A 24-year-old man from West Bengal has become the first heatstroke patient to be admitted to Delhi’s Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital this season, highlighting the growing health risks posed by the ongoing heatwave conditions in the national capital.According to Dr Ajay Chauhan, Director Professor of Medicine at the hospital, the patient was brought to the emergency department around 1.45 am on the intervening night of May 20 and 21 after his condition deteriorated while travelling on a train.“He had no co-morbidities or prior illness. Suddenly, he developed vomiting, severe exhaustion and loose motions during the journey and was brought to the hospital in an unconscious state,” Dr Chauhan said.Doctors immediately initiated emergency cooling procedures to bring down his body temperature. “We immersed him in cold water and ice below the neck to rapidly cool the body before shifting him to the medicine ward,” he said, adding that the patient continues to remain in critical condition.The case has come barely weeks after the hospital activated its specialised heatstroke ward in anticipation of a surge in heat-related illnesses during peak summer.Doctors at the hospital have repeatedly warned that heatstroke is a medical emergency with a high fatality risk if treatment is delayed. Last year, the ward reportedly handled dozens of heatstroke patients, many of them daily wage workers and people exposed to prolonged outdoor heat.Dr Chauhan urged people to remain cautious amid rising temperatures and follow advisories issued by the India Meteorological Department.“Heatstroke, commonly known as ‘loo lagna’, is an extremely life-threatening condition. People should stay hydrated, drink salt-mixed water and traditional fluids from time to time, avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight and take breaks in shaded areas, especially those involved in physical labour,” he said.Health experts say cases of heat exhaustion and heatstroke tend to spike between May and July in Delhi, particularly among outdoor workers, travellers, elderly persons and those exposed to high temperatures for long hours.What is a heat stroke?Heatstroke is a severe heat-related illness that occurs when the body temperature rises rapidly and the body loses its ability to cool itself. It is considered a medical emergency and can lead to organ failure or death if not treated quickly.Common symptoms include:Very high body temperatureUnconsciousness or confusionVomiting and diarrheaSevere weakness or dizzinessHot and dry skinRapid heartbeatDoctors say immediate cooling and urgent hospital treatment are critical to survival.How to escape a heat stroke?Avoid going out between 11 am and 5 pm during heatwave conditionsDrink plenty of water, ORS, lemon water, buttermilk and other traditional fluidsWear light-coloured and loose cotton clothesTake frequent breaks in shaded or cool areasAvoid strenuous physical activity under direct sunlightNever ignore symptoms like dizziness, vomiting, exhaustion or faintingFollow weather department heatwave alerts regularly