The teams have transported about 100 of these worshippers to various hospitals and health centers, according to Brig. Gen. Jameel Arabaeen, director of the Civil Defense department in Makkah.

He said that members of the teams had been deployed at the Grand Mosque, its courtyards and the surrounding areas. They have been providing all necessary emergency services and taking those who are sick or suffering from serious health problems while performing the rituals to nearby hospitals and health centers. This is part of the directorate’s Ramadan contingency plan, which is in place since the start of the fasting month.

“We will mobilize more such teams and units to make available of emergency medical services to Umrah pilgrims during the last 10 days of Ramadan, when the Grand Mosque will witness a record influx of pilgrims and visitors, marking the climax of the annual Umrah season,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Arabaeen noted that most of the first aid services provided by the Civil Defense teams at the Grand Mosque and its courtyards were for those affected by exhaustion. “Our units have extended first aid service to about 330 pilgrims affected by exhaustion. We also served 88 diabetes patients as well as 50 pilgrims who have high blood pressure in addition to 40 worshippers suffering from heart problems,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Arabaeen pointed out that elderly people came first in the list of the beneficiaries of the first aid service being extended by the department. “We extended the service to over 250 worshippers who were above the age of 60. There were another 80 pilgrims who were aged between 80 and 90 years,” he said, adding that his department had mobilized over 1,000 members to make available emergency services and medical assistance to the worshippers.

Brig. Gen. Arabaeen also noted that his department had identified risk-prone areas for the pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque during hours of rush.

“The Civil Defense teams have extended first aid service to some 440 worshippers who suffered exhaustion and fainting at the northern and southern courtyards of the mosque. There were 143 similar cases of exhaustion, mainly because of exposure to sun while circumambulating (tawaf) the Holy Kaaba,” he said.

The official said large numbers of Civil Defense personnel are deployed at the gates of Al-Salam, Al-Fatah, Al-Umrah, King Fahd, Al-Safa and Al-Marwah which normally witness huge rush of worshippers.

Brig. Gen. Arabaeen noted that the teams attended most emergency cases during the period between Dhuhr and Isha prayers. “There were 630 cases during the period since the beginning of Ramadan, while there was a decrease in the number of cases in the morning,” he said, adding that these teams had been supplied with oxygen cylinders for the first time this year. “This has been helpful for many sick people and those affected by exhaustion to receive treatment without taking them to hospitals and health centers,” he added.