Fire services personnel administered tetanus shots

The firemen were engaged in relief works since last Sunday’s heavy rain that flooded the city. Since then, till Friday they had attended to relief works in 68 low-laying areas in the city and pumped out water from another 65 places. During the five-day operations. the firemen rescued over 26,600 people stranded in floods in the city.

“During such assignment we were forced to stand in water, most probably mixed with sewage, for long hours. It initially causes itching and rashes. After noticing that a good number of firemen had developed patches and clots on their legs, the health department was informed. All the firemen who attended relief works were given tetanus injection to make sure they recover fast,” said ADGP Ramesh Kudawla, Director, fire and rescue services, when this newspaper contacted him.

According to S. Vijayasekar, Joint director, all his personnel attended the field work during the last one week had been not only given the tetanus shots, but also antibiotic tablets and creams to apply on their legs. “It is important to keep them fit for another round of possible floods and rescue works,” another officer noted.