WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987
42
THREE HEAT STROKE FATALITY CASES REPORTED
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THREE PERSONS DIED OF HEAT STROKE OUT OF THE 20 WHO SUFFERED FROM DISEASES ARISING FROM THE EFFECTS OF HEAT BETWEEN 1982 AND 1986, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP, MR CHAMBERS QUOTED STATISTICS FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ADDING THAT THE EARLY SYMPTOMS OF HEAT STROKE INCLUDED HEADACHE, VERTIGO, FAINTNESS, ABDOMINAL DISTRESS, CONFUSION AND RAPID BREATHING.
HOWEVER, HE SAID THERE MIGHT BE NO PREMONITORY SYMPTOMS AND THE FIRST INDICATION IN SOME CASES MIGHT BE LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS.
+TREATMENT OF HEAT STROKE IS BY PROMPT AND RAPID COOLING, EITHER BY IMMERSION IN COLD WATER, OR BY EVAPOPRATION COOLING, THAT IS THE REPEATED WETTING OF SKIN WHILE IT IS FANNED STRONGLY, + HE ADDED.
MR CHAMBERS SAID HEAT STROKE COULD BE PREVENTED BY AVOIDING PROLONGED STRENUOUS PHYSICAL EXERTION IN CONDITIONS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY.
IF SUCH EXERTION COULD NOT BE AVOIDED, GRADUAL PHYSICAL ADJUSTMENT TO HIGH TEMPORARY CONDITIONS WAS ADVISED.
+IN ADDITION, ADEQUATE FLUIDS SHOULD BE TAKEN BEFORE AND DURING EXERTION, AND THE BODY SHOULD BE ADEQUATELY EXPOSED TO PERMIT SWEATING, MR CHAMBERS SAID.
+ALCOHOL AND DRUGS WHICH DECREASE SWEATING OR AFFECT THERMO-REGULATION SHOULD BE AVOIDED, HE ADDED.
PUBLIC DUMPING SITES DEPEND ON AVAILABILITY
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THE GOVERNMENT CANNOT BIND ITSELF TO PROVIDING DUMPING SITES WHICH ARE CONVENIENT FOR ALL BECAUSE THE DEMAND IS NOT CONSTANT AND RECLAMATION CANNOT BE SET UP EVERYWHERE.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON MARIA TAM AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR BARNES