• Source:JND
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Delhi Heatwave Alert: With Delhi’s temperatures soaring past 40°C and heatwave conditions gripping the city, major hospitals are stepping up to handle heat-related medical emergencies. The Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital has launched a dedicated heat stroke unit, while several other government hospitals are still lagging in preparedness.

To tackle the rising number of heat stroke cases, RML Hospital has set up a special unit equipped with four beds and two large cooling tubs. These tubs are filled with ice-cold water and used to rapidly cool down patients suffering from dangerously high body temperature often ranging between 107°F to 110°F. If required, the hospital is ready to expand bed capacity in general wards.

Dr Amelendu Yadav, head of RML’s emergency department, stated that five additional ICU beds have also been reserved for severe cases. "Rapid treatment is critical in preventing organ damage and saving lives," he said.

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Lady Hardinge Medical College Unit Still Inactive

Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) has the infrastructure for a heat stroke unit in its emergency department, but it is currently not operational. A senior doctor at LHMC mentioned that efforts are being made to restart and upgrade the facility soon.

Safdarjung and Other Hospitals Without Dedicated Units

While hospitals like Safdarjung do treat heat stroke patients, they lack dedicated units to manage such emergencies efficiently. This gap in facilities means patients are often referred to better-equipped hospitals like RML.

Last year’s severe heatwave caused hundreds of people to fall sick and claimed over 80 lives across Delhi. Safdarjung Hospital alone reported 33 deaths linked to heat stroke. Other hospitals such as Lok Nayak, DDU, LHMC, and RML also recorded multiple fatalities, particularly in the month of June.

Delhi Government Hospitals Still Underprepared

Despite the warnings and past casualties, many Delhi government hospitals still lack proper facilities to deal with heat stroke cases. During last year’s crisis, many critically ill patients had to be transferred from smaller hospitals to central ones like RML and Safdarjung.

With the heatwave season just beginning, medical experts are urging people to take precautions and stay hydrated. At the same time, there's a strong call for all hospitals to gear up and ensure emergency units are fully operational to avoid another health crisis.