Latest news with #heatstroke
Arabian Business
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Arabian Business
health issues
With rising summer temperatures across the UAE, medical professionals and authorities are urging residents to stay alert to the risks of heatstroke and exhaustion
Arabian Business
6 hours ago
- Climate
- Arabian Business
UAE doctors call for precaution as heat-related illnesses soar amid rising temperatures
Medical professionals across the UAE are urging residents to take precautionary measures as hospitals report an increase in heat-related illnesses during the country's summer months. Dr Abdelgader Siddig, Specialist Internal Medicine at Medeor Hospital, Abu Dhabi, explains that heatstroke occurs when body temperature rises above 40°C, leading to potential organ damage and requiring immediate medical attention. Heat exhaustion, while less severe, still presents serious symptoms including headache, heavy sweating, weakness, and nausea. UAE summer heat safety: Doctors issue precaution advice amid rising temperatures 'Watch for dizziness, nausea, rapid and strong pulse, heavy sweating, fainting, or confusion,' Dr Siddig told Arabian Business. Echoing the sentiment, Dr Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Specialist Internal Medicine at Burjeel Specialty Hospital, Sharjah, defines heatstroke as a condition when 'the body gets overheated greater than 40°C and can't cool itself down,' noting that heatstroke involves changes in mental status while heat exhaustion does not. Both doctors identify outdoor workers as facing the highest risk due to constant exposure to high temperatures with limited access to shade, cool water, or air-conditioned rest areas. Children and elderly individuals also face vulnerability due to immature body functioning and physiological debility respectively. To prevent heat-related problems, medical professionals recommend staying indoors during peak heat hours, using fans or air conditioning, wearing lightweight, light-coloured clothing, and avoiding strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day. Hydration is key Hydration remains critical, with doctors recommending consumption of two to three litres of water daily. Dr Gupta specifies drinking 'small amounts of water frequently, approximately 30-50 ml every 20-30 minutes' to replace fluid loss through sweating. Medical professionals advise avoiding alcohol, caffeine, fried and oily foods, sugary drinks, and high-protein meats as these can increase dehydration. For those required to work outdoors, doctors recommend loose, lightweight, light-coloured clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sunscreen application. 'Light-coloured, loose-fitting cotton material long-sleeved shirts and pants for breathability and moisture-wicking, along with hats and sunglasses' are advisable, Dr Gupta said. Children require particular attention, with parents advised to ensure adequate water intake, appropriate clothing, and limited outdoor play during peak heat hours. 'Parents should never leave children in cars unattended, as advised by the UAE government,' he added. Elderly individuals and those with health conditions should stay in air-conditioned environments, drink fluids regularly, and avoid strenuous exercise. Dr Gupta recommends they 'undergo regular health check-ups, and limit frequent indoor visits with friends or family members to reduce exposure to direct sunlight.' In cases of suspected heatstroke, medical professionals stress the importance of immediate action: calling emergency services, moving the person to a cooler place, applying cool water to the skin, and offering cool drinks if the person remains conscious. Medical attention becomes necessary when symptoms worsen or when confusion, fainting, or body temperature above 40°C occurs. Dr Gupta specifies that 'anyone experiencing a high-grade fever of 40°C, dizziness or fainting, confusion, agitation, slurred speech, or inability to sweat should go to the doctor or hospital immediately to prevent organ damage.' Both doctors confirm an increase in heat-related cases. 'Yes, with increasing temperatures, there is a rise in heat-related illnesses,' Dr Siddig said. 'Cases with high-risk groups like children, the elderly, diabetics, obese, and heart patients are seeing an increase,' Dr Gupta added. The medical warnings coincide with the UAE's implementation of the Midday Break, prohibiting work under direct sunlight and in open-air spaces between 12.30 PM and 3 PM from June 15 to September 15, 2025. This marks the 21 st consecutive year of the initiative. We announce the implementation of the Midday Break, prohibiting work under direct sunlight and in open-air spaces between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm, from 15 June to 15 September 2025. Now in its 21st consecutive year, the Midday Break is rooted in a sustainability-centred approach… — وزارة الموارد البشرية والتوطين (@MOHRE_UAE) June 3, 2025 The regulations require companies to provide necessary supplies including shaded areas, cooling equipment such as fans, adequate drinking water quantities, and hydration supplements like electrolytes approved by local authorities. Exemptions apply to work that must continue uninterrupted for technical reasons, such as laying asphalt or pouring concrete, and activities addressing hazards or repairs affecting community services like water or electricity supply. The Ministry monitors compliance through its system and welcomes reports of violations through its call centre at 600 590000, website, or smart application. Companies violating regulations face fines of AED5,000 per worker per breach, with maximum penalties reaching AED50,000 if multiple workers are found in violation. 'Stay informed about weather forecasts, use cooling devices like fans or air conditioners, and avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours,' Dr Siddig said, emphasising on the importance of regularly checking on vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and those with chronic illnesses, during extreme heat waves. 'Keep well informed about the risk of heat-related health issues, take proper precautions, and seek immediate help or visit a doctor in case of an emergency for heatstroke,' Dr Gupta concluded.
