Friday, March 29, 2024 | Ramadan 18, 1445 H
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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Beating the blazing sun

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With the mercury soaring higher and temperatures reaching greater levels, experts have urged everyone to take precautions further against heat stroke and dehydration.


One needs to eat light and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. It is also necessary to take in plenty of low to non-sugar fluids, especially water while avoiding soft drinks, coffee and tea.


“The food intake during summer should be less and fluids should be more. Eat light and healthy food especially fresh fruits like watermelon, cucumber and the like and eat frequent small meals,” says Dr Saadiya Akbar, Medical Officer, Al Salama Polyclinic, Maabelah.


Reducing the time spent outside and limiting the outdoor activities when temperatures are at the peak, especially mid-day, is advisable and one shouldn’t leave kids, pets or elderly people unattended to in closed places, especially cars, garage and near swimming pools.


“Also, adopting an appropriate skincare routine and applying sunscreen are welcome. Protections like spf-50 needs to be applied every 3-4 hours. Opt to wear loose, cotton clothes. Sunglasses or hats or umbrella can be used to protect oneself. A couple of cool showers can also help in beating the heat,” Dr Saadiya added.


“During extreme summer, cases like heatstroke are quite common and one should watch out for symptoms like headache, muscle cramps, fatigue, nausea, dizziness,” says Mini Padikkal, Clinical Dietician at New Medical Centre.


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“Medical care should be sought when you have symptoms of these kinds,” she added.


“Yet other medical issues found during summer are food poisoning and diarrhoea and it is better to avoid outside food, and the left-over food at home should be stored in the refrigerator,” say the medics.


For children, some common summer diseases such as chickenpox, measles and mumps are found and preventive measures in consultation with doctors should be taken.


Summer is known to have triggered more Covid-19 cases and so precautions against the pandemic should be taken.


“Continue to wear a face mask in public places, practise social distancing, wash your hands and use hand sanitiser frequently. And most importantly, stay home unless it’s really urgent and get medical advice if you are sick.”


MID-DAY BREAK


A 3-hour mid-day break needs to be followed by labourers and they shouldn’t be engaged in any work outside under the sun, according to the Ministry of Labour.


This is in view of the excessive heat and in accordance with the Sultanate’s rules on protecting the labourers’ health and rights.


Workers should not be employed at construction sites and open areas between 12.30 and 3.30 pm in June, July and August.


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