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Truck Drivers at Ghuwaifat Face Risk of Heat Stroke
ABU DHABI - The truck drivers who are held up in Al Ghuwaifat on UAE-Saudi Arabia border are at risk of dehydration and heat stroke due to their prolonged exposure to the harsh desert conditions, according to a
health expert.
- PUBLISHED: Sat 13 Jun 2009, 12:32 AM UPDATED: Tue 20 Aug 2024, 2:29 PM
Thousands of truck drivers have been stuck for nearly two weeks at the border while they await clearance from Saudi authorities, which have tightened controls at the border crossings.
Dr Ravi Arora, in-charge of the Emergency Department at the New Medical City Speciality Hospital in Abu Dhabi, pointed out the factors that are putting the drivers at high risk.
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“Out there in the open, they are exposed to a lot of desert winds, dry heat, high temperature and lack of rations,” he said.
Expressing concern over the drivers' condition, Dr Arora said: “There is a risk of heat exhaustion, which could develop into cramps and, in extreme cases, heat stroke. And this could happen even in a matter of few hours.”
“Definitely they are out (there) in the open, most probably out of the shade as they cannot keep their engine running all day long,” Dr Arora stated.
In addition to the major concern of running out of ration, there is also the danger of the food getting contaminated due to extreme heat, according to Dr Arora.
“Even if they have refrigeration boxes, they cannot keep them cool if opened too frequently. Exposure to the heat and sub-optimum cooling leads to breeding of germs (which could result in food poisoning),” he said.
“What they need is a good amount of shade, cooling, potable water and food,” the doctor added.
The truck drivers at the border said there was a similar situation eight years ago at the same border, but at that time officials from Saudi Arabia and the UAE had provided them water and food.
olivia@khaleejtimes.ae