoid deadly water borne diseases including Hepatitis A, E, Diarrhea. Bathe more than once if necessary.
>> Wear loose thin and light colored clothing in hot weather, avoid dark colored clothing if possible.
>> In hot weather, if any symptoms such as cessation of sweating, nausea, severe headache, increased body temperature, decreased urination, burning sensation during urination, convulsions and fainting occur, go to the hospital immediately and consult a doctor. Get advice.
Advice given by doctors to avoid heat stroke
In the heat, excess water is removed from the body, at one point dehydration occurs and heat stroke occurs. Therefore, the country’s renowned medical expert and Prime Minister’s personal physician, Professor Dr. advised to consume more water and Orsaline to fill the deficiency of water in the body. ABM Abdullah.
He said that people are suffering from various diseases due to excessive heat. Especially the news of heat stroke victims is coming from all over the country. This summer, most of the victims are the elderly and those suffering from various diseases.
ABM Abdullah said that the risk is a little higher for those who work outside for hours during the hot season. They are at risk of dehydration, they are prone to heatstroke. That’s why you can’t stay in the sun for more than one hour continuously. Drink plenty of water, if possible with a small amount of salt. Even better if one or two orsalines can be eaten.
This renowned medical expert said that a lot of salt comes out of the body with sweat in the heat. Because drinking water alone does not fill the deficiency, drinking it with salt is beneficial.
He also said that those who go out during summer should try to wear loose clothes. Because if the clothes are too tight, heat cannot escape from the body easily. During this period, all types of open food should be avoided as much as possible. When going out in hot weather, you must take filtered water boiled at high temperature in a bottle and leave the house.
TI/SKD
