KMC issues Ramadan health advisory for citizens

KARACHI: The Medical & Health Services Department of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has issued a Ramadan health advisory for the general public to prevent them from the heat-wave during this holy month.

The citizens have been directed to take baths as much possible, use umbrellas during travelling, use cold sponging with a wet towel to control the body’s temperature, avoid standing in direct sunlight for prolonged periods especially between 11:00 am and 05:00 pm. Patients with any sort of chronic illness such as diabetes, TB, kidney, and heart disease should strictly avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight.

“If any person after having significant exposure to the sun experiences dizziness, reduced sweating, red, hot, dry skin, muscle cramps, weakness, nausea, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, or behavioural changes, like confusion, disorientation, or unconsciousness, call an ambulance or shift them to the nearest health provider”.

The affected person should be shifted to a cool and airy place while waiting for an ambulance or any help. Remove unnecessary clothes, wet their skin with cold or tap water, apply ice packs if available in the armpit, neck, back and groin areas as they have an abundant blood supply which will help in reducing the body’s temperature.