Dengue threat pushes mosquito-repellent creams in medical kits for polling booths

Keeping in mind the threat of dengue in high temperature, health department has added mosquito-repellent creams in the first-aid kits provided to polling booths.

The department has provided nearly 3,000 medical kits to the district administration for all polling booths.

The first-aid kits primarily comprise medicines for dehydration, vomiting, giddiness or other basic illnesses. But a few days back, the civil surgeon received directions from the district administration to include mosquito-repellent creams in the kits.

Dengue has already marked its presence this summer, with two Jalandhar residents being found positive for dengue. A suspected case from Ludhiana also came to fore, but that was found negative.

Now, with the temperature soaring, residents are starting to use coolers, where dengue-causing mosquito larvae mostly breed, besides in tyres, puddles and discarded containers that hold stagnant water.

Most polling booths are set up in government schools or colleges, where cleanliness can't be guaranteed. Thus, staff on the polling booths who have to stay there from morning till evening would be at risk of mosquito bites.

'Protect yourself from heatstroke'

Civil surgeon Dr Subash Batta has advised voters to come out well prepared to avoid heat stroke.

He said, “With temperature rising to almost 40 degrees during day time, being out in heat for long time could lead to heat stroke. Thus, people should wear full-sleeved cotton clothes and carry water bottles to save themselves from the extreme heat.”

He added that all dispensaries, hospitals, sub-station health centres would remain open on the polling day till one hour after polling, adding that all polling booth heads would be provided with the mobile number of doctors so that they could contact them in case of emergency.

Take care
Take a wet towel and water bottle along
Try to wear full-sleeved and summer-friendly clothes
Be in shadow as much as possible
Drink plenty of water
Sick and elderly people should request the polling authorities to let them cast their vote earlier