The Department of Public Health of American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have jointly organised a workshop titled “Heat Illness Prevention and Management.”

Speakers of the workshop included Dr Muhammad Wasif Alam, faculty and head of the Department of Public Health of AIUB, and Dr Debasis, head of physicians at BCB. AIUB Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Abdur Rahman graced the event as the chief guest, read a press release.

The session was made interactive due to the presence of cricketers, cricket coach, sports physicians, physiotherapists, and nutritionists.

Khushi, an artist from the Department of Media and Mass Communication, played the role of a patient with heat exhaustion, on the stage, which gave the audience to practically engage in managing the illness and “know how” in recovering the patient.

The keynote speaker spoke on the risk factors of heat illness, its signs and symptoms, acclimatisation of heat exposure, importance of humidity in the air along with ambient air temperature, usage of proper shades and the criticality of drinking enough clean, cold water as the best prevention of heat illness.

Dr Wasif Alam further stressed the importance of restful sleep, balanced diet avoiding greasy food, cola, and caffeinated drinks as they promote thirst and dehydration by increasing urination.

He said athletes need not drink expensive energy drinks because “simple clean drinking cold water is all we need to prevent us from heat exhaustion and stroke.”

He added, “We should know the difference between heat exhaustion and stroke and how each of them presents differently and differ in their management which if delayed may cause death.”

Dr Debasis said athletes should regularly keep on drinking water throughout the day and not wait for being thirsty and avoid getting used to very low AC temp at home rather be acclimatised to the weather.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Abdur Rahman appreciated the collaboration of AIUB with BCB in this educational health promotion event.

He said AIUB has a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with BCB which is a positive step in conducting future events and programmes. He pointed out that the Department of Public Health is engaging in research on sports and health – an opportunity for both parties to promote health and prevention of diseases and injuries in athletes.

BCB members, National Curator M Gamini Silva, HR official, together with some other faculties of AIUB attended the closing ceremony.

A token of appreciation was shared between AIUB and BCB for sharing their valuable time and insightful workshop during the heat surge in Bangladesh.