Monsoons are Here - Be Safe and Enjoy the Season

After the scorching heat of April and May, the rainy season is here. The cooler temperatures, gusts of wind and the damp smell of earth are so welcome. These sensations evoke the desire to sit by the window and drink adrak ka chai and eat hot bhajias. However, the rains bring with them a host of concerns as well. To make the most of this season we need to take necessary precautions to maintain our health, the safety of our loved ones and of our homes as well. Here’s a checklist of things to bear in mind as we enjoy this season:

Moisture-proof your home
Most families begin prepping their homes for the monsoons during the summer months itself. This includes covering up cracks in the walls and the ceiling as well as waterproofing every crevice. Repaint metal surfaces and fix wooden furniture. Any exposed electrical wires and switches should be covered up immediately to avoid electric shock and short-circuits. Make sure your drains are cleaned and install mosquito nets on windows. All these precautions should protect your home from unwanted damage caused due to excess moisture during the rainy season.

Take vitamin C supplements and Flu Vaccines
The change in weather conditions makes our bodies particularly vulnerable to the common cold and flu. Visit your family doctor and ensure you take your flu shots. Consume sufficient quantities of water to keep yourself hydrated. Take regular doses of vitamin C which will help keep up your immunity. This is the time to keep handy your grandmother’s medicinal home remedies of ginger tea, turmeric milk, chicken soup and fermented foods among others.

Maintain Personal Hygiene
Ensure you wash your hands and face regularly, especially after sneezing, coughing, touching common surfaces like door handles, and visiting the washroom as well as when you come home from outside. If you have cuts or wounds, remember to disinfect them as often as you can especially if they’ve been exposed to the elements. Eye infections like styes and conjunctivitis are common during the rainy season; avoid rubbing your eyes. These precautions will keep away viral and bacterial infections.

Avoid outside food
Everyone loves their street food. But this is the season to avoid your favourite chaats, vada pav, samosas, golas and juices from street vendors. More often than not they are prepared and stored in unhygienic conditions. Our immunity is also not the best during this season. So, the best step is to stay away from the temptations. Consume home cooked food as much as possible and maintain your health. Carry your own bottle of water as often as possible.

Wear Light Fabric Clothes
During the monsoons it is advisable to wear light clothes which will dry easily. Heavy, clunky fabrics such as woolens, jeans, terrycot should be avoided. Drying them takes a long time. You could catch a cold while wearing them during that time. Synthetic and light cotton are breathable fabrics which also dry quickly. You should also avoid sitting in air-conditioned offices while your clothes are wet. Always carry an umbrella or windcheater with you and avoid getting wet.

The rainy season is one of the most enjoyable seasons of the year. Besides refilling our water reserves and providing us with a good harvest, the rains provide respite from the heat. We should enjoy it as much as possible but also stay healthy and safe while doing so.