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8 Tips to Keep Your Family Safe during Monsoons

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The first pitter-patter of rain after those scorching summer months can make you jump up in joy. Admiring grey skies, soaking in the sight of rain-kissed greenery, sipping on piping hot tea, and munching on crisp fritters are some of the things that make monsoons in India amazing. For kids, puddles add to the fun. However, everything is not hunky-dory about rainy months.Waterlogging encourages those pesky mosquitoes to breed and the humidity leads to many skin problems. Digging into street foods often causesdigestive issues and cold and flu seem like common demons to deal with.

So, to keep yourself and your family safe during monsoons, follow the 8 tips given below. Most importantly, buy a comprehensive family health insurance plan with adequate coverage to keep financial worries at bay in case of an emergency.

1. Consume healthy foods only–

When it rains, it is easy to give into tempting street foods like rolls, noodles, and chaats. But remember that during monsoon months, their hygiene factor is questionable. The water used while preparing them can be a breeding ground for bacteria.Also, consuming raw or partially cooked food is not advisable. Instead, stick to home-cooked meals like hearty soups, stews and curries. Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly before putting them in a salad. Else, boil everything, especially if children are concerned. Check the expiration date on everything in the fridge and watch out for mould and fungus. Any meat or seafood item should be cooked all the way through. Also, make sure your entire family has lots of citrus fruits to boost immunity. And in case someone suffers an acute gastric problem or needs to be hospitalised, keep family health insurance handy.

2. Drink a lot of fluids–

Since the temperature dips a little during monsoons, you might not feel as thirsty as you do in summer. But you do sweat, especially if it’s humid. And that makes you lose water. Which means, to keep your bodily functions running smoothly during rainy months, you need to have enough water. You can also drink green tea, light soups and fruit juices made fresh at home. Coconut water is another healthy drink that will help maintain the electrolyte balance in your body. You can also add a few mint leaves and lime slices to plain water and drink the flavourful concoction.

3. Keep mosquitoes away–

Make sure there is no stagnant water around or inside your house. If you have a pool, get it treated by professionals. Your gutters should be clean as well. This way, mosquitoes won’t breed and spread diseases like malaria and dengue. Spray mosquito repellents and burn camphor if need be. During the early hours of morning and evening, keep your doors and windows closed. Make sure all family members apply a safe mosquito repellent cream on the exposed parts of their skin. You can go for herbal creams that are safe for children too. Growing plants like marigold, lemongrass and mint can keep these pesky disease-carriers at bay. And make sure you have a good family health insurance policy that takes care of all hospital bills in case someone contracts a mosquito-borne disease and needs special treatment.

4. Avoid getting drenched in the rain–

Getting drenched and allowing wet clothes to stick to your body for long can increase the risk of cold, flu or a seasonal infection. This is particularly true in case of children as they have weak immunity. Moisture can give rise to fungal infections that are itchy and annoying as well. Also remember that the first few showers often contain pollutants and toxic matters that can cause skin problems if you are exposed. Carry an umbrella wherever you go or opt for a long raincoat. If it’s raining heavily, thigh-high plastic boots are a great idea.

5. Stay active and exercise–

It is common to feel lethargic on rainy days and simply snuggle with a cup of coffee or a good book. But this can lead to malaise, body pain, and even weight gain, if you mostly laze around and relish deep-fried or sugary goodies. So, get on with your everyday household chores and do some indoor freehand exercises. The elderly members in your family can do yoga or deep breathing exercises while you indulge in aerobics. Play with your kids, jump up and down, and keep your blood circulating.

6. Take care of your skin

The skin is the largest organ of your body and its first line of defence, so take special care of it when it rains. Problems like dermatitis, rash, itchy skin, eczema, pimples and allergies are very common during monsoons. So, take baths every day, wear fresh and dry clothes, moisturise well, and avoid scrubbing your skin too much. Avoid putting on too much makeup as it can block the pores and make it difficult for your skin to breathe. Use soft cleansers and clay masks, and even if it is super cloudy, apply sunscreen. Keep your sensitive areas clean and humidity-free. If you have a baby, make sure their diapers are changed regularly.

7. Avoid getting close to sick people–

Make sure none of your family members get close to someone suffering from a cold, fever, flu. allergy or infection. It takes just one person to get infected to spread the disease. Wash your hands with soap