A 42-year-old man was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RMLH) in New Delhi with a body temperature of 42 degrees Celsius. Doctors at the hospital quickly cooled him down by soaking him in a 250-liter ice bath for 25 minutes. Since the end of May, RMLH has opened a heat stroke clinic that specializes in treating patients with heat-related problems. The clinic has treated over 40 people, with seven deaths reported. Most patients were men who worked outdoors in poor conditions, suffering from extreme heat exposure.
Dr. Ajay Chauhan, who runs the clinic, spoke about the unprecedented nature of this year’s heat wave. In his 13 years working at RMLH, he had never signed so many death certificates due to heatstroke before. The clinic is India’s first of its kind and serves as an essential tool for saving lives during the ongoing climate emergency. Efforts to save heatstroke patients highlight the challenges posed by rising temperatures and their impact on public health.
Patients at the clinic undergo a process called cold immersion therapy where they are submerged in ice water baths for around 25 minutes to cool their bodies down rapidly. This reduces the risk of further complications such as organ failure or damage to organs like liver and kidneys, which can occur if patients are delayed in receiving treatment. Heat stroke can be life-threatening, with a mortality rate ranging between 40% and 64%. Immediate medical attention is crucial to increase chances of survival for those affected by this condition.
Delhi has experienced a prolonged heatwave since May, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius regularly and reaching almost 50 degrees Celsius at some point. The city’s extreme weather conditions have resulted in numerous deaths from heat-related illnesses due to factors such as high humidity levels, water shortages, and power outages that exacerbate the problem. Slum dwellers are particularly vulnerable to these hazards due to their lack of access to cooling facilities like fans or air conditioning units.
The effects of this heatwave extend beyond Delhi’s borders, affecting millions of people across India who have fallen ill due to severe temperatures during May according to a national survey conducted last month. Low-income households are most affected by these conditions since many members work jobs that expose them directly to extreme heat such as construction or mining work without adequate protection measures or breaks from labor activities during peak hours when it’s hottest outside.
Experts warn that official figures may not accurately reflect the actual number of deaths caused by heat stress due to underreporting cases or lack of proper documentation available on record.
In conclusion, this year’s unprecedented heat wave has put significant strain on healthcare systems worldwide and India is no exception; therefore immediate action must be taken on both short term and long term basis against climate change mitigation policies should be formulated keeping human health into consideration also efforts should be made towards ensuring better living conditions for vulnerable population segments like slum dwellers who are more prone towards environmental hazards
