Patna: Health officials in Bihar have warned parents against sending children to school on an empty stomach as soaring temperatures and hot winds continue to sweep across the state, raising the risk of heat-related illness.
With Patna and surrounding districts experiencing increasingly severe heatwave conditions since early morning hours, doctors say children are particularly vulnerable to dehydration, weakness and heatstroke during school travel and outdoor exposure.
Medical experts have urged parents to ensure children begin the day with a light but nutritious breakfast before leaving home, and to carry sufficient drinking water. They also recommend sending an oral rehydration solution (ORS) or electrolyte mix to help maintain fluid and salt balance, particularly in cases of travel delays or traffic congestion.
Doctors caution that heatstroke can develop rapidly and present with symptoms including high fever, headache, dizziness, vomiting, extreme thirst, weakness and hot, dry skin. In severe cases, it can lead to loss of consciousness and requires immediate hospital treatment.
“Early recognition and prompt intervention are critical in preventing complications,” a health official said, advising families to seek medical help without delay if serious symptoms appear.
Preventive measures include dressing children in light cotton clothing, ensuring they wear hats or carry umbrellas, and avoiding outdoor exposure during peak afternoon hours between 11am and 4pm. Parents are also advised to offer fluids such as water, lemon water or buttermilk at regular intervals to maintain hydration.
Schools have been asked to ensure adequate drinking water facilities on campus.
Meanwhile, hospitals across Patna have been placed on alert as part of emergency preparedness measures. At Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), authorities have reserved 10 beds specifically for heatstroke patients, with provisions to expand capacity if required.
The hospital has stocked essential medicines and equipment and deployed additional staff to manage potential emergencies. A dedicated ward for heatstroke cases has also been set up, equipped with ventilators and necessary support systems.
Health authorities said all primary health centres and sub-district hospitals have been instructed to remain on standby, with arrangements in place to refer critical patients to higher medical facilities without delay.
