New Delhi, 28 April (H.S.): In anticipation of extreme summer heat and possible heat‑wave episodes, Safdarjung Hospital has fully reactivated a specialised ‘Heat Stroke Unit’ to manage heat‑related illnesses. The move is part of the government‑hospital’s preparedness to handle a surge in cases of heatstroke, heat exhaustion and dehydration as temperatures in Delhi climb into dangerous ranges.

The heat‑stroke unit has been set up in the ground floor of the New Emergency Building, with seven beds earmarked specifically for heat‑related emergencies—two in ER‑1 and five in ER‑4. Patients will be routed directly to the unit through an in‑house triage system, enabling doctors to start cooling measures and fluid resuscitation with minimal delay.

A dedicated multi‑departmental team comprising specialists from Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Anaesthesia and Community Medicine has been mobilised to handle severe heat‑related cases. The unit is equipped with essential intravenous fluids, electrolyte‑replacement solutions, cooling blankets, ice‑packs and basic life‑support gear, along with protocols for rapid assessment and stabilisation of critical patients.

Hospital officials told reporters on Tuesday that no confirmed heat‑related case had been reported so far, but all infrastructure, manpower and medicines were kept on high alert. Doctors have urged the public, especially outdoor workers, the elderly and children, to drink adequate water, avoid prolonged sun exposure and seek shade or air‑conditioned environments whenever possible to prevent heat‑stress before it escalates into a medical emergency.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar