Monsoon Safety Measures: Protecting Children from Infections and Water-related Hazards

Monsoon is the season most of us love. But, if proper precautions are not taken, this season of blessings and bounties could turn into disappointment and destruction

Precautions such as appropriate diet, proper hydration and protection from mosquitoes, are necessary your children to make the best of the monsoon goodness

Monsoon is the most unique season in India. No other season is as transformative as monsoon, and no other monsoon system is as profound as the Indian Monsoon!

In India, monsoon is not just a season of rains. It’s a time of revival. A season when the land comes alive again after getting baked in the harsh months of Summer. It is a season when life finds its feet again, helping creatures return from hibernation.

It’s the most eagerly awaited time of the year for many. Millions of farmers rejoice the arrival of rain as it brings them the much needed water to sow their seeds of life and irrigate their lands with hope and energy.

Despite the industrial progress of the country, Indian economy is still agrarian and good rainfall means bumper crop and better economic prospects for millions.

Monsoon is when life drips from buds and leaves, it is when the birds and animals are chirpiest and nippiest. It is also the mating season in the wild.

However, monsoon also brings destruction to many regions, with the ecological imbalance wrought by the human activities leading to floods.

The southwest monsoon officially begins in early June and lasts for around four months in the west coast, with some regions receiving scattered rainfall till early November.

On the eastern coast, the monsoon arrives in November and lasts for a couple of months, bringing both relief and cyclonic destructions.

Monsoonal torrents, a product of the Southeast trade winds that originates from the Indian Ocean is responsible for more than 80 per cent of the annual rainfall in India.

Though, the northeastern part of India receives significant rainfall, the western states such Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and some parts of Gujarat receives least rainfall. Some interior parts of the Deccan Plateau are also among the driest in the country.

Little or more, every region in India receives some rainfall and the monsoon magic works on each one of us.

However, monsoon is also the season when many people suffer from seasonal ailments and water-borne diseases. If proper precautions are not taken, this season of blessings and bounties could turn into disappointment and destruction.

The adverse affects of monsoon particularly impacts the elders and children, who are more prone to contracting ailments like cold, cough, flu, infections, etc.

Hence, it is necessary to take extra care of the children and elderly during monsoon, as these seasonal illnesses can turn into life-threatening diseases if left unnoticed.

Among the particular dangers of the monsoon are the mosquitoes that breed in the moist and damp environment, bringing with them diseases like Malaria, Dengue, chikungunya etc.

All these diseases are marked by high fever, headache, and body ache. The affects of all these are more pronounced on children.

Monsoon excites all of us, but children enjoy the rains more than the adults. They love to splash around and play in the waters and this could potentially bring in a series of ailments.

Whether or not your child has played in the rains, they are exposed to the highly charged monsoon air and they are more vulnerable to falling sick. Hence, it is essential to take certain necessary precautions to avoid the adverse affects of rains.

Here are a few tips that can prevent infections and make your body stronger and better.

Eat well

Prevention is better than cure and good food is our first line of defence against any bacterial or viral infection. Nutritious, balanced and healthy diet helps our body develop a stronger system of immunity.

Eating the right type and portion of food particularly helps in preventing diseases during monsoon.

Well-cooked homemade food, especially soups and stews can give your children the necessary nutrition and warmth required in the season.

Fruits pack a punch and are ideal for restoring energy. Bananas, cherries and apples are best for the season.

Green leafy vegetables could also be good, however, they must be soaked in salt water for at least 10 minutes and thoroughly washed before cooking, to remove all the dirt and pathogens.

It is advisable to minimise dairy intake during monsoon, as there is a higher chance of milk getting infected by germs and bacteria during this season.

Strictly avoid eating outside, especially at roadside eateries, as there is a greater risk of food and water getting contaminated due to the greater exposure to the elements.

Hydrate

Water is life and it is essential to maintain the right balance in the body. Water is also among the top elements that protects the child from diseases. A well hydrated body has a greater chance of fighting the attacks of various diseases.

