Latest news with #HamadInjuryPreventionProgramme
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
HMC warns against leaving children inside vehicles during hot weather
Tribune News Network Doha As temperatures in Qatar continue to rise, the Hamad Injury Prevention Programme (HIPP) at Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Hamad Trauma Center, a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center on Trauma, is raising urgent public awareness about the life-threatening dangers of leaving children or vulnerable individuals inside parked vehicles even for just a few minutes. 'The temperature inside a parked car can climb rapidly, even much higher than the outside temperature,' warned Tsoler Sekayan, coordinator of the Hamad Injury Prevention Programme. 'Even on a moderately warm day, a vehicle's interior can reach dangerous temperatures within minutes. This creates an extreme risk of heatstroke, high fever, dehydration, seizures, or even death, especially for young children.' Sekayan stressed that young children, under the age of five, are particularly at risk because their bodies absorb heat more quickly than adults. 'Sadly, many of these incidents happen when children are unintentionally forgotten, or when they fall asleep and are left behind. It only takes a short time for a tragic situation to unfold,' she said. These risks are not limited to children alone. 'Elderly individuals and those with chronic medical conditions or co-morbidities are just as vulnerable to heat-related illnesses as young children when left inside hot vehicles even for a short period,' said Sekayan. She added that some children are unintentionally left in vehicles because they fall asleep or are forgotten by busy parents, guardians, or drivers, especially when routines change or during stress. Children with special needs may also struggle to recognise or communicate danger, making them more vulnerable in these situations. HIPP shares the following basic recommendations to prevent this from happening: 1. Always account for all children when exiting the car. Before locking your vehicle, double-check that all passengers, especially young children, have exited. Young children may fall asleep or remain quiet, making them easy to overlook. 2. Search your vehicle if a child is missing. If a child goes missing, immediately check inside your vehicle, including the trunk. Children may enter the car unnoticed and become trapped. 3. Use clear and obvious visual reminders to avoid forgetting a child in the car. Place an essential item such as a phone, wallet, or handbag on the back seat near your child. You can also put your child's backpack or lunchbox on the front passenger seat as a visual prompt. 4. Keep cars locked and keys out of reach. Always lock your vehicle, even when parked at home, and store keys and remote entry devices out of reach. This prevents children from entering or starting the car unsupervised. 5. Don't let children play with car keys or inside the vehicle. Keys should never be given to children as toys. Talk to your child about the dangers of playing in or around vehicles and reinforce the importance of staying out unless accompanied by an adult. 6. Use child safety locks and educate children. Activate child safety locks on car doors and windows. Teach your child not to touch control buttons or locks while in the car. In case your child has developed any heat related illness symptoms such sweating, dehydration, confusion, you should take them to cooler area immediately and call 999 for guidance.
Qatar Tribune
21-05-2025
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Hamad Trauma Centre promotes initiative to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists
Tribune News Network Doha The Hamad Injury Prevention Programme of Hamad Trauma Centre supported the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week, which was held from May 12 to 18. This year's theme, 'Streets for Life: #MakeWalkingSafe and #MakeCyclingSafe', underscores the critical need to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists worldwide, as part of a broader effort to reduce road traffic injuries and fatalities. Every year, more than 1.3 million people worldwide lose their lives in road accidents, with pedestrians and cyclists accounting for a significant proportion of these casualties. In Qatar, as urban development progresses, there is a growing need to prioritise the safety of vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. Despite a 15 percent decrease in Hamad Trauma Centre (HTC) admissions for serious injuries, the Qatar National Trauma Registry has shown a seven percent and 39 percent increase in the number of pedestrians and cyclists admitted to the HTC from 2023 to 2024. Young children, particularly under the age of 15, and older residents, more than 55 years old, were most severely injured as pedestrians. Bicycle-related traumatic injuries, predominantly affect children, below the age of 15, and working-age males who cycle for work or leisure. The HIPP at HTC is committed to preventing unnecessary road traffic injuries [RTIs] from affecting any members of the public. During this UNGRSW, HIPP emphasises the importance of managing speed as a proven means of making our roads safer for all road users, most especially for the most vulnerable road users like pedestrians, cyclists, even children and the elderly. 'We are committed to working together with all our partners to make streets in Qatar safer for all road users, especially the most vulnerable. This year's theme provides an opportunity to reflect on the vital role we can all play in contributing to a safer road environment for pedestrians and cyclists,' said Dr. Rafael Consunji, director of the Hamad Injury Prevention Programme. 'Drivers must not drive while distracted by their mobile phones, always stop for pedestrians on crosswalks and drive under the designated speed limits. Cyclists must make themselves visible [with reflectors or blinking lights], show hand signals when turning and use bike lanes when available. Pedestrians must only cross at designated crossing zones and stay on sidewalks,' Dr. Consunji added. HIPP reaffirms its commitment to advancing evidence-based road safety policies and fostering a culture of community responsibility around safer mobility. In support of the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week, the programme endorses the campaign theme 'Streets for Life: #MakeWalkingSafe and #MakeCyclingSafe', which highlights the urgent need for safer infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists in Qatar and around the world. 'Our goal is to align with the global mission of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 percent by 2030, and this requires sustained, collaborative action,' said Dr. Consunji. 'This year's campaign reinforces the importance of integrating safety into urban planning and policymaking to protect all road users, especially the most vulnerable.'
