Hospitals to have a/c rooms, emergency control rooms

From March 15, hospitals and health centres will have special air-conditioned rooms with limited beds to treat sunstroke patients while emergency control rooms will functional at all hospitals for three months from that date.

Additional distict medical officer (public health) L K Rath said "Sunstroke wards and control rooms in the hospitals will be extended depending on the day temperature though now it has been planned from March 15 to June 15."

Hospitals where air conditioners were not available would manage with air coolers. Hospitals will also stock ORS packets and ice packs. he said.

"We have instructed medical officers to take preventive steps. The issue will also be discussed at the medical officer's monthly conference on Friday," Rath said.

Jala Chhatras will be set up at places like bus stands and administration will take up awareness programmes by involving elected panchayat members.

People would be asked not to venture out of their homes from noon to 3:00 pm and advised to carry water bottles and umbrellas while going out in the sun.

District Emergency Officer Mahendra Panda said nine persons died of sunstroke last year.

The government provides Rs 10,000 as ex-gratia for every sunstroke death from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.