- 2700 thermal stress cases in one day last year
- The violating pilgrims are the most vulnerable to sunstroke and drought, fatigue
A clinical pharmacist and member of the Friends of Health Association, Dr. Layla Al -Aali The pilgrims that are not registered and unlicensed violators are more at risk due to the prolonged exposure to sunlight, drought and physical exhaustion, due to the lack of licensed campaigns that manage their affairs, and supervise them to ensure their health, and their inability to reach official services.
And Dr. The high sunstroke is one of the important general health issues, which is increasingly severed due to climate change and high temperatures, noting that during the past year the Hajj witnessed more than 2,700 calories in one day, and resulted in more than 1,000 deaths.
She added that during the Hajj season in 2024, the intense heat and long distances, which reaches 28 km sometimes, formed a great danger, most deaths due to sunstroke (83%) were among the unregistered pilgrims who did not have access to official services, stressing that despite preventive measures such as water distribution, shadow providing and moisturizing tips, the heat resulted in high rates of diseases and deaths.
According to Dr. High pilgrims take medications to treat chronic conditions, but some medications increase the risk of sunstroke, urinary diuretics, choline, and beta-block, and other medications to reduce the body’s ability to regulate its temperature, also increase urinary dehydration, while anti-choline prevents sweating, which is a major mechanism for body cooling. These medications, especially when used in a hot environment, contribute to increasing the cases of heat -related diseases.
Regarding the kidney complications and dehydration, she said that dehydration associated with sunscreen often leads to severe kidney problems in many pilgrims. The muscle rupture caused by thermal stress exacerbates kidney damage. More than 1170 dialysis sessions were offered last year due to sunstroke, which reflects the great pressure on health resources. The effect of medications on the kidneys increased the complexity of these complications.
With regard to the effect of sunstroke on clinical laboratories, she explained that the increase in inrtuion -related diseases constituted a tremendous pressure on clinical laboratories, which led to many tests for kidney function, imbalance in electrolyte and muscle damage. She added that the use of mobile devices to test the results has become essential, especially in field clinics, to quickly manage these cases. This added an additional burden on medical personnel and resources, which highlighted the need to prepare in group gatherings.
On health and safety measures, to counter the dangers of heat, Dr. said. The highest is that there are many preventive measures, including providing water stations, water spray systems, and areas of rest under the shadow, and public health campaigns have also been published that encourage moisture and avoid exposure to sunlight in peak hours (from 11 am to 3 pm) and took periods of rest regularly, however, many unregistered pilgrims have avoided official services, which increased the risk of heat -related diseases.
Last year, Hajj highlighted the serious risks associated with the sun’s blow, especially when it interferes with the complications resulting from insufficient preventive drugs and preventive measures. The great pressure on health services, especially in the administration of renal injuries, highlights the need for better preparation in group gatherings. The most stringent, improved awareness about the dangers of heat and medicines is necessary to protect the health of pilgrims in future activities.
