Essential Rainy Season Precautions for Health & Safety

Safety Tips for Outdoor Activities

According to experts, avoiding outdoor activities during the rainy season is wise. However, in case of unavoidable circumstances, you should follow these safety tips without fail:

• Be informed about the weather updates and rain forecasts about your destination.

• Always drive slowly, and avoid walking or driving in flooded areas.

• Use good quality rainwear and footwear.

• Avoid travelling/camping near areas of water stagnation.

• Always carry a flashlight and emergency kit with you.

• Use fabric and body-safe insect repellents to keep mosquitoes at bay.

• Be wary of electric poles or wires nearby.

Home Maintenance Checks

• Check for leakages, cracks, fungal growth, and other issues in the roof and walls, and fix them immediately.

• Check your home’s drainage system and take steps to clear clogged drains immediately.

• Check the doors and windows for moisture build-up, and reseal them without further delay.

• Ensure that your home is well-ventilated.

• Use high-quality, waterproof paints for the exteriors to prevent damage from heavy rains.

• Check the switchboards, circuits, and electrical units thoroughly for any issues.

You must follow these even before monsoon sets in for the best results.

Health Precautions in the Rainy Season

Due to increased number of ailments during the monsoon, it is important to follow basic health tips and stay safe during this season. This is even more important for people prone to flu and viral infections.

Here are some effective health precautions in the rainy season that will boost your immunity and improve your resistance to ailments:

• Keep yourself hydrated –

During the rainy season, you may not feel very thirsty. However, you should keep drinking a lot of boiled or purified water to keep yourself hydrated. You can also opt for other healthy drinks, such as lime juice, coconut water, and buttermilk, throughout the day to keep yourself healthy.

• Watch what you eat –

The chances of infection and indigestion are high during the monsoon. Hence, you should avoid eating street food, processed foods, junk foods, and other unhealthy foods. Stick to light and freshly cooked food at home. Include a lot of nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, whole nuts, grains, cereals, dairy products, probiotics, and spinach in your daily diet.

• Good personal hygiene –

If you get soaked in the rain, take a bath after you reach home. Add a disinfectant solution to the bath water. For instance, pour a few drops of Dettol in a bucket of water and take a bath to keep germs away.

• Stay away from mosquitoes –

The rainy season offers the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Therefore, when you step out of your home, always cover your skin, arms, and legs properly to avoid mosquito bites. You can apply fabric and skin-compatible mosquito repellent if mosquito breeding is high in your area.

• Stay away from crowds –

Flu and viral infections are on the rise during the rainy season. These infections are quite contagious. Hence, it is better to avoid visiting crowded places during this time of the year.

• Watch out for symptoms –

If you develop a high fever during this season, consult a medical practitioner and, if necessary, undergo diagnostic tests to rule out any ailments. This will help you get proper treatment and recover quickly.

Emergency Preparedness

One of the most important components of rainy season precautions remains how prepared you are to handle emergencies during heavy rains. The following tips will help you tackle such situations:

• Check the news alerts regularly to know about the rain and flood forecasts for your area. You can move to a safe place if a red alert is announced for your area.

• Always stay away from contaminated water sources, as these can lead to diseases like typhoid and cholera. Drink filtered, boiled, or purified water only.

• Avoid eating street foods during this time, as the chances of infection are more.

• Avoid stepping out unless absolutely necessary. Wear appropriate anti-slip footwear and rain gear before you step out in the rain.

• Avoid exposing your skin to insect bites, and wear clothes that do not leave your skin exposed, such as your arms and legs.

• Always have a well-equipped first aid kit handy. Ensure your kit has bandages, gauze pads, adhesive tapes, antiseptic solutions, pain relieving sprays, disposable gloves, scissors, tweezers, and more. Have a detailed user manual ready to know how to use these.

FAQs

How to stay healthy during the monsoons?

Eating healthy food, drinking filtered/boiled water, and staying away from insect bites can help keep monsoon-related ailments at bay.

How to take care of your skin during the monsoons?

Clean your face regularly with a soap-free cleanser rich in vitamin C. Don’t wear heavy makeup during this season, as it can cause acne breakouts.