TN govt hospitals brace for heatstroke patients

Chennai: The state health department has warned of a heightened risk of heat-related illnesses and a further rise in temperatures during the summer. It has directed govt hospitals to set up dedicated heatstroke wards ahead of the peak summer months.The move is aimed at ensuring timely treatment for patients suffering from heat exhaustion, dehydration and heatstroke. District health officials have been instructed to keep emergency teams, essential medicines and cooling facilities ready, as the state ramps up preparedness to prevent heatwave-related fatalities.The World Meteorological Organization defines a heatwave as a period of unusually high temperatures significantly above the norm, or when maximum temperatures cross 45°C, underscoring the seriousness of the situation.To prevent dehydration among the public amid the ongoing heatwave, the Directorate of Public Health has directed all govt hospitals, from medical colleges to primary health centres, to provide oral rehydration solution (ORS) to workers engaged in agriculture and construction. "Patients affected by heatstroke will be admitted to the ICU. We have nine such units with a combined capacity of 30 beds. We have also stocked essential drugs to handle emergencies during the summer," said Rajiv Gandhi Govt General Hospital dean Dr K Shantharam. So far, govt hospitals have not reported any cases of heatstroke this season. The govt has also ordered setting up dedicated heatstroke wards in govt and district hospitals to handle heat-related emergencies."We have separate wards for male and female patients. Adequate drinking water is being maintained in the hospital for patients and attendants. Last year, we treated heatstroke cases, particularly during mass gatherings and outdoor events," said Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital dean Dr M Kavitha.