Wind-chill factor hits children on bikes

Health experts advise extra care for patients, elderly, newborns, during cold wave

KARACHI:

The biting winds sweeping Karachi have brought a host of health concerns. Medical experts are urging families to adopt strict protective measures, particularly for school-going children, newborns, and vulnerable patients.

One of the strongest warnings concerns a common practice: seating children on motorcycle fuel tanks while dropping them to school. Doctors caution that in the current cold spell, this exposes youngsters directly to icy winds hitting their chest, face, nose, and ears - a risk that can cause serious harm.

Parents are advised to avoid this altogether and ensure children are warmly dressed, with heads covered, before leaving home.

Bikers look conspicuous in winters due to extra warm clothing as compared to motorists because they face the wind-chill factor. "You're moving through the air at speed, so even if the weather is calm, your own motion creates wind exposure. This amplifies heat loss from your body," said a paediatrician.

Keeping this in mind, the little ones become more vulnerable and setting them up against the headwind exposes them to severe cold, health experts warned.

A survey by The Express Tribune showed that parents carrying their children on motorbikes had them dressed per weather. Many children looked as if they were ready for snowfall.

Warm drinks and household precautions

Experts recommend increasing the use of warm beverages at home. Green tea, coffee, and homemade broths or soups are considered especially beneficial. Lukewarm water should be consumed regularly by all family members, including children. Pregnant women, in particular, must avoid cold water, while newborns require extreme care and should be kept fully covered. Even slight negligence, doctors warn, can lead to colds, flu, or fever.

Paediatric Association Sindh President Professor Waseem Jamalvi told The Express Tribune that cold winds have entered Karachi, lowering temperatures significantly. He stressed that negligence during this severe cold spell could result in serious consequences. "Parents must send children to school in the morning with their heads covered and dressed in warm clothing," he said.

Risks for newborns and mothers

Dr Jamalvi emphasised that newborns are especially vulnerable. Mothers who are breastfeeding infants should avoid cold or even normal water, relying instead on lukewarm water. "A little carelessness can lead to colds, flu, or fever in newborns," he warned.

Professor Khalid Shafi added that children and elderly people should remain indoors as much as possible. Office-goers and young adults must wear full warm clothing and keep their heads covered. He advised parents to avoid taking small children to gatherings, especially at night when temperatures drop further. Pneumonia, he noted, is spreading rapidly among children due to carelessness.

Medical experts recommend that breastfeeding mothers consume warm drinks and avoid sour foods. Homemade broths and soups should be used regularly, while lukewarm water is advised to prevent throat dryness.

Heart patients at risk

Renowned cardiologist Dr Hameedullah Malik explained that cold weather slows blood circulation. Heart patients must protect their chest from cold winds, as those with heart disease and asthma are most vulnerable in this season. He noted that blood contains 40 per cent water, and reduced water intake in winter affects circulation. "Regular use of lukewarm water is essential," he said.

Dr Malik further advised that heart patients who have undergone bypass surgery must be extremely cautious. "Keep the chest covered, continue light walking at home, and avoid exposure to cold winds," he stressed.