Hyderabad:The director of public health issued a public health advisory related to El Nino conditions, cautioning that the prolonged dry spells, extreme heat and acute water shortages could increased the risk of water-borne diseases, heat-related illnesses, malnutrition and mental stress.
The advisory urged citizens to drink water which has been boiled for at least one minute, keep stored water in clean and covered containers, and directed not to use running water to wash courtyards, driveways or vehicles.
Dr B. Ravinder Nayak, director of public health, said that the government had made arrangements by providing the special beds, IV fluids, essential medicines at public health facilities, and that ORS sachets were made available with auxiliary nurse midwivess (ANM), accredited social health activists (ASHA) and anganwadi workers to meet any exigencies.
During heat stress, citizens were advised to consume sufficient water and consume ORS or salted buttermilk. They urged people to keep windows and curtains closed during peak hot hours and open them at night to let cooler air circulate. The advisory asked families to ensure that infants, pregnant women, the elderly and individuals with pre-existing heart or blood pressure conditions were kept cool and hydrated.
The department also advised avoiding alcohol, highly caffeinated tea or coffee and sugary carbonated drinks, as they caused the body to lose more fluid, and to not leave children or pets inside a parked vehicle, where the internal temperatures could turn lethal within minutes.
It advised people to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables with high water content, and avoid eating leftovers that have not been properly refrigerated or fried food.
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