Government hospitals earmark beds for heat-related illnesses and educate patients on signs and symptoms

Chennai hospitals prepare for heat-related illnesses with dedicated beds, education, and emergency measures to treat patients effectively.

With temperature levels staying high and warnings against heat-related illnesses being issued, some of the major government hospitals in Chennai have geared up with preparatory measures by earmarking beds to treat patients coming in with heat-related symptoms.

Hospitals are also focusing on educating persons walking into their facilities on the do’s and don’ts to prevent heat-related illnesses.

At the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, Dean P. Balaji said a few patients had reported to the outpatient department and emergency department with heat-related symptoms and were treated as outpatients.

“Symptoms with which most patients presented are excessive sweating, muscle cramps, tiredness, fatigue, giddiness, nausea, and headache. They were dehydrated and were treated as outpatients,” he said. The hospital has earmarked 10 beds to handle any emergency situation.

Bhavani, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the hospital, added that they started to see patients from the last week of April. “Patients complain of exhaustion and unknown reasons for headaches. This occurs in extremes of age – very old persons or young children. Next, when temperatures rise, exaggerated physical activity can also have an effect on people,” she said.

“In the triage area, the patient’s temperature is checked, and we look for skin rashes, dry skin, or heavy perspiration, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and symptoms of dehydration,” she said, adding that recognition of symptoms is vital. Ice packs have also been kept ready to reduce the temperature in patients.

The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) has kept five beds ready in the intensive care unit, Tower Block 1, for patients with heat-related symptoms. Hospital Dean E. Theranirajan said a team under the Department of Medicine and involving multidisciplinary specialists were in place.