10 Jan 2016

At least three people out of the seven that were attended to at Bamalete Lutheran Hospital (BLH) have died after they were suspected to have shown heat stroke symptoms.

A press release from the Ministry of Health states that the hospital had received seven patients which included three children and four elders and all the patients were said to have respiratory system problems, hot skin and breathing heavily.

The release states that the deceased aged 54, 56 and 90 were presented to the hospital with heat stroke symptoms of body temperature of 40-41degrees, bodies hot to touch, difficulty in breathing and almost unconscious.

It also states that the history of the three patients was that they had spent a lot of time working outside and they were brought in between 1730-1845 hours on Friday.

However, it says a post-mortem will be carried out to verify the cause of deaths.

Further, the release says extreme heat continues to be experienced throughout the country and individuals at great risk include 65-year-olds and older, infants and children aged up to four years and those who are ill. 

Meanwhile, it states that excessive heat can cause death and it has claimed lives of over 1200 people in Pakistan in July last year. 

Thus, the ministry urges the public to take preventative measures against heat related illnesses.

Such include drinking lots of water and avoiding alcohol, wearing loose fitting, light weight and light coloured clothing and avoiding dark colours, applying sunscreen lotions, wearing sunglasses and hats before going out, not leaving children and elderly people in parked cars, limiting outside activities to early morning or evening and resting in shady areas.

Some of the symptoms of excessive heat include headache, fatigue or tiredness, heat cramps (may lead to stroke), chipped lips, dehydration, excessive sweating, painful muscles, fainting, rapid pulse, confusion, nausea, dizziness and shallow breath. 

As a result, the ministry encourages those experiencing any of the symptoms to visit the nearest health facility for immediate health attention. Ends