Mumbai: Many Mumbaikars complained of headaches and fatigue as a heatwave gripped the city on Thursday, but there were no serious sunstroke-like complaints, said doctors and civic officials. The BMC public health department decided to issue a heat advisory asking people to refrain from walking out on hot days when the temperature breaches 37°C.“People have health complaints, especially those who are fasting,” said internal medicine specialist Dr Honey Savla from Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai Central. KEM Hospital dean Dr Sangita Ravat said it was early days in summer for severe complaints requiring hospitalisation. A doctor from Mahim said construction workers and labourers are the most vulnerable section during heatwaves. “They are more likely to be taken to a public hospital than to a private one,” he said. BMC executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah concurred. “But we have air-conditioned Aapla Dawakhanas where patients can have access to water and medication, if needed,” she said. Construction sites with more than 50 labourers are supposed to have a doctor on call, she added. “One has to stay hydrated at all costs.”Mumbai rarely registers sunstroke cases. “Yet, it’s advisable for people to avoid peak heat hours between noon and 4pm,” said Dr Savla. “One should never ignore symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and excessive sweating,” she added. It is also advisable not to stay in poorly ventilated or closed spaces for a long period. Two years ago, the central ministry had advised all health departments to follow a standard protocol during heatwaves. “The standard protocol would come into effect in all hospitals the minute there is a heatwave,” said Dr Shah. Every public hospital needs to keep two beds for heatwave victims in an air-conditioned room with cool water available for drinking.