However, water also carries pathogens, particularly during monsoon. Hence, it is essential to drink either filtered or preferably boiled water.

Boiled water helps in maintaining personal hygiene and good internal sanitation. It also limits the germs and helps in combating diseases.

Avoid the sting

Mosquitoes thrive in damp and moist environments and monsoon gives the ideal setting for mosquitoes to breed and multiply.

The rain-fed water pools in the streets, around the neighbourhoods, front yards and backyards provide ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

It is necessary to ensure the flow of water and keep the streets and gutter spaces clean so that mosquitoes don’t breed around your living spaces.

Some mosquitoes carry pathogens that could be life-threatening. When your child goes out to play, make sure he/she is wearing full-sleeved clothes. Apply mosquito repellent cream or gel to keep the mosquitoes away.

At home, make sure that there isn’t any stagnant water around. Get mosquito nets as well to protect kids from mosquito bites.

Gear

Every season calls for adequate preparation and monsoon isn’t different. Get your children equipped with the right rain gears, such ast raincoats, rain boots, waterproof bags and umbrellas to protect your child from getting wet unnecessarily. It is alright to get drenched occasionally, but making it a habit could be dangerous, so ensure you children are well aware of the dangers.

Playtime precautions 

Kids love playing out in the monsoon and splashing around in rainwaters. It is their natural urge to do so and we all have fond memories of playing in the rains and getting drenched in our childhood. It is an essential part of growing up, so do not stop them from playing in the rain.

However, take some preventive measures that will keep them protected from the adverse affects of getting drenched.

Take precautionary steps such as getting the soaked cloths off immediately, giving them a hot shower or bath when they are back from playing, and treating them with hot, homemade soup or herbal tea. These measures could keep them safe from contracting diseases.

Sanitation

Personal and spatial hygiene plays an important role in keeping the diseases away. Apart from keeping the interiors and exteriors of your house clean, ensure high level of personal hygiene for good health and wellbeing!

Make sure that the children wash their hands and feet every time they come home after a visit outside.

Make sure they take regular warm water showers and baths. Warm water baths and showers are both relaxing and hygienic. They also kill germs and bacteria, especially with the use of an antibacterial soap. For additional safety, add antiseptic solutions to the water, which will wipe out most of the germs.

To avoid catching cold, make sure the child dries the hair adequately after the bath.

Rest

For a human being to have a balanced and holistic life, adequate and timely rest is essential as it revitalises our system and ensures optimum levels of energy. This holds true for children as well.

Children are more active and restless. They have higher levels of energy and move constantly as they explore, enjoy and learn from the environment around them. This also means they need longer hours of sleep to replenish their energy reserves.

In the cold and damp atmosphere of monsoon our bodies have a greater need for warm beds and rest, more so for children. Enough sleep ensures that the children are calm and in a state of ideal balance, which again proves to be a line of defence against diseases.

Home Remedies 

Home remedies have been passed on to us from ancient times and have proven to be universally successful in preventing minor ailments.

If your child has contracted cold or monsoon fever, it is advisable to follow some home remedies such as turmeric milk, it is antibacterial and combats many diseases. Honey with ginger could also be helpful in soothing the sore throat. Honey with cinnamon or black pepper also proves useful.

Also, gargling with warm water aids in combating indigestion and a sore throat. Herbal teas, infused with the goodness of lemon, ginger, clove and honey are also a good option when it comes to healing body aches, headaches, fever, etc.

Consult

Home remedies only work to some extent, so you must know when to see the paediatrician. If the child is not recovering from home remedies in a couple of days, know that it’s time to visit the doctor.

Cold and cough are common diseases during monsoon and can be treated at home. But, if the symptoms are not going away, or if the fever is persistent, then consult the doctor immediately!

Conclusion

Precautions are necessary for you and your children to make the best of the monsoon goodness. With a little carelessness, this season of bounties could prove to be disastrous for your family.

So, take good care of your family and together enjoy the good times while they last!