UAE | Environment
No increase in heat cases despite rising temperatures
Heat cases received at Dubai public hospitals did not cross the average figure for heat cases despite the hotter than usual summer this year.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:03 July 24, 2008
Dubai: Heat cases received at Dubai public hospitals did not cross the average figure for heat cases despite the hotter than usual summer this year.
Dubai Hospital's emergency department recorded 20 cases since July 8, while Rashid Hospital Trauma Centre recorded 38 cases.
One heat-related death was reported at Dubai Hospital and another person had to be resuscitated at the Trauma Centre after heat exhaustion on July 8.
UAE temperatures for July have been about four degrees above normal for the month, which is 40.8C. Humidity is at 15 per cent.
Dr Mohammad Al Jamal, head of the emergency department at Dubai Hospital, told Gulf News the number of heat cases received were average for the time of the year.
"None of [the cases last week] were serious - all suffered from mild cramps and sweating," he said. Dr Al Jamal added that most of the cases came in the afternoon. However, he did not think the labourers had been working during the midday break from 12.30pm to 3pm, when labourers are banned from working.
"We asked them if they were getting their break, and they said yes. It's the expected number if companies comply with the midday break rule," he said. "[But] sleeping on the ground, or lying on the grass in the shade does not prevent people from being affected."
He advised companies to provide labourers with areas with air-conditioning to cut the number of heat cases.
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