Authorities have intensified their awareness campaigns to reduce the number of heatstroke cases.
Authorities concerned in Sharjah are taking measure to curb heatstroke cases among the public as well as blue-collar workers.
Sharjah Police, Sharjah Medical Zone and Sharjah Labour Standards development Authority are part of this joint efforts and have intensified their awareness campaigns to reduce the number of heatstroke cases.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Saif Al Zeri Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police said that the police department is very much concerned about heatstroke though the number of cases have declined after the implementation of the midday break rule for outdoor construction workers.
"The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation rule stipulates that outdoors workers must be allowed to take a break from 12pm to 3.30pm during the hot summer month," he said.
Officials at Sharjah hospitals said that a few cases involving food delivery men were reported during June and July, and they had been rushed to the hospitals and discharged the same day and were given tips to prevent recurrence of heat stroke.
Mohammed Abdullah Al Zarouni, director of Sharjah Medical zone, said that the hospitals are equipped to handle heat stroke cases and the statistic for this year will soon be released.
He pointed out that workers who stayed out in the open during the middle of the day were at the risk of developing symptoms of heat exhaustion and stroke including dry skin, a rapid and slow pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and unconsciousness.
"It seems that some companies were not providing workers with enough water to keep them hydrated," he added.
The awareness campaigns educate the supervisors to familiarise with heat stroke symptoms to be able to provide first aid for the workers and prevent them from its high risk which could lead to death.
The construction companies were instructed to provide training courses to its supervisor about first aid measures they can take while waiting for help to arrive.
Salem Yousef Al Qaseer, chairman of Sharjah Labour Standards development Authority, said that safety of workers is one of the top priorities of the authority, and so, making all efforts to prevent the heat stroke cases among workers.
The authority in coordination with the Medical Zone and Red crescent carried out medical examinations on large number of workers and distributed towels that could resist heat for eight hours as well as drinks and water on daily basis.
SOURCE : KHALEEJTIMES