SRINAGAR: With temperature dipping below freezing point, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Wednesday said that healthcare staff, patients and their attendants are facing huge inconvenience due to lack of proper heating arrangements in Kashmir hospitals.
President DAK, Dr Suhail Naik said with steep fall in night temperatures below freezing point, the cold stress can prove fatal and disastrous for newborn babies and post operative patients.
“I can increase mortality and morbidity in patients suffering from heart attacks and cerebrovascular accidents,” he said.
DAK president said that in majority of hospitals frequent electricity failure causes electric based heating system to collapse for hours together and henceforth making situation terrible for night hours.
The doctors body advised people to use safest heating arrangements during winters, as it is imperative to keep house warm and room temperature at around 19°C or above.
“Amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is advisable that one should not use gas or kerosene oil heaters for long time if they don’t have proper exhaust, keep rooms well ventilated and avoid overcrowding,” Dr Naik said.
In the times of extremely cold weather, people use different types of heating devices which are based on electricity, gas or wood-like blowers, electric blankets, gas heaters, kerosene heaters and furnace.
DAK added that concrete and vigilant safety measures are essential to prevent deaths due to suffocation and electrical short-circuit which we have witnessed in the past.
“People must make sure that before going to bed they switch off electric blankets, gas or oil-based heaters or room heaters,” it said.
