Man critical after suffering heatstroke

Manama : An Indian national who collapsed on the streets on Sunday after suffering heatstroke is in critical condition. 

Mohammed Harris, hailing from the Kerala, who fell unconscious in Manama is in coma and was diagnosed with a complication called Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation. Mohammed’s job involved outdoor work and he was delivering water to apartments when he fell unconscious. 

“He was lying on the roadside until he was picked up. He is now in the Intensive Care Unit in Salamaniya medical complex,” said Basheer Amballai, a social worker. “His wife is seven months pregnant while his mother is unwell and undergoing treatment at a hospital,” he added. 

According to one of Harris’s friends, his father and brothers have been informed. “His mother and wife have not been informed as they are already going through a lot at the moment,” he said. “I was told that he fell unconscious at around 12 on Sunday and according to doctors he must have laid on the road for two hours. Someone finally saw him on the road and called the police but a lot of time had already passed by then.”

Dr. PV Cheriyan, Chief resident at Accident and Emergency Section of Salmaniya Medical Complex said that Harris has suffered multiple organ failure. “He was working indoors and because of some circumstances he decided to work outdoors as well but he did not know how difficult it was going to be. His condition is serious now, he has suffered multiple organ failure. He is on a ventilator and continuous dialysis.”

He warned that anyone who is not used to working in the hot weather is at a higher risk of a heatstroke. “The body needs to adjust to working in the hot weather. You need to slowly get used to it and only then you can handle it,” he warned. “The workers who work outside should take precautions, they should drink enough water, stay away from caffeine and carbonated sugary drinks and make sure to eat healthy,” he added.