Health of schoolchildren at stake

Rawalpindi:The mercury level has been registering record high for days in many parts of the country including this region of the country putting health of general public at risk but the schoolchildren are at the greatest risk of suffering from heat related disorders including heatstroke, heat syncope, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and nasal bleeding.

The Punjab government has announced a special timing for all public and private sector schools operating in the province though ironical it is that thousands of students attending schools in accordance with the new timings in the first shifts would have to travel back to home under the scorching heat after 11:30 a.m. Similarly thousands of those studying in the second shifts are coming to schools after 11:30 a.m. and leaving schools after 4 p.m.

It is worth mentioning that health experts believe that the mercury level touching 40 degree Celsius or above should be considered as an emergency as it may cause irreversible losses. Experts suggest that people should avoid exposure to the sunlight during the hottest hours of the day, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the education departments are compelling minors to move under the scorching heat.

According to health experts, the exposure to the sun while going to or coming from schools at daytime under the blazing sun may put children in life-threatening conditions but still none of the concerned government authorities have so far given a real relief to the children.

Experts say that the schoolchildren are at the greatest risk of falling prey to heat stroke while the number of cases of nasal bleeding is already on the rise among schoolchildren in the district.

The most common heat related disorder among schoolchildren is nasal bleeding and a significant number of cases of nasal bleeding are being reported in educational institutions in the region. Almost all healthcare facilities in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have started receiving cases of heat exhaustion, heat syncope and heat cramps. The severe heat spell prevailing in the country has already caused life-threatening conditions among a number of patients.

A number of parents worried about the health of their children expressed to ‘The News’ that the administrations of the schools and the concerned government authorities should understand the situation and give holidays to at least young children, below 12 years of age. Many parents are of the view that the schools should not operate during the on-going heat wave for the sake of children who have to suffer severe heat at noon.

Of course, the schoolchildren have been suffering the worst effects of the recent severe heat spell and their health is certainly at stake, said a top official serving at Rawalpindi Medical University in town.

Pleading anonymity, he said the schoolchildren are at greater risk of facing losses because of another factor that is most of the private and public sector schools do not have proper first aid rooms, treatment facilities or proper transport facilities.