Health dept initiates online reporting for heatstroke

Mangaluru: As the temperature continues to rise, the health department in Dakshina Kannada has implemented an online monitoring system to gather information on affected individuals.

DHO Dr HR Thimmaiah told TOI that all hospitals have been instructed to report cases related to heatstroke and other related issues daily.

Despite no reported cases in recent weeks, the department is monitoring the situation due to the rising temperature in the district.

“We have shared the link to a Google spreadsheet with every hospital in the district and directed them to report if cases related to heatstroke are reported. We have been monitoring the spreadsheet daily. Fortunately, we have not come across any case of heatstroke, though there is an increase in humidity,” he said.

During the Lok Sabha election, the department deployed medical teams near polling stations to provide medical aid in case of any emergency. A woman who suffered dehydration at a polling booth near Lady Hill in the city was treated by the health team. Besides this, no other similar cases were reported during the election, he said. The DHO also advised people to be extra careful as the temperature continues to rise. He cautioned people about the impact of heatstroke, including heat rash, heat edema, heat cramps, heat tetany, heat syncope, and heat exhaustion. People should hydrate themselves by drinking more water and avoid working under direct sun, he added.

The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (@KarnatakaSNDMC) shared on X on Sunday with a warning of five days of heatwave between April 28 and May 2. “Heatwave to severe heatwave likely to prevail in interior parts of Karnataka (#OrangeAlert Issued) and Hot & Humid conditions likely to prevail in coastal Karnataka,” KSNDMC stated, quoting the IMD.

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