Doha: Assistant Executive Director of Hamad Medical Corporation's Ambulance Service, Ali Darwish, urged all community members to adhere to preventive measures amid the ongoing dust storm affecting the country, stressing that individuals are advised to avoid open areas and, to the extent possible, remain indoors or in enclosed spaces.
According to Qatar News Agency, Darwish highlighted that the current storm has health consequences for humans, especially the respiratory system, and those most likely to be affected include individuals with asthma, respiratory conditions, chronic chest illnesses, the elderly, and children.
Accordingly, he said heightened caution is advised, and proactive steps should be taken to mitigate the potential health impact of dust exposure, calling on patients who exhibit symptoms of severe shortness of breath in such an atmosphere to directly call the ambulance service, whose personnel are on full alert to respond to life-threatening cases.
Meanwhile, individuals who suffer from mild symptoms associated with exposure to dust may either head to the nearest health center, hospital, or emergency department, Darwish highlighted.
He noted that since this morning, the ambulance service reported a slight increase in service requests recorded until approximately 1:00 p.m., with 900 calls received during this period compared to 800 calls typically recorded during the same timeframe on regular days.
The increase, he said, was primarily attributed to minor-to-moderate traffic accidents and a majority of moderate medical cases, including respiratory distress incidents among children and the elderly, particularly those with underlying chronic chest conditions.
Darwish pointed out that the key challenge faced by the ambulance service Tuesday was the low visibility in open areas and outdoor spaces, posing a slight hurdle to the swiftness of response to requests. He indicated that the ambulance service operates in persistent and full coordination under the umbrella of the National Command Center (NCC), through which all climate updates in Qatar are reviewed.
He stressed the importance of dealing cautiously with dust by wearing masks while outdoors, promptly washing hands upon returning home, and avoiding beaches, desert areas, and open outdoor environments as far as possible.
In addition, Darwish called on vehicle drivers to exercise extreme caution while driving, particularly on highways and in outer areas, due to significantly reduced visibility, especially since the dust storm resembles dense fog conditions and may at times result in near-zero visibility or severely limited sight distance. Drivers are therefore advised to reduce speed as much as possible and remain prepared to respond to sudden errors by other road users at any moment.