Emirates Health calls on pilgrims to the country to adhere to the guidelines

The Emirates Health Services Corporation called on the country’s pilgrims to adhere to the preventive guidelines throughout the Hajj period, to perform the rituals in a healthy and safe atmosphere.

Within its awareness guide, for the country’s pilgrims, it specified health and preventive measures to protect pilgrims, including prevention of infection, dehydration, sunstroke, and food poisoning, in addition to warning against wrong practices that may threaten the health of pilgrims in light of crowding and high temperatures.

She stressed the importance of adhering to five basic precautionary measures while performing the rituals, which included washing hands constantly, avoiding sharing personal items such as towels, utensils, and prayer rugs, covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding touching the face and eyes with unclean hands, in addition to the necessity of seeking medical care immediately upon feeling any symptoms of illness.

It also warned of five common practices that should be avoided during Hajj, including not drinking fluids in sufficient quantities, taking medications without consulting a doctor, not getting enough rest, neglecting personal hygiene, and overeating, stressing that these behaviors may lead to fatigue, dehydration, digestive system disorders, and increase the possibility of disease.

The guide explained that dehydration is a condition resulting from fever, diarrhea, vomiting, exposure to high temperatures, excessive sweating, and excessive urination, indicating the necessity of seeing a doctor immediately upon the appearance of symptoms such as extreme thirst, fatigue, heart palpitations, dry mouth, lips, and eyes, and a change in urine color to dark yellow. It also recommended drinking replacement fluids, with the possibility of using intravenous solutions in some cases.

He warned of heatstroke, as a result of prolonged exposure to high temperatures, physical exertion, and lack of fluids.

The Foundation called on pilgrims to drink plenty of water, use light umbrellas, wear loose, light-colored clothing, take rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned places, use sunscreen with a protection level of no less than SPF 30, and seek medical care immediately after feeling dizzy or heat exhausted.

The guide reviewed emergency steps for dealing with cases of sunstroke, starting with moving the injured person to a cool place, removing outer clothing, cooling the body with water, especially the head and neck areas, exposing the injured person to an air source such as an air conditioner or fan, giving him fluids, and ending with calling an ambulance and heading to the nearest health facility.

The guide indicated that the locations most vulnerable to sunstroke injuries are the Tawaf areas, Upper Arafat, and Mina, especially at the sites of stoning pebbles and places of slaughtering sacrifices, as a result of crowding, long walking distances, and direct exposure to the sun.

Pilgrims from the UAE flocked to Arafa yesterday.

The UAE Pilgrims Affairs Office said that the arrival of the UAE pilgrims to Arafa was smooth and smooth, and they are all in good health condition, and enjoy continuous follow-up by the medical teams accompanying them. The UAE Pilgrims Affairs Office is keen to provide various means of comfort to the country’s pilgrims, serve them, and meet all their needs in these blessed days.