Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH — The Health Affairs Department at the Ministry of National Guard has allocated an integrated center to address heat stress cases in Arafat as part of its health plan for this year's Hajj season. The center, with a capacity of 20 beds, is fully equipped to quickly respond to cases of heat strokes and heat-related stress.

The ministry also equipped its Mina hospital with a capacity of 26 beds, including emergency units, inpatient beds, cardiopulmonary resuscitation rooms, isolation rooms for infectious diseases, and specialized units for the immediate treatment of heat stress cases.

The department has made available 10 state-of-the-art ambulances to handle emergency cases and transport them when needed. These ambulances are staffed around the clock by medical and nursing teams specialized in critical specialties, including emergency, critical care, internal medicine, preventive medicine, and epidemiology.

Through this plan, the Health Affairs Department at the Ministry of National Guard seeks to ensure comprehensive and effective medical care for pilgrims. These services include preventive and curative care, infection control, water and food safety monitoring, and awareness and vaccination campaigns, which started before the start of the Hajj pilgrimage.

The Ministry of Health has given top priority for the prevention of heat-related illnesses. It urged pilgrims to use umbrellas, drink water regularly, even if they are not thirsty, and wear light-colored, lightweight clothing. Symptoms of heat stress include headache, dizziness, excessive sweating, thirst, and nausea. Upon noticing these, pilgrims should immediately move to a shaded area, cool down with water, and drink plenty of fluids.

Pilgrims are advised to avoid direct sun exposure between 10 am and 4 pm, refrain from walking on hot surfaces, and exercise caution when engaging in strenuous activities, such as climbing mountains, on the Day of Arafat, which can increase the risk of heat stress.

The ministry affirmed that the health sector is highly prepared, with over 34 equipped field health units strategically distributed across the holy sites. These units provide urgent medical care and rapid response for heat stress cases, enhancing pilgrim safety. The ministry has also launched a health awareness kit, available in eight languages, offering comprehensive healt h guidelines.