Dubai launches campaign on heat stress

Dubai Municipality is taking this message to the public, especially the workers toiling in the sun and beachgoers, through a campaign that was launched on Monday.

The Safe and Healthy Summer campaign 2010 that will last until July 31 was inaugurated by Director of Public Health and Safety Department Redha Hassan Salman in the presence of Abdullah Rafia, Assistant Director General for General Support Services Sector.

Citing the huge success of the previous years’ campaigns, Salman said the drive is aimed to achieve cooperation between the private and government sectors.

“The campaign stresses the importance of commitment to laws and regulations issued by the Municipality with respect to the safety of workers. We want to educate workers and all other sections of the society on the dangers of heat stress,” he said.

The campaign, being held this year in collaboration with Hydralyte and sponsored by Nivea, Western Union, and Godrej Cinthol, will cover 18 public sites including beaches, parks, jogging tracks, shopping centres, metro stations and many construction sites.

“The campaign will cover different construction sites in the city to raise awareness of the workers on the means of safety and first-aid and the importance of constant intake of water and means of prevention of heat stress,” he said.

High temperature with humidity, Salman noted, leads to excessive sweating resulting in rapid dehydration (excessive loss of body water and important electrolytes), which causes various heat related illnesses and can lead to heat exhaustion and heatstroke if not controlled.

“It is a must to drink large quantities of water this season,” he added.

Raed Al Marzouqi, head of the Occupational Health and Safety Section who held a presentation on ‘Heat Stress Perceptions — Rules and Regulations’ said it was the responsibility of the employers to make sure that their workers have the means to protect themselves from heat stress.

He said municipal officials with other supporters of the campaign will visit different construction sites in the emirate during the campaign and create an awareness about heat stress, its symptoms, prevention methods and first-aid. They will also distribute leaflets, urine charts, posters, water and Hydralyte hydration drink as well as gifts like T-shirts and caps.

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