With the recent heat wave entering Karachi, along with the shortage of water supply and the increase in electricity load shedding, Karachiites are witnessing the hottest summers ever.

The death toll increased dramatically in the last heatwave resulting in a state-of-emergency being declared at all public hospitals and morgues overflowing with dead bodies.

The Sindh Health Minister, Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, stated while talking to Geo that at least 347 people have died in the heatwave last June. However, unofficially reported, there has been a total of around 1000 causalities in public and private hospitals including those as well who died on impact, without even making it to the hospital.

Anybody can suffer from a heat stroke, but the people most prone to it in this weather are kids, senior citizens, pregnant women and people with existing medical conditions. A person suffering from a heat stroke should be rushed to the hospital immediately. In order to diagnose, here are some of the identifiers displayed by someone suffering from a heat stroke.
Symptoms of a Heatstroke

Very High Blood pressure
Red, hot and dry skin (Without sweat)
A dry and swollen tongue
Rapid pulse
A throbbing headache
Dizziness, confusion, and nausea
Eventual unconsciousness

With Army Camps being set up at different locations to help the citizens of Karachi, here is a list of things you can do to protect yourself and others from a heat stroke.

Make sure you dress yourself and your kids in “minimal, loose-fitting and lightweight clothing”
Drink plenty of fluids
Take regular showers more than once a day
Keep the environment as cool as possible – keep curtains drawn and minimal light
Be extra careful while administering any medicines since they may have certain harmful side effects (including causing dehydration)
Never stay in a parked car or any confined space without proper ventilation
Replace fatty foods with low-fat alternatives
Keep out of the sun
Avoid using any heat radiating devices such as hair straighteners and hair dryers
Limit your physical exhaustion by limiting physical activity
Try to stay away from kitchens and laundry rooms

However, if someone is already suffering from a heat stroke, make sure you follow the following steps while waiting for an ambulance

Wet their skin with water or wrap it in wet a cloth after removing as much clothing from their body as possible or give them an ice bath
Fan continuously
Do not give the person fluids to drink
Position an unconscious person on their side and clear their airway
Apply ice packs to the patient’s armpits, groin, neck and back (These areas are rich with blood vessels and close to the skin so cooling them may reduce body temperature)
Monitor their body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops below 38C.

(Note: poorly ventilated or confined areas, or engaging in vigorous physical activity in hot weather increases the risk of dehydration and heat strokes)

Ensure that you follow all the above-mentioned guidelines and tell others about it as well in order to protect yourself from the heat this summers.