Extreme Heat Threatens Health in Kazakistan: Emergency Services on High Alert

The harsh summer heat that followed a prolonged rainy period in the Kostanay region of Kazakistan has started to negatively affect the health of the local population. With temperatures rising above thirty degrees in recent days, there has been a notable increase in applications to emergency health services. Individuals with cardiovascular diseases, the elderly, and young children constitute the risk groups most affected by these extreme weather conditions. Authorities warn citizens to take basic precautions to avoid heatstroke and related health problems. Health authorities in the region emphasize the need to be prepared for the possibility of temperatures rising further in the coming days.

Kseniya Jilkibayeva, press spokesperson for the Kostanay Regional Emergency Health Services Station, stated that they observed a serious increase in the workload of the teams in recent weeks. According to the information provided by the spokesperson, approximately seven thousand calls reached the emergency line in just the last week, and approximately five thousand five hundred of these requests were successfully met. This data reveals that regional emergency service teams make an average of eight hundred trips per day, meaning the system is operating at its limits. The fact that the number of applications has increased by almost two hundred compared to previous weeks reveals the seriousness of the situation. Jilkibayeva stated that this record-level increase in demand is directly caused by extreme weather temperatures and asked the public to be vigilant.

Authorities announced that more than thirty-five emergency interventions were carried out during the summer season only for patients experiencing actual heatstroke. This figure proves that extreme heat can reach serious proportions that may require emergency medical intervention, rather than being a simple discomfort. Experts consider the time between morning eleven and afternoon three, which are the hottest hours of the day, as the most risky time period to go outside. Healthcare professionals recommend staying in cool and shaded indoor areas as much as possible during these critical hours, and preferring light-colored and loose-fitting clothing. In addition, the importance of consuming plenty of fluids at regular intervals throughout the day to restore the water lost through sweating is highly emphasized.

Elmira Nurmuhambetova, an emergency health line dispatcher, touched upon some subtle details that the public should pay attention to regarding meeting fluid needs. Nurmuhambetova strongly recommends consuming clean, non-cold water at room temperature instead of acidic and energy drinks. It is noted that carbonated and energy drinks can have an adverse effect on the body, further increasing thirst. Experts frequently remind that consuming such artificial beverages in extreme heat can disrupt the body's water balance and pave the way for severe dehydration. Therefore, those who have to work or move outdoors must carry clean water with them.

In the event of an adverse situation, when a loss of consciousness or extreme weakness is observed, it is of great importance to notify medical teams without wasting time. While waiting for the medical teams to arrive at the scene, moving the patient out of the sun and into a cool room immediately is a vital first step. If the patient is conscious, plenty of fluids should be given, and if they are unconscious, blood flow should be supported by slightly elevating their legs. Additionally, rapid interventions such as wiping the patient's skin with a wet and cool towel or spraying water on their face can be applied to reduce body temperature. Authorities add that exposure to direct cold wind in air-conditioned environments should be avoided, and the head must be protected from the sun when spending time near water.