Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Higher Education Department has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on heat wave management for all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the State as part of its summer preparedness plan. The department shared this information in an official statement on Monday.
The move follows an advisory from the Office of the Special Relief Commissioner on steps to manage heat wave conditions during summer. The SOP aims to protect the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff across colleges and universities in Odisha.
As per the guidelines, classes, internal assessments, and examinations should be held in the morning hours as far as possible. Institutions have been asked to adjust daily schedules depending on local weather conditions to reduce exposure to extreme heat.
Outdoor academic, sports, and co-curricular activities will be restricted during peak afternoon hours. If such activities cannot be avoided, they should be conducted during relatively cooler parts of the day with proper safety measures in place.
All HEIs must ensure uninterrupted access to safe and potable drinking water at multiple points on campus. Institutions have also been directed to maintain adequate stocks of Oral Rehydration Salts. These should be readily available in classrooms, hostels, common areas, and examination centres.
The SOP mandates inspection of all tube wells, hand pumps, and drinking water facilities on campus. Non-functional units must be repaired on priority to prevent any disruption in the water supply during the summer months.
Colleges and examination centres have been asked to keep basic first aid facilities ready to handle heat-related issues such as dehydration, dizziness, and heat exhaustion. Institutions must also identify responsible staff members to provide immediate assistance in case of emergencies.
Heads of Institutions have been instructed to sensitise students, faculty, and staff about heat wave precautions. The focus areas include the importance of staying hydrated, identifying early symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and following do’s and don’ts during extreme heat conditions.
Where applicable, parents and guardians may also be advised to ensure that students carry drinking water while attending classes and examinations.
