Surat - In view of the rising temperatures and potential heatwaves in the city, the Surat Municipal Corporation has placed its health facilities on alert mode. As part of these preventive measures, special arrangements have been made at the prominent government-run SMIMER Hospital to treat patients suffering from heatstroke. The hospital administration has set up bathtubs and ice beds in the casualty department to ensure immediate treatment for heatstroke victims and to help normalize their elevated body temperatures quickly.
Health officials have noted that temperatures are already rising rapidly in the month of March, with the mercury expected to touch around 40 degrees Celsius in the coming days, as per agency report. Anticipating this extreme weather, the municipal corporation has initiated advance preparations to protect the public from severe heat and heatwaves. SMIMER Hospital, which receives thousands of patients daily from Surat city as well as surrounding rural areas, is fully equipped to handle the seasonal rush.
The hospital administration explained that when a person suffers from a heatstroke during the summer, their body temperature can shoot up to 105 to 106 degrees, potentially leading to unconsciousness. To manage such critical cases, patients are immediately placed in bathtubs filled with cold water to bring down their body temperature rapidly. Additionally, adequate drinking water facilities have been ensured across all wards of the hospital. Essential supplies such as IV fluids, ORS, and other liquids have been stocked in sufficient quantities to prevent dehydration among patients.
Medical professionals have advised citizens to wear light cotton clothing during the summer and to avoid stepping out in the harsh sun unless absolutely necessary. They recommended covering the head with a cloth, cap, or umbrella when going outdoors. To maintain hydration, doctors suggested consuming fluids like water, coconut water, lemon water, and buttermilk at regular intervals. The health department emphasized that the primary objective of these special arrangements is to provide timely medical intervention to heatstroke patients, thereby preventing severe complications and saving lives.
