Health professionals stress hydration and caution during UAE's severe summer heat
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by Balikbayan Store
1 min reading time
As temperatures in the UAE approach a scorching 50°C, healthcare professionals are urging both residents and visitors to exercise caution during the peak summer heat. Dr. Karthikeyan Chinniah, an emergency medicine consultant at Lifecare Hospital in Mussaffah, Abu Dhabi, emphasized the importance of avoiding outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day. "Allow your body time to acclimate to hot weather before engaging in strenuous activities," Dr. Chinniah advised, according to The National.
The doctor also recommended wearing loose-fitting, light-colored clothing, using sunscreen, and staying well-hydrated. Similar conditions are being experienced across the Middle East, with severe heat affecting countries like Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt, exacerbating challenges such as power outages.
The UAE has responded to the intense heat by enforcing its annual mandatory break for outdoor workers, prohibiting outdoor labor from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm until September 15. This measure is designed to prevent heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke, which can have severe health consequences.
Dr. Brian Mtemererwa, a consultant endocrinologist in Dubai, highlighted the dangers of underestimating heat exhaustion, which can often go undiagnosed. "If someone is exposed to heat and has weakness, aches, or a headache, they need to think about heat exhaustion," Dr. Mtemererwa stated. He also cautioned against the use of anti-inflammatory medication for treating heat-related conditions, as it can exacerbate dehydration.
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) predicts continued high temperatures, but there is a slight chance of relief with potential rain and cooler coastal temperatures by mid-week.
