Patna: Hospitals take measures to handle heatstroke cases

PATNA: The government hospitals in city have initiated several measures to deal with heatstroke cases following an advisory issued by Bihar State Health Society (SHS), a wing of health department.
The government hospitals have earmarked separate beds in ICU and general wards for heatstroke patients. Doctors and nurses of general wards have been asked to give priority to patients suffering from heat-related ailments like fever, nausea, dehydration and cramps.
Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) medical superintendent Dr Manish Mandal told this newspaper that five beds each in ICU and general ward have been earmarked for heatstroke patients.“The hospital is equipped to tackle such routine cases. However, no heatstroke case has been reported at IGIMS so far,” he said.
Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) has a separate ward with five beds for heatstroke patients. No control room has been set up at the hospital as the number of cases is not alarming, said PMCH superintendent Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad.
Dr Rajiv said two or three patients are admitted and get discharged after treatment per day. “The airconditioned ward for heatstroke patients is equipped with ventilator, oxygen mask and cylinder besides required drugs and fluids,” he said.
At AIIMS-Patna, the internal medicine department has instructed the doctors to treat heatstroke patients on priority basis.
Head of internal medicine department, Dr Ravi Kirti, said the hospital is well-equipped with required drugs and electrolyte, ORS and fluids. “We are prepared to handle patients of heatstroke and don’t require any special arrangements for that,” he told this newspaper.
Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) medical superintendent Dr Chandra Shekhar said the hospital meets all the requirements mentioned in the advisory issued by the health department. “We have ample ORS, electrolyte and paracetamol to treat heatstroke patients,” he added.