Dubai Municipality launches safe summer campaign

Redha Hassan Salman, Director of Public Safety Department of Dubai Municipality, said many lives can be saved, if people are made more aware about heat-related illnesses.

"Simple measures such as recognizing symptoms of heat stress and giving proper first aid to the victims can help save lives," he said.

He noted that the campaign, undertaken in co-operation with National Trading & Pharmaceutical Est. (NTPE), a group company of NTDE, will advise the public on first aid measures to be taken if somebody collapses due to heat exhaustion, like taking the person to a cool shaded area, fanning and providing cool electrolyte drinks.

NTPE has been conducting heat awareness programmes for labourers and staff of construction companies for many years now as a part of "Beat The Heat With Prolyte" campaign.

Manager of NTPE, Mrs. Snehal Deshpande, explained various reasons why people in the UAE are more susceptible to heat stress and how heat can kill.

"Summer temperatures in the region are nearly always above 40° C and can go up to 50° C at times. This in addition to high levels of humidity leads to excessive sweating, extreme discomfort and heat exhaustion. Excessive sweating leads to dehydration i.e excessive loss of body water and hypo-natremia i.e excessive loss of important electrolyte sodium from the body. If uncontrolled, this can lead to heat stroke and death," said Snehal.

Symptoms of heat stress may include any one of the following: excessive sweating, headache, nausea, giddiness, muscle cramps, weakness, fatigue and drowsiness, scanty dark urine, lack of concentration, irritability, hypotension, fainting, heat stroke and death in extreme cases.

Mrs. Deshpande advises that electrolyte replenishment, specially sodium is as important as proper re-hydration to prevent heat exhaustion.

Formulas like Prolyte, which are based on worldwide medical research, give fastest re-hydration and recovery and are considered safest by doctors.

Mrs. Snehal also stated that NTPE feels honoured to be selected by Dubai Municipality to partner in this public Heat Stress Prevention campaign.

Together they will be distributing brochures, posters and banners all over Dubai during the campaign period through special kiosks in various locations which will advise the public on precautions to be taken during the summer months.