TN DPH issues health advisory as summer season approaches
Heat waves not only impact daily life but also pose significant health risks, including Heat Related Illnesses (HRIS), which range from mild conditions like a heat rash to severe complications such as heat stroke.
Directorate of Public health and preventive medicine
CHENNAI: With the summer season approaching, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPHPM) has issued an advisory to prevent, identify and treat heat related illnesses due to the heat wave.
Heat waves not only impact daily life but also pose significant health risks, including Heat Related Illnesses (HRIS), which range from mild conditions like a heat rash to severe complications such as heat stroke.
Heat wave is deviation from normal temperature by 4.5-6.4 degree Celsius. Severe heat wave is deviation from normal temperature by above 6.4 degree Celsius. The heat wave is when the actual maximum temperature is 45 degrees, and severe heat wave is when the actual maximum temperature is at 47 degrees.
Health officials have been instructed to conduct district task force meetings on climate change and human health and develop a ‘heat action plan’ including the ‘standard operating procedures’, which will be in place during the heatwave season.
Management and reporting of HRI symptoms among health staff and line department staff should be a regular activity. Health advisory should also be issued time-to-time for the public about the precautions to be taken against the heat wave.
Procurement and supply of ORS packs, essential medicines, IV fluids, ice-packs and equipment must be adequate so as to manage volume depletion and electrolyte imbalance etc. Sufficient drinking water, cooling appliances, ice packs or cold water in ambulances must be available 24/7. Cases of suspected heat stroke should be rapidly assessed using standard treatment protocols.
Health officials must coordinate with Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited (Tangedco) for uninterrupted electricity supply to hospitals, and also adopt measures to reduce indoor heat and energy conservation in the health facilities. Heat stroke or heat-related deaths should be investigated as per guidelines for Investigation of Suspected Heat-Related Illness Death and labelled as per the criteria issued by NPCCHH and should be reported in the IDSP-IHIP portal.
Health officials must ensure adequate ventilation to reduce the impact of heat. Drugs and vaccines should be stored under the correct cold temperature.
