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Precautionary Measures During Rainy Seasons |
‘Mazhai’
[Rain] is one of the enjoyable aspects in nature. Chennai has been
unusually pleasant for the last fortnight, especially last few days.
Wow! Hot sumptuous onion pagoda or Bajji complemented by Tea [Not hard
drinks which is unhealthy] with friends and family, a real joy.
With exceptions, children enjoy rain. Even in adult there are so many
they love to get entrenched in rain.
There was a movie by name Mazhai which aptly demonstrates the joy one
can experience in rain and a song sequence featuring Tamanah and Karthi
in the movie ‘Paiya’ . It is infectious as well as inspiring that when
one plays in rain we cannot resist join the person.
Again the Rain is enjoyable only as long the water does not stagnate
beyond a level.
There is variety in rain:
Light rain — when it drizzles
Moderate rain — when it pours lightly and for a brief period of time.
Heavy rain — when it pours heavily after and with lightning
and thunder pours incessantly
Violent rain: Heavy rain with thunderstorm; result of cyclone
There are times during monsoon when it rains incessantly for days that
we would tend to feel. "Will this rain ever stop?” That is because it
affects our normal life. The heavy rain results flooding of water and
especially in coastal cities where the land mass is at lower level than
that of the sea level the water does not drain but stagnates. The impact
is enormous because it restricts our movement outside our homes. That is
the kind of situations we must prepared for with contingencies.
Water is the most important required next only to air for survival, but
when it is allowed to stagnate around us beyond a time required it
becomes hazardous and dangerous. Water is the best medium for organisms
to thrive. For example the Mosquitoes breed in water and when it becomes
cold it not only it seeks another medium to warm up itself but also feed
itself. Human blood is the best food for Mosquitoes.
The other situation is that we run out of kitchen eatable inventories.
During monsoon it is important to stock necessary eatables especially
‘ready to eat’ like biscuits, bread etc., based on their shelf life. It
calls for sometimes military like planning to deal with different
situations like:
1. Availability of cooking material- gas or otherwise- in plenty.
2. Cooking material in scarce.
3. Availability of Electricity.
Physical requirements to deal with Chillness:
1. Electrical warmers –
2. In the absence of electricity – proper blankets
3. Proper bed spreads/ mats in case of lying on the floor.
Availability of Motor vehicles:
1. In case of Automobiles – they must be got serviced at the beginning
of the monsoon, especially battery should have been checked and Engine
oil and Brake oil and brake itself should have been thoroughly checked
and updated, so that vehicle can be used in emergencies without hazels;
like in cold sometimes if the battery condition is not updated the car
may not start.
2. The tyres checked for adequate air and the Stephanie in order.
3. Keep good umbrella, rain coats handy.
Health concerns:
1. It is better to take Vitamin C daily from just before the start of
the monsoon. The change of climate would instantly affect people whose
immune system is weak.
2. The diseases are either air borne or water borne.
There is not much we can do about the air, but we can protect ourselves
to some extent against water borne diseases.
Drink only protected water supplied and next level drink always the
Boiled water and warm water, which is well protected after being boiled;
like keeping the boiled water in a water tight thermos flasks or
vessels.
3. People with illness that get aggravated with the onset of
monsoon/winter – must get themselves equipped, in consultations with the
doctor, to stock necessary medicines and eat only as recommended by the
doctor.
4. Be careful about what you eat; avoid food that is not good to your
digestive system; that adds to cooling of system.
How to keep the children busy in side home:
1. Have indoor games like carom handy.
2. Play quizzes with children.
3. Give them educational activity that they enjoy doing. Color in new
coloring books, only used when confined indoors due to bad weather
outside.
4. Put together puzzles, or let the kids try to solve puzzles from
puzzle books
5.Whenever you have the chance, stock up on board games, toys, old
clothing, craft supplies, scissors, glue, paper, pencils, markers,
crayons, puzzles, decks of cards, and an assortment of other items you
think the kids might have use of.
6. Teaching them some useful skills such as reading books, how to dress
[special dresses], how to keep their place clean cooking. Tell them
stories. Of course put them on video games.
Make their stay indoor enjoyable that they will help you prepare for the
next rainy day.
For office goers:
1. Vehicles must be in tip top conditions.
2. Rain coat, wind cheater handy.
3. Know well your roads – meaning you should know the pits in the road
–which are covered with water.
4. Leave for places well before normal time to avoid tension enroute;
give yourselves more time to deal with exigencies like road diversions.
We need water. Let it pour. Let us enjoy it .
