JOIN USAs the city temperature is touching 40 degree Celsius, bearing the scorching summer heat has become difficult.
However, the traffic police in the city have to sweat it out, standing for hours on the road, exposed to heat, noise and air pollution.
To lessen their stress, Columbia Asia Hospital has launched an initiative – Paani To Police – to distribute water bottles to traffic police all over the city in a week-long campaign. The hospital hopes to cover approximately 150 police points in the city on a pre-determined route.
“Paani To Police is an initiative of the hospital, in association with 93.5 Red FM, to thank the police personnel for their tireless service to the community. In the next five days, we will cover the length and breadth of Mysuru and ensure that all our police personnel stay hydrated. If a policeman is on duty under the sun next to your house or office, do not hesitate to offer him a bottle of water or a glass of butter milk,” said Dr Viju Rajan, general manager of the hospital.
“While we advise people to stay indoors, mainly between 12 noon and 4 pm, to avoid the sun, this does not apply for people in certain professions, especially the traffic police who are exposed to heatwaves. So, they are susceptible to heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration and heat cramps in the muscles. The only way to tackle this is to drink plenty of fluids, including water, fresh fruit juices, tender coconut water, butter milk and electrolyte mixed water,” said Dr Naga Nischal, chief of medical services of the hospital.
“The police personnel are always on duty, rain or shine. Summer is the toughest time for them with many getting heat strokes and suffering dehydration. The biggest challenge is to keep themselves hydrated to stay fit,” said B Dayananda, Commissioner of Police.