Experts from Hamad Medical Corporation ( HMC) have urged everyone to take extra caution during the holy month of Ramadan to ensure road and home safety.
“We want to issue these safety messages as there are more chances of congestion and crowding in the traffic activity leading to traffic crashes involving vehicles and people. We have also noticed a slight increase in the number of child injuries in the trauma care,” said Dr Rafael Consunji, consultant and injury prevention director, Department of Surgery, HMC, at a press conference yesterday.
“Ramadan is a month of spiritual and special activities but it is also a higher risk season for families as there is more movement especially in the evenings and mornings. It is also advisable to have a physically marked Safety Zone within the kitchen to prevent the children entering beyond that point to avoid many injuries due to boiled liquids or other  injuries,” explained Dr Consunji.
He noted that there is always a big movement of people especially during the time of breaking fast and after the Iftar where the drivers have to show more restraint.
“There are also chances of impaired or distracted driving. Moreover people could be driving with more passengers on the vehicle especially in the evenings as people move with families. Therefore, it is time for more vigilance. The safest passenger is the restrained passenger using proper seat belt or child seat,” noted Dr Consunji.
He also advised people with medical conditions such as diabetes to take extra caution as they have issues with hyperglycaemia because of fasting.
Meanwhile, Dr Aisha Abeid, assistant director, Hamad Injury Prevention Programme, Department of Surgery, HMC said that home safety also should be given more importance during Ramadan.
“Ramadan is season of extended prayers and more house visits where there is a lot of movement especially with kids. Children should be monitored more as they may be left alone and they could be at risk. Therefore, supervision of children is very important, ” noted Dr Abeid.
“This year the weather is better than last year and this can result more people going outside and especially kids. People have to be extra cautious while driving and parking cars as there could be many kids and other people moving around in the night. Garangao night could be another occasion where there will more movement,” she explained.
“During Ramadan, there is more cooking and there is need for home safety. People have to check their electrical appliances and the safety precautions for the gas cylinders. More cooking and more activities can lead to less hours of sleep causing drowsiness while driving,” she cautioned.
The experts also highlighted that people might rush for breaking the fast in the evening which can lead to accidents. “There is higher risk in the season because the exposure is more. Of late, there have been improvements in road safety in Qatar but we have to be extra cautious,” added Dr Consunji.