A Civil Defense officer monitors crowds of worshippers outside the Grand Mosque in Makkah. — SPA photo RIYADH – Since the beginning of Ramadan, Civil Defense paramedic teams deployed inside the Grand Mosque and in the Central Area have provided urgent first aid to 861 Umrah pilgrims and visitors, and evacuated 100 people to hospitals and health centers, said Brig. Gen. Jameel Al-Arba'een, Director of Civil Defense in Makkah. Exhaustion, which affected 330 people, has been the most common problem, the official added. There have been 88 people with diabetes-related problems, 50 people with health problems related to internal medicine and high blood pressure, 40 people with heart problems and several cases of fainting, he added. More than 250 people over the age of 60 received treatment from Civil Defense paramedic teams, along with 90 Umrah pilgrims aged between 80 and 90, Brig. Gen. Al-Arba'een said. Officials have detected a rise in the number of cases involving exhaustion, fainting and injuries; 440 people with those problems have received first aid, he added. A significant number of medical problems have occurred at two locations – the northern and southern Mukabbiriah, the official said. There were 143 cases of exhaustion and sunstroke at those sites, he added. Other locations where high number of medical problems have occurred include those that are crowded during entry and exit at Grand Mosque gates; they include Bab Al-Salam, Bab Al-Fath, Bab Al-Malik Fahd (King Fahd Gate), Bab Al-Safa, and Bab Al-Marwah, Brig. Gen. Al-Arba'een said. Statistics indicate a rise in the number of people given first aid during the period from mid-day until Isha and Taraweeh prayers; paramedics have treated 630 people in those periods of time, he pointed out. Providing Civil Defense first aid teams deployed in the Grand Mosque with oxygen cylinders has helped them swiftly treat a large number of people at the scene and reduce the number of hospitalization cases, Brig. Gen. Al
