Bahrain, Jul 17 (GDN): DOCTORS are treating an average of 10 cases of heat exhaustion a day amidst Bahrain's hottest summer heat wave on record.

However, hospitals have so far not received any cases of severe heat strokes - mainly due to the summer ban on outdoor work during peak temperatures.

"Due to the extreme temperatures Bahrain has seen over the past few days, we have been receiving an approximate of 10 cases of heat exhaustion a day," said Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) Accident and Emergency chief resident Dr P V Cherian.

"It's not always the same number of cases a day but on average, we deal with 10 cases of mild heat exhaustion," he added.

"These are not serious cases, which cause brain damage or death, but are mild ones.

"However, we try to immediately treat them because if the patient's body temperature rises to over 40C, then it's dangerous."

Dr Cherian told the GDN yesterday that the lack of heat strokes during Bahrain's hottest summer was mainly due to the annual midday ban on outdoor work.

However, the ban is only enforced between midday and 4pm during the hottest months of July and August, which means labourers and other outdoor workers still have to sweat it out in the mornings and evenings.

"Every summer, the accident and emergency department usually gets one or two cases of severe heat strokes, which eventually leads to death," said Dr Cherian.

"But so far this summer, which is the hottest summer on record, we haven't received any cases of heat strokes.

"I believe it's mainly due to the effectiveness of the summer ban and a number of awareness campaigns aimed to prevent such cases from happening."

The Civil Aviation Affairs meteorological directorate earlier announced that Bahrain is turning into a sauna due to south-westerly winds.

It stated that Tuesday's peak temperature of 47.4C equalled the hottest day in Bahrain's recorded history.

The last time it got that hot was in July 2000 and, before that, all the way back in 1902.

Meanwhile, Dr Cherian said the hospital has so far treated mild cases: heat edema, heat rash and heat exhaustion.

Expats

He also called on all labourers and expats working under the sun for long hours to wear protective headgear and drink a lot of fluids.

"During the campaigns and visits we make to the labour camps, we advise the workers to wear their helmets or caps under the sun, put on light clothes and drink lot of fluids, especially water," he said.

"They should also sit under a shaded area every hour-and-a-half to get rid of the heat in their bodies."

The call came following the launch of a nationwide campaign aimed at tackling heat strokes, which was prompted by a large number of cases last year and will specifically target labourers at worksites.

The new heat stroke campaign was launched by the Supreme Committee of Occupational Health and Safety and the General Federation of Bahrain Trade Unions (GFBTU).

Instructors who share the same language as labourers will visit them on the job to educate them on the dangers of the heat and how to protect themselves, while medical teams will examine workers for signs of dehydration.

The GDN also reported that inspectors have so far recorded 79 violations of the summer ban, where a total of 214 labourers have been discovered working between midday and 4pm since the beginning of the month.

Companies which ignore the summer ban face fines of BD50 to BD300 for each employee caught working outside.