HEALTH ADVISORY: SUMMER PRECAUTIONS It is summer vacation for your children and often the time to travel out of town with your family. But this season in some parts of our country is known to be notorious enough to take away the pleasures of holidaying, if precautions are not taken. Some of the common ailments prevalent during summer are: Prickly Heat – Small eruptions / rashes appear on the body with itchy sensation Heat Cramps – Pain in the calf muscles Heat Exhaustion – General lethargy Heat Stroke – High body temperature, dehydration, kidney failure at times etc Generalised Dehydration – Excessive sweating leads to loss of water & electrolyte imbalance Constipation – Excessive loss of water leads to hard stools Gastroenteritis (Summer Diarrhoea) – Viral / bacterial infections of stomach / intestines etc Food-poisoning – Stale food / leftover food Some of the major diseases that are believed to be on rise in summer are: Hepatitis B – Due to scarcity of water, contaminated drinking water Malaria – Cooler areas within houses / Water stagnation in air coolers etc Dengue – Stagnant water, increased water storage, unprotected water storage What leads to Food Borne Diseases, especially during summers?
Non-pasteurized dairy products
Raw Meat
Stale Food
Unhygienically prepared street food
Unpackaged drinks from street vendors like lassi / jal-jeera / mango-panna etc
Poor Personal Hygiene
How to avoid summer problems?
Use processed milk
Use cooked meat
Avoid eating leftovers
Avoid eating out in unhygienic places
Proper personal hygiene
Consume packaged drinks (Make sure the seal is intact)
For Prickly Heat – Bathe daily (at least twice a day), apply prickly heat powder, if it develops.
Drink as much water as possible (min 6-8 glasses extra if working outdoors)
Avoid drinking coffee / tea – as they lead to more urination, thereby water loss
Avoid heavy meals – eat light & increase the frequency
Munch fruits / sprouts in between lunch & dinner
Avoid drinking / smoking as they tend to cause dehydration & increase body heat
When outdoors:
Wear light clothes with lighter shades
Protect yourself from direct sunlight
Wear Goggles
Take frequent breaks from working outdoors – allow your body to cool down
Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures – Hot & cold alternate
Schedule vigorous exercises or works during cooler periods of the day
CAclubindia
