The season of drizzles and showers is almost upon us. Heavy thunderstorms accompanied by a damp climate symbolize the arrival of the monsoon showers. However, this year, it comes at a very crucial situation.
The world has been busy dealing with the COVID-19 virus for several months now. Doctors, hospitals and other medical facilities have their hands full with thousands of coronavirus patients almost every day.
Previously, some medical experts suggested that the spread of COVID-19 would slow down during the summer season. But that did not happen. Instead, the virus is now spreading at a very alarming rate. Also, with monsoon set to arrive soon, the situation might worsen.
Apart from the risk of COVID-19, there are other vector-borne and water-borne diseases that offer an even bigger challenge during the rainy season. These include malaria, cold, typhoid, dengue fever, cholera and many more.
So, while you prepare for the charms of monsoon, here are some precautions that you can take in order to reduce the risk of infections like COVID-19.
- Maintain proper hygiene
Needless to say, the most effective way to prevent infections is by following good hygienic practices. Use hand sanitizers frequently to keep your hands clean and use disposable tissues when coughing or sneezing.
Although these are very basic hygienic practices, but they will surely help in protecting you from any kind of infections or diseases. Don’t forget to thoroughly wash your hands before eating as well. In case you have to go outdoors, ensure that you wear a face mask and hand-gloves too.
- Keep yourself hydrated
It is widely believed that dehydration occurs mainly during the summer season. However, there are chances that you might face dehydration even during the monsoon.
So, you need to drink water regularly to keep your body healthy and hydrated. In order to prevent any kind of contamination, you can boil the drinking water. Also, you can opt for various homemade drinks/kadhas that may help you fight infections.
- Clean out wounds
Open cuts and wounds are often at risk of contracting germs and bacteria. So, you must ensure that your wounds and cuts are cleaned and seal them with a bandage, if necessary.
Skin peeling and blemishes tend to occur more frequently during the monsoon. Therefore, you must avoid pulling at scabs or picking at them. You can even use skin creams, lotions or moisturizers to keep your skin healthy.
- Prevent moisture on household items
As we all know, there is a high amount of moisture in the air during monsoon. This moisture often affects air quality and leads to early damage or deterioration of furniture and other household items.
This may increase the possibility of air contamination during the rainy season. Also, check for any kind of leakage in the walls and roof. Clean the filters of your air conditioners and keep your shoes out of the house too.
- Avoid sharing dishes
Ensure that each house member uses separate plates, glasses and cutlery. Regularly sharing plates or glasses might increase your risk of infections. Also, wash all cutlery before and after your meals.
And while we are talking about meals…
- Have homemade food
Homemade food is your best option during these difficult times. Also, you need to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid having unwashed or already cut fruits as they are often prone to bacteria and germs.
In case you have to order food online, make sure that the restaurant is following proper hygienic practices as suggested by the government. Apart from this, you could also opt for zero contact delivery which is now widely offered by most food companies.
- Ventilation at home
Since, you will have to stay at home for a long time, ensure that your house gets proper ventilation. Keep the doors and windows open to get sufficient sunlight.
This will allow fresh air flow in your house and might also help get rid of moisture.
- Stay Updated
In order to prepare for any situation, you must be totally aware about it. In this case, you need to keep yourself updated about recent developments such as areas of high risk and suggestions by medical experts.
Also, you can use apps like Aarogya Setu or SafeSeniors by Seniority to get regular medical updates and keep a check on other health-related factors.
Every decision you take has the potential to affect you and the people around you as well. So, you need to make sure that you are playing your part in this battle against an invisible threat.
Also, we need to be aware about other similar infections that are more likely to spread during the monsoon. Together, we can overcome these challenging times by spreading awareness and adopting simple yet effective measures.
Stay Safe. Live Evergreen.
