The monsoon season is here, and while it is a relief from the scorching heat of the summer, being prepared for heavy rainfall and its potential dangers is imperative.
With pre-monsoon showers in several parts across the country, hard-at-work denizens are following their annual drill — to protect themselves from any accidents or mishaps that this beautiful, but volatile season tends to bring along.
Here are some suggestions for working professionals to stay safe, and have a healthy and happy monsoon:
Eat and drink healthy — This season is the biggest tester of our immune system, as the risk of developing common diseases like typhoid, dengue, and chikungunya, along with digestive problems like food poisoning, diarrhoea, and gastroenteritis is higher. Therefore, it is important to watch what you eat and follow a healthy diet, especially for those who order food at work. Also, offices should provide filtered water to employees to prevent water-borne diseases like cholera.
Avoid strolling in the rain — Walking to work in the rain to enjoy the downpour may seem like a tempting idea, but is not recommended for maintaining good health. Strolling through flooded areas implies direct contact with rainwater, and this can lead to a host of viral diseases like leptospirosis, along with fungal infections at the feet and nails. One should also avoid gutters, drains and other low-lying areas in order to avoid injury from cracked roads and open gutters. Electric poles are another thing to be wary of during this time, along with fallen lines and any water-lining around it.
Drive safe — Those driving to work should be alert, and follow all safety precautions and traffic rules, especially in and around flooded areas. They need to exercise greater caution with regard to pedestrians and strays crossing the road, and have their head and tail lights on during night-driving for clear visibility of their own and other cars. An important tip is to avoid crossing a water body or stream flowing horizontally this season, as it is challenging for the driver to judge the depth of the water, which can cause an accident or mishap. It is also important to prepare cars for the rains, by conducting checks on the tyres, battery, wiring, paint and wipers of the vehicle. If on a motorbike, wear bright coloured raincoats, and pedestrians too, should carry bright umbrellas to avoid accidents due to low visibility.
Keep a set of clothes at work — The rains can be tricky and one cannot always predict when they will hit. Carry a set of clothes and store them at work, in case of any mishaps during this season. One set of warm clothes should also be kept on-hand in case of an emergency, as wearing wet clothes in an air-conditioned environment could lead to sickness, or even hypothermia.
Don’t fidget with your eyes — During the rainy season, the risk of eye infections like conjunctivitis, style, dry eyes, and corneal ulcers is rather high. If neglected for too long, it can have a long-term impact and lead to blindness. Therefore, follow the basic tip of not touching your eyes much, and reducing their exposure to the screen, to avoid irritation, redness, or itching.
Prepare your devices – Monsoons bring with them, high chances of a power-cut. This is why devices should be charged and kept at all times. It is also recommended to invest in a portable charger and re-discover the efficiency of landlines in offices in case of emergencies. Make it a point to invest in water-proof bags for carrying these electronic devices to work to avoid spoilage.
Heavy rainfall and floods can bring everything to a stand-still. Fortunately, emergency service providers are on-hand to help out. Ziqitza Healthcare Ltd. (ZHL) is a reputed ambulance operating company with over 3300 Ambulances across India, and has saved over 20 million lives, with extensive experience in providing a helping hand in areas under duress, owing to their efforts during floods, cyclones and other natural disasters like the cyclones Phailin and Fani in Odisha, as well as the horrifying floods in Mumbai. Remember helpline numbers like 108 and 1298 in case of an emergency during this season, and that ZHL is available to send an ambulance with trained paramedics on board.