NHK
3 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Japanese firms take steps to prevent heatstroke
Extremely hot summers are becoming more common in Japan, with temperatures sometimes rising to dangerous levels. Starting on Sunday, Japanese companies will be required to protect workers from intense heat. They will also need to make sure their staff are ready to deal with heatstroke emergencies. People working in the construction industry are at high risk of developing heatstroke. An air conditioner and ice water are available at a site in Tokyo to help employees cool themselves down. The workers know who to contact in an emergency. The firm has also compiled guidelines for these situations. The number of heatstroke casualties at Japanese workplaces in 2024 stood at 1,257, a record high. Thirty-one of those people died. An IT company in Tokyo has developed a system that focuses on body weight to help catch the early signs of heatstroke. Workers are required to weigh themselves a few times a day and to answer questions about their physical condition. The data is analyzed to assess the risk of heatstroke. Japan's health ministry says a person who loses more than 1.5 percent of their body weight, mainly through sweating, is at high risk. An expert says support for small businesses will be the key to ensuring preventive measures against heatstroke become more widespread. Toyo University Associate Professor Kitaoka Daisuke believes it is essential for the government to support small businesses through subsidies and other forms of assistance. Kitaoka says subsidies will help companies to purchase more equipment to tackle the problem of heatstroke.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
One-year-old boy dies after relative locked him inside hot pickup truck and 'forgot he was there'
A one-year-old boy was found dead inside a blisteringly hot pickup truck in southwest Albuquerque on Sunday evening. Police have described the death as 'a very tragic incident' and one that occurred while the child was supposed to be under the supervision of a male relative who authorities say, simply forgot he was there. 'It's obviously a tragedy. But a one-year-old - it's really difficult to fathom,' said Albuquerque Police Department Public Information Officer Gilbert Gallegos The child's parents dropped him off around 10:30am leaving him in the care of a young adult relative. But what should have been a routine day turned to horror when that relative left the child in the back seat of his vehicle, parked in the sun with the windows closed. It wasn't until almost six hours later at 5pm that someone realized the baby was missing. Family members contacted the caregiver to ask where the child was, prompting a frantic search - and a heartbreaking discovery. 'They realized the child wasn't inside the home,' Gallegos said at a press briefing. 'Family members may have started CPR, but Albuquerque Fire Rescue took over. They tried for a long time to revive the child. Unfortunately, the child died at the scene.' Although the official cause of death is pending an autopsy, police say all signs point to heatstroke. 'I know the family was really devastated at the scene,' Gallegos said. 'It was a pretty large extended family. So I ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers and be respectful of what they're going through right now.' The neighborhood has been left stunned by the horror of what happened. The National Weather Service estimates the interior of the parked vehicle could have reached more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit even though Albuquerque's high on Sunday was around 83 degrees. The closed car turned the vehicle into a oven. According to experts, 80 percent of a car's temperature rise occurs in the first 10 minutes, making such tragedies horrifyingly quick. 'It doesn't have to be that hot outside for it to be deadly,' Gallegos stressed. 'Being in a hot truck with the windows up can get extremely hot after just a little bit of time.' As temperatures rise with the warmer weather experts are once again urging vigilance. 'A child's body overheats three to five times faster than an adult's,' Gallegos said. 'Even at 72 degrees outside, the inside of a car can become deadly in minutes.' Kids and Car Safety is pushing for more widespread use of technology like rear-seat reminders in vehicles, and greater public awareness campaigns - especially in states like New Mexico, where summer heat can strike with lethal speed.' 'Check the back seat,' Gallegos urged. 'Always.' 'The temperature the car can hit can go over 115 degrees - and in many cases, even higher. These situations happen at least once a year, and in some years, multiple times,' said Paul Szych, a public safety expert with KOAT. Despite the devastating outcome, no arrests have been made but police say the case remains under investigation and that they've been working closely with the local district attorney and the Children, Youth and Families Department. The young caregiver, who initially fled the scene before returning, has been interviewed but is not currently facing charges. 'His relatives speculated that he was just traumatized,' Gallegos said. 'They said he was a good person, but he was just in shock when this happened.' Authorities have also confirmed that there is no prior history of child abuse or neglect involving the family. According to the national nonprofit Kids and Car Safety, the death of the Albuquerque child marks the fourth hot car death of a child in the US this year. Since 1990, at least 1,127 children have died in hot cars across the country and more than 7,500 have suffered injuries ranging from heat exhaustion to severe brain damage. Nearly 90 percent of the victims are under the age of 3. In over half of those cases, the child was unknowingly left behind by a parent or caregiver. 'The problem is, people jump to the conclusion that a parent left a child in the vehicle,' said Valencia County Fire Chief Matt Propp. 'But a lot of times, it's somebody who's not accustomed to having a child with them - a family member, a friend. And those few hours - that's all it takes.' Propp also voiced his frustration with bystanders who hesitate to intervene when they see a child trapped in a hot vehicle.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Meridian mother arrested, accused of leaving child alone in hot vehicle
A Meridian mother was arrested over the weekend after police say she left her 2-year-old child alone in a locked vehicle. Officers responded to the parking lot of an Idaho Pizza Company off of Fairview Avenue in Meridian around 7:45 p.m. Sunday after a bystander reported seeing the child crying and visibly sweating inside the vehicle, according to a news release from the Meridian Police Department. An employee of the restaurant was able to open the vehicle's door and remove the child as officers arrived at the scene, police said. First responders immediately provided medical care to the child, who was taken to a local hospital in stable condition, according to the release. The vehicle's internal temperature was measured at over 130 degrees. The child's mother was arrested on suspicion of felony injury to a child and booked in the Ada County Jail, according to online jail records. Police said this incident was 'a critical reminder that as temperatures rise,' the inside of a vehicle can become 'dangerously hot' in just a few minutes. 'It is never safe to leave a child or pet in a parked car, even for a short time,' the release said. 'We urge all community members to take extra precautions during warmer months and to call 911 immediately if they see a child or pet left unattended in a vehicle.'
