NEW DELHI: With Delhi witnessing repeated heatwave alerts this summer, hospitals across the capital have been instructed to maintain facilities and protocols for the treatment of heatstroke patients.
However, interactions with frontline staff at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital suggested that awareness regarding these arrangements may not have effectively reached all personnel responsible for guiding patients and attendants.
When enquiries were made regarding the location of a cooling room or heatstroke treatment facility, security personnel initially appeared unaware of any such arrangement and directed visitors to the hospital helpdesk. At the helpdesk, staff members also seemed unfamiliar with the term “cooling room” and were unable to immediately identify where heatstroke patients are treated. They said such patients are taken to the “green area”.
However, the green area is not a dedicated cooling room or heatwave treatment facility. It is the non-critical section of the emergency department where patients with relatively less serious conditions are attended to, while the red area is reserved for critical emergency cases.
The interaction with hospital staff indicated that frontline personnel responsible for guiding visitors were unable to explain the hospital’s heatwave-related arrangements or identify any specific facility meant for heatstroke management.
While hospital staff eventually directed enquiries to the emergency department, the difficulty in obtaining basic information regarding heatstroke treatment pathways highlighted a gap in awareness among personnel expected to assist patients and attendants.
Meanwhile, the medical director refused to share any information regarding the matter. On May 26, Health Minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh had announced the establishment of a dedicated heat illness ward at LNJP Hospital.
The statement issued by the minister said the newly created ward was equipped with timely treatment facilities, dedicated beds, emergency care support, ICU backup and step-down recovery arrangements for patients affected by heatwave conditions.
Govt launches bamboo cooling zones amid heatwave
The Delhi government has launched eco-friendly bamboo cooling zones in Bawana and Alipur to provide relief from heatwave. Developed under the Heat Action Plan, the structures use bamboo, vetiver grass screens and mist-based cooling systems to lower temperatures naturally. The facilities offer chilled drinking water, ORS packets, seating and rest areas for vulnerable groups, including labourers and street vendors.