Dhaka, May 12 (V7N) – As the country continues to suffer under an intense heatwave, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a set of urgent health safety instructions to help the public protect themselves from heat-related illnesses.

The advisory was issued on Sunday (May 11) in a circular signed by Abu Hossain Md. Moinul Ahsan, Director of the Hospitals and Clinics Division under DGHS.

The instructions urge all citizens to take the following precautions:

  1. Cover your head with an umbrella, hat, cap, or cloth when going outside during the day.

  2. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting cotton clothes to stay cool.

  3. Drink plenty of pure water and consume sufficient liquid foods.

  4. Take multiple baths throughout the day if possible.

  5. Avoid oily, spicy, stale, or exposed foods.

  6. Monitor urine color – dark yellow urine indicates dehydration and the need to increase water intake.

  7. Seek medical attention immediately if feeling unwell due to the heat.

  8. High-risk groups – including children, pregnant women, the elderly, the disabled, rickshaw pullers, farmers, construction workers, daily wage laborers, obese individuals, and patients with heart disease or high blood pressure – are urged to exercise extra caution.

  9. Call the Health Window hotline (16263) for medical advice if needed.

The warning comes as temperatures in many parts of the country have exceeded 40°C. In Dhaka, the temperature reached 39.9°C on Sunday, slightly lower than Saturday’s 40.1°C — the highest recorded temperature in the capital this season, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and have emphasized the importance of staying hydrated and avoiding sun exposure, particularly during the peak heat hours between 11 AM and 4 PM.

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