Mandalay’s oxygen cylinder rentals surge as elderly grapple with low O2 levels amid heat wave

As a consequence of the overheating in Mandalay Region, older people suffered from low oxygen levels, leading to a rise in the number of cylinder rentals, according to the Mani Zala social welfare association.
“Some old people with underlying diseases could not withstand the heat and died. Elderly patients these days said they had suffered a sharp drop in oxygen concentration. So, a lot of oxygen tanks are being rented out,” said an official of the association.
With very high temperatures during April in Myanmar, the number of heat stroke patients hospitalized and death cases increased, and the association assisted in 53 cremations, including heat stroke deaths in April, significantly higher than in March, he said.
These cases include dropped deaths while working and the deaths of the elderly in sweltering weather.
“Our association delivered bodies 27 times in March. But we helped with 53 cremations in April, including heat stroke deaths. The number of cases in April is much higher than in March. Victims aged between 50 and over 90 are the most common. Some died a drop death while working. More patients fainted or died of heat stroke in April,” he said. — MT/ZN