Bhubaneswar: With temperatures having already touched unusually high in some places of the state, the Health Department has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on heat related illness.
The SOP will be implemented at district and sub district level from March to July, 2024.
The Health Department has issued the SOP to the Director Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar & RGH Hospital, Rourkela, Superintendent of all Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals and all Chief District Medical& Public Health Officers Health Officers of all Municipality/Municipal Corporations.
In its SOP, the Health Department asked the hospital authorities to open Control Room at District Surveillance Unit (DSU) which will function 24×7 with dedicated phone number shares with all concern.
Rapid Response Team (RRT) at District and block level will be kept in readiness to face challenges of heat related emergencies.
Heat stroke rooms will be opened at District Headquarter Hospitals (DHH) (6Beds) SDH (4 Beds), CHC (2Beds), PHC (1Beds) and keep in readiness with AC & Coolers. Medical Colleges have been asked to earmark beds as per anticipated case load.
As per the SOP, ORS Corners will be opened in strategic places like OPD, Paediatrics ward and infectious ward of the health institutions. Drugs and logistics such as ORS, IV Fluids, Ice packs and other consumable emergency kits to be placed in the heat stroke room with regular replacement.
The Department asked the hospital authorities 24×7 duty roster of Medical Officers to be displayed in the causality. Nodal officers will be appointed at Districts, SDH & CHC level for monitoring, supervision and report return.
Awareness activities to be undertaken at District and sub district level to upscale awareness on heat related illness and its prevention using local media, PRI ;other groups involving District information public relation officers (DIPRO).
In case of Heat related illness death reported at health care facilities Investigation should be done by medical officers and epidemiologists as per prescribed guideline and format issued by Government of India and to conduct the joint enquiry as stipulated by Special relief Commissioner (SRC), the SOP said.