Wednesday, 08 MAY 2024 | MANSI BHAMBRI | DEHRADUN
Doctors have advised people to take necessary precautions against the effects of the forest fires in different parts of the State. The forest fires have caused smoke, which has led to air pollution in nearby areas, especially in the mountainous regions. Considering this, doctors have said the people in and near the affected areas may face health challenges due to the wildfires.
Medical superintendent at Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) hospital Dr Anurag Aggarwal expressed concern regarding the widespread forest fires reported in various areas of the State. He highlighted that aside from the heat, there are also various man-made factors contributing to the occurrence of these fires. Factors like throwing burning cigarettes and littering indiscriminately are also known to cause such incidents. He stressed the detrimental impact of forest fires on public health, citing examples of carbon monoxide poisoning leading to pollution and exacerbating issues like asthma. He cautioned individuals, especially those with allergies, asthma and children, to be vigilant about their health during such forest fire episodes. Further, Aggarwal warned of potential risks like an increased likelihood of brain strokes and heart attacks among the population due to these fire incidents.
Considering this, he recommended that individuals, particularly those residing in mountainous regions, should exercise caution by ensuring that no large quantities of garbage or leaves are deposited in nearby areas. Individuals with asthma should carry their inhalers at all times. Additionally, wearing a mask can serve as a preventive measure against the pollution from forest fires.
Senior eye specialist at GDMC hospital Dr Sushil Ojha told this correspondent that the increasing number of forest fires poses a significant challenge to public health. He indicated that the smoke generated from the fires can lead to symptoms like eye itching, watery eyes and vision problems for individuals. People with pre-existing weak eyesight are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of forest fires. Therefore, he advised the public to wear sunglasses when outdoors and to wash their eyes with clean water twice a day to mitigate the risk of allergies from forest fire incidents.
