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Survive the heatwave with these tips for a cooler you and a cooler everyone
New Delhi, Apr 29: With a heatwave warning being issued for several parts of India, many have takin ample precautions to beat the heat and survive a heat-stroke.
Three are several precautions one must take during a heatwave. It could be precaution for individuals, offices, employers and even in the agriculture sector.
The Agriculture Meteorology Department has given a detailed list of dos and don'ts for various sector. Check out the complete list of dos and don'ts for a heatwave.
Dos
Must for All
Dos and Don'ts for Heat wave
- Listen to Radio; watch TV; read Newspaper for local weather news or download weather information related mobile app.
- Drink sufficient water - even if not thirsty. Persons with epilepsy or heart, kidney or liver disease who are on fluid-restricted diets or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
- Use ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution), homemade drinks like lassi, torani (rice water), lemon water, buttermilk, coconut water, etc. to keep yourself hydrated.
- Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes.
-
If
outside,
cover
your
head:
Use
a
cloth,
hat
or
umbrella.
Use
sunglasses
to protect your eyes and sunscreen to protect your skin. - Get trained in first aid.
-
Take
special
care
for
the
elderly,
children,
sick
or
overweight
as
they
are
more likely to become victims of excessive heat. (Source imdagrimet)
Employers and Workers
- Provide cool drinking water at the workplace.
-
Provide
resting
shade
clean
water,
buttermilk,
first-aid
kits
with
ice-packs
and ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) for all workers. - Caution workers to avoid direct sunlight.
- Schedule strenuous jobs to cooler times of the day.
- Increase the frequency and length of rest breaks for outdoor activities.
- Give lighter work and shorter hours to workers new to a high heat area.
-
Pregnant
women
and
workers
with
a
medical
condition
should
be
given
additional attention. - Notify workers about heat wave alerts. (Source imdagrimet)
Other Precautions
- Stay indoors as much as possible.
-
Traditional
remedies
like
onion
salad
and
raw
mango
with
salt
and
cumin
can prevent heat stroke. - Use fans, damp clothing and take a bath in cold water frequently.
-
Offer
water
to
vendors
and
delivery
people
who
come
to
your
home
or
office. -
Use
public
transport
and
car-pooling.
This
will
help
reduce
global
warming and heat. - Don't burn dry leaves, agriculture residue and garbage.
- Conserve water bodies. Practice rainwater harvesting.
-
Use
energy-efficient
appliances,
clean
fuel
and
alternative
sources
of
energy. - If you feel dizzy or ill, see a doctor immediately or ask somebody to take
- you to the doctor immediately. (Source imdagrimet)
For a cooler home
- Use solar reflective white paint, cool roof technology, air-light and cross ventilation and thermo cool insulation for low-cost cooling. You can also keep haystacks or grow vegetation on roofs.
- Install temporary window reflectors such as aluminium foil-covered cardboard to reflect heat back outside.
- Keep your home cool, use dark colour curtains, tinted glass/ shutters or sunshade and open windows at night. Try to remain on the lower floors.
- Green roofs, green walls and indoor plants reduce heat by cooling the building naturally, reducing air-conditioning requirements and release of waste heat.
- Maintain AC temperature at 24 degrees or higher. This will reduce your electricity bill and make your health better. (Source imdagrimet)
While constructing a new Home
- Use cavity wall technology instead of regular walls.
- Construct thick walls. They keep the interiors cool.
-
Construct
lattice
walls
and
louvered
openings.
They
allow
maximum
air
flow while blocking the heat. - Use natural materials like lime or mud to coat walls.
- Avoid glass, if possible.
- Consult a Building Technology expert before construction.
- Treatment of a person affected by sunstroke
- Use a wet cloth / pour water on the victim's head.
-
Give
the
person
ORS
to
drink
or
lemon
sarbat
/
torani
or
whatever
is
useful to rehydrate the body. - Take the person immediately to the nearest health centre.
-
If
consistently
experiencing
high
body
temperature,
throbbing
headache,
dizziness, weakness, nausea or disorientation in the summer, call an
ambulance. (Source imdagrimet)
Don'ts
- Avoid going out in the sun, especially between 12.00 noon and 3.00 p.m.
- Avoid strenuous activities when outside in the afternoon.
- Do not go out barefoot.
-
Avoid
cooking
during
peak
hours.
Open
doors
and
windows
to
ventilate
cooking area adequately. -
Avoid
alcohol,
tea,
coffee
and
carbonated
soft
drinks,
which
dehydrates
the body. - Avoid high-protein, salty, spicy and oily food. Do not eat stale food.
- Do not leave children or pets alone in parked vehicles.
- Avoid using incandescent light bulbs which may generate unnecessary heat, as can computers or appliances. (Source imdagrimet)
Dos and Don'ts for Heat wave in Agriculture
Dos
- Apply light and frequent irrigation to the standing crops.
- Increase the frequency of irrigation at critical growth stages.
-
Mulch
with
crop
residue,
straw,
/polythene
or
undertake
soil
mulching
to
conserve soil moisture. - Irrigate only during the evening or early morning.
- Use sprinkler irrigation.
- If your area is prone to heat wave - adopt wind / shelters breaks. (Source imdagrimet)
Animal Husbandry
Dos
- Keep animals in shade and give them plenty of clean and cold water to drink.
- Do not make them work between 11 am to 4 pm.
-
Cover
the
shed
roof
with
straw,
paint
it
white
or
plaster
with
dung-mud
to
reduce temperature. - Use fans, water spray and foggers in the shed.
-
During
extreme
heat,
spray
water
and
take
cattle
to
a
water
body
to
cool
off.
•Give
them
green
grass,
protein-fat
bypass
supplement,
mineral
mixture
and
salt. Make them graze during cooler hours. - Provide curtains and proper ventilation in poultry house. Don'ts
- Avoid grazing / feeding of cattle during noon hours. (Source imdagrimet)
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Story first published: Friday, April 29, 2022, 12:36 [IST]