Dr Aisha Fathi Abeid (left) and Dr Rafael Consunji during a media interaction, yesterday. Pic: Baher Amin / The Peninsula
Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Hamad Injury Prevention Program (HIPP) has urged the public to stay safe on roads and at homes during the holy month of Ramadan as it is dubbed as a ‘higher risk season’ for accidents due to several reasons.
Increase in traffic congestion, driving without due care when trying to reach destination, impaired driving, not wearing seat belts, certain medical conditions, and using potentially harmful utilities at homes increase the safety risks during the month of Ramadan, said Dr Rafael Consunji, Injury Prevention Director, Department of Surgery at HMC.
“It is a very higher risk season and time to be more vigilant. Ramadan presents its own unique challenges as people adjust to a new routine and these challenges have the potential to increase the risk of injury. We encourage everyone to take extra precautions and keep safe during Ramadan whether they are at home or on roads so that all can benefit from this important month,” he said, while speaking to media yesterday.
“Traditionally, we have seen a rise in the number of trauma admissions during Ramadan due to motor vehicle crashes and injuries at home. The rising numbers have come down but it does not mean that the risk can be ruled out,” he added.
According to him, a key factor contributing to the increase in motor vehicle crashes, and therefore subsequent injuries, comes when people drive without due care when trying to reach their destination to break their fast at Iftar.
Also more vehicles and people get on to roads during the same time, people are distracted while using phones and travelling with more passengers, refraining from wearing a seat belt and or not using appropriate car safety seat or booster seat.
The first week, last week and the mid of Ramadan during the Garangao festival are considered to be more accident prone times.
Dr Aisha Fathi Abeid, Assistant Director of the HIPP, community outreach arm of the Hamad Trauma Center, said that extra precautions should be taken and handle positional harmful kitchen appliances with care.
She underscoring the need to keep an extra close eye on young children as the Hamad Trauma Centre has seen a slight increase in number of burns among young children since the beginning of Ramadan.
“We urge families to check on their electrical and gas appliances, and take all safety precautions. It is important to remember that young children need close adult supervision and be kept away from heating sources like stoves or ovens,” said Dr Abeid. She also recommended having ‘kid-free’ zones, such as the kitchen during cooking and food preparation time. She also insisted that people with medical conditions such as diabetics are at the risk of developing hypoglycemia and they need to be cautions while driving or working at home.
