In view of the rising temperature in Chhattisgarh for the past week and the scorching heat waves, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has appealed to the people of the state to take precautions against heat stroke.

CM Baghel has given instructions to ensure all necessary arrangements at the administrative level to prevent heat and heat stroke. In compliance with the instructions of the Baghel, a letter has been issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department to all the District Collectors in the state regarding taking necessary steps to prevent heat stroke.

Collectors to make necessary arrangements

In the letter, the Collectors have been directed to create mass awareness with the help of teachers, health workers, panchayat secretaries and kotwars at the district, tehsil and gram panchayat level regarding the prevention of heat stroke in view of the summer season.

Instructions have also been given to appoint nodal officers at the district level to prepare for the prevention of heat stroke. In addition, all the major departments have been instructed to ensure necessary preparations.

In the letter, the Urban Administration and Development Department has been directed to ensure proper water supply in the summer season. The NGO Lions Clubs and Rotary Clubs have been asked to extend necessary cooperation in providing drinking water and expanding the green cover in urban areas.

The health and medical education department has been instructed to take precautionary measures and to provide proper treatment facilities in hospitals to people suffering from heatstroke.

The Labour and Employment Department has been asked to make necessary changes in working hours during summer (12:00 noon to 3:00 pm) to avoid outdoor work and sunstroke.

The Veterinary Department has been instructed to make arrangements for fodder and water along with essential medicines to protect the animals from heat stroke. The Transport Department has been asked to make first aid facilities available at the main bus stands/terminals of the districts.

Instructions have been given to the Education Department to make necessary changes in the timings of educational institutions and to ensure the provision of soft drinking water/ORS in schools during summer. Moreover, the Panchayat and Rural Development Department has been directed to make arrangements for drinking water and shade at work sites for the labourers working under MNREGA.

The forest department has been asked to keep a constant vigil in the forest area to avoid forest fires and to arrange drinking water for the wild animals and birds of the forest areas. In view of the summer heat, the Water Resources Department has been instructed to repair tubewells and ensure proper arrangements for quick action in case of a water crisis in any area of Chhattisgarh.

Agriculture Department and Horticulture Department have been given instructions to make farmers aware of the effect of the season on crops.

The Food Department has been asked to ensure the arrangement of drinking water at fair-price shops while the Public Health Engineering Department is to repair non-functional handpumps, especially in water crisis areas.

Instructions have been given to assess water shortage in rural and urban areas and to make necessary preparations to deal with the drinking water crisis.

Symptoms of heat stroke

Heaviness and pain in the head, dryness of the mouth with high fever, dizziness and vomiting, and there is no sweating even after the body temperature is high, and there is a problem of excessive thirst and less urine. Sunstroke is caused by loss of water and minerals mainly due to loss of salt in the body because of prolonged exposure to sun and heat.

Protection against heat stroke

Avoid going out of the house in the daytime unless necessary, cover your head and ears well with a cloth before going out in the sun, drink plenty of water, and in case of excessive sweating, take ORS. Drink the solution, take rest in a shady place in case of dizziness or vomiting.

Apply cold water bandage on the head of the person suffering from heat stroke, give more water and beverages, make the patient lie down under the fan and give ORS.

One can also avail of a free consultation from 104 Arogya Seva Kendra for preliminary advice, and in case of vomiting, headache, or high fever, go to the nearest hospital or health centre