{"id":28643,"date":"2024-06-06T07:29:26","date_gmt":"2024-06-06T07:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/06\/uhm-holds-review-meeting-with-states-on-heatwave-preparedness-measures-to-prevent-hospital-fires-during-summer-n-f-times\/"},"modified":"2024-06-06T07:29:28","modified_gmt":"2024-06-06T07:29:28","slug":"uhm-holds-review-meeting-with-states-on-heatwave-preparedness-measures-to-prevent-hospital-fires-during-summer-n-f-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/2024\/06\/06\/uhm-holds-review-meeting-with-states-on-heatwave-preparedness-measures-to-prevent-hospital-fires-during-summer-n-f-times\/","title":{"rendered":"UHM Holds Review Meeting With States On Heatwave Preparedness &amp; Measures To Prevent Hospital Fires During Summer &#8211; N.F Times"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>New Delhi<\/strong>:\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; text-align: justify;\">Dr Atul Goel, DGHS, Union Health Ministry conducted a virtual meeting with States\/UTs to assess the preparedness of Heatwave conditions and fire &amp; electrical safety measures adopted by various healthcare facilities across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">As per the long-range outlook forecast issued by IMD on 27<span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; font-size: 12px; line-height: 0; top: -0.5em;\">th<\/span>\u00a0May 2024, it is forecasted that in June 2024, above-normal monthly maximum temperatures are likely over most part of the country, except in parts of the southern peninsular India, where normal to below-normal temperatures are most likely. During June, above-normal heat wave days are likely over most areas of Northwest India and adjoining parts of Central India.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">State Health departments have been sent the following directives:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 40px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Advisory for State Health Departments, guidelines on Strengthening Health Systems Preparedness for Heat-Related Illnesses (HRI)<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">A Public Health Advisory with Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts and IEC poster templates.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Guidelines on Emergency Cooling for Severe Heat-Related Illnesses.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Guidelines on Autopsy Findings in Heat-Related Deaths were disseminated to all AIIMS &amp; Medical Colleges across the country<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Joint communication from the Secretary (Health), MoHFW and NDMA and communication from the Directorate General of Health Services on health facility fire safety measures.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; color: black;\">Checklist for assessment of Health Facility and Ambulance Preparedness\u00a0<\/span>to prevent and manage health impacts of heat.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Through a letter sent on 23rd March 2024, States\/UTs have been requested to take proactive measures to prevent devastating incidents caused by extreme heat. This was followed by another letter on 29 May 2024 for taking all preventive measures in respect to fire safety.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">The following detailed steps and measures to be undertaken by State\/UTs were reiterated in the meeting:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"box-sizing: border-box; padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 40px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Implementation of Heat Health Action Plan<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Dissemination of early warning of heat waves issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD)<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Preparedness Assessment of all Health Care Facilities &amp; Ambulance preparedness for prevention and management of HRI<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Strengthening Heat-Related Illness and Death Surveillance on IHIP<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Dedicated Heat Stroke room at all Health Care Facilities<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Issue health advisories and plan IEC activities<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Sensitization and capacity building of medical officers and health care staff of health facilities on HRI symptoms, case identification, clinical management, emergency cooling and surveillance reporting.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Health facility resiliency to extreme heat<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">HRI-Focused Mass Gathering\/Sporting Event Preparedness<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Conducting regular preventive fire risk assessment drills to identify potentially vulnerable areas<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Implementing appropriate fire prevention measures, such as proper storage of flammable materials and regular and optimal preventive maintenance of electrical circuits and systems.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Providing staff training on fire safety protocols, evacuation procedures, and use of fire-fighting equipment.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Installation and optimum maintenance of fire detection and suppression systems, including smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and sprinklers.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Establishing an emergency response plan with SOPs for evacuating patients, staff, and visitors in the untoward event of a fire.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"box-sizing: border-box; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">Most importantly, regular conduction of mock emergency drills without compromise.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;\">State-level preparedness:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;\"><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;\">It was informed that the highest-level officials of all State\/UTs are monitoring the situation stringently. States like Madhya Pradesh have undertaken mock-drill exercises on fire-safety accidents in all Government &amp; Private Hospitals. Urban Administration &amp; Engineering departments were coordinated for conducting mock drills regarding fire safety. Code Red Protocol has also been issued. Heat Wave Control rooms have been established across the State of Odisha. DASTAK (Door-to-door) campaign is being conducted to raise awareness of the population in Uttar Pradesh. Fire Safety Officers are identified in almost all health facilities in this state. Haryana has made dedicated financial allocations to ensure essential drugs and logistics at all Health Care facilities. In Rajasthan, ambulances linked to 104 &amp; 108 are equipped with cooling appliances. In West Bengal, Fire Safety certificates are ensured by fire departments and mock drills are being conducted. In Bihar, co-ordination is ongoing with the State Disaster Management Authority for Preventing fire incidents at healthcare facilities. Delhi has also issued directives and SOP for firefighting system to all government and private hospitals. If fire NOC is not available even in smaller facilities, either in government \/ in private institutes, fire evacuation plans and firefighting system has been made mandatory to be kept in place.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] New Delhi:\u00a0Dr Atul Goel, DGHS, Union Health Ministry conducted a virtual meeting with States\/UTs to assess the preparedness of Heatwave conditions and fire &amp; electrical safety measures adopted by various healthcare facilities across the country. As per the long-range outlook forecast issued by IMD on 27th\u00a0May 2024, it is forecasted that in June 2024, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nation"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/th.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28643"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28643\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28645,"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28643\/revisions\/28645"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thenftimes.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}