Kulluna mobile team handing over gift packs at a work site yesterday. Abdul Basit
DOHA: A special caravan yesterday started visiting work sites in Doha to educate people about heat-related illnesses as part of the ‘Kulluna’ safety campaign ‘Beat the Heat,’ by Hamad Medical Corporation.
The caravan which would function as a mobile centre made its first visit to a construction site near the Rumailah Hospital. Workers at the work site were given a water bottle, a fruit and leaflet printed in several languages about how to prevent heat related illnesses.
“These leaflets have information which we didn’t know about heat related illnesses. We knew only that should take water often while working in the hot weather,” said workers who benefited from the first day of the campaign. The green and white Kulluna caravan is expected to visit at least four work sites per day during its four week campaign.
Aim of the ‘Beat the Heat’ campaign is to reduce the number of heat related illnesses by educating the public, particularly those who work outdoors and their employers, about how to stay safe in the heat.
The campaign will also educate people about early signs of heat related illnesses in order to prevent from them becoming more serious.
The leaflet printed in English, Arabic, Malayalam and Hindi advices people working out doors in high temperature to wear lightweight, loose clothes, preferably light colours, wear a hat with sun visor and keep the back of the neck covered.
They are also asked to drink small amounts of water regularly even if not feel thirsty and to rest as often as possible.
Also the leaflets educate people about the risks of heat related illnesses. Very high temperature can damage the brain and other vital organs.
Heat illness range from heat rash and heat cramps to heat exhaustions and heat stroke.
Heat stroke requires immediate medical attention and can result in death.
Heat exhaustion is a milder of heat related illness that can develop several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.
The campaign’s key messages to workers will be to stay hydrated by drinking water regularly, take regular breaks while working outdoor, wear sun protective clothing, make best use of shaded areas, watch out for early symptoms of dehydration and call for help immediately.
The campaign will also urge employers to observe the working hours during hot summer months and provide workers with adequate break, water, protective clothing and shaded areas.
While heat and high humidity levels might continue well into September, the summer work timings for outdoor workers imposed by the Ministry of Labour ends on August 31.
The Peninsula
