The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Pakistan’s leading health authority, has issued a critical nationwide alert highlighting the lethal dangers posed by soaring summer temperatures. The agency urged federal and provincial governments to establish emergency medical centres to address the escalating health threats linked to climate change.
In a directive from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) based in Islamabad, health departments, hospitals, and district officials were instructed to prepare for an increase in heat-related illnesses. This comes as global warming fuels longer and more severe heatwaves across the South Asian region.
Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan, head of CDC-NIH, noted that Pakistan has faced multiple intense heatwaves in recent years, causing widespread sickness, fatalities, and significant strain on healthcare resources. He stressed that prompt preventive actions and swift medical treatment are essential to reduce death rates.
The NIH cautioned that during extreme heat events, an individual’s core body temperature can rise rapidly to 41.1°C (106°F) or above within 10 to 15 minutes if the body’s cooling systems fail. Such a spike can result in death or irreversible damage to critical organs like the brain, heart, and kidneys.
The agency identified vulnerable groups at heightened risk, including the elderly, young children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, athletes, and those with existing health conditions.
In response, the NIH directed local authorities to set up specialized heatstroke treatment centres and public first-aid stations ahead of forecasted temperature surges. Hospitals were also instructed to ensure adequate stocks of essential supplies, particularly intravenous fluids.
Health officials emphasized the importance of recognizing early symptoms of heat exhaustion and dehydration, such as muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat.
To reduce heatwave impacts, the NIH recommended immediate first-aid steps for suspected heatstroke victims, including moving them to shaded areas, removing excess clothing, and applying fans, cool water, or ice packs to lower body temperature while awaiting emergency help.
For the wider population, the agency advised increasing water consumption, eating salty foods to restore electrolytes, wearing hats and light, loose-fitting clothing, avoiding direct sunlight during peak hours, and refraining from strenuous activities in hot or humid weather.
