Develop heat action plan in all dists: DPH
CHENNAI: The State Health Department through the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPHPM) has issued an advisory to all the District Health Officers to prevent heat related illnesses (HRIs). Officials have been asked to develop a heat action plan at district level.
The action plan should detail the standard operating procedures, which will be in place during the heat wave.
Officials have also been asked to ensure surveillance on HRIs on the IHIP portal under the National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health. The list of heat-related stroke cases, cardiovascular deaths, and other related fatalities should be maintained.
The advisory also pointed out that the India Meteorological Department issues heat-related warnings every day during the summer.
The District Nodal Officer should identify the heat-vulnerable population or hotspots based on the surveillance data and send advisories as per the guidelines issued by National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA). Officers have also been asked to work towards sensitisation and capacity building of health staff on HRIs.
The procurement and supply of adequate quantities of ORS packs, essential medicines, IV fluids, and ice-packs should also be maintained.
The officers should ensure availability of sufficient drinking water at all health facilities, cooling appliances, and ambulance for early management of HRI cases.
Health workers have been asked to identify the cases with suspected heat stroke, which should be rapidly assessed using standard treatment protocols. Workers should also coordinate with Tangedco for uninterrupted electricity supply to hospitals for constant functioning of cooling appliances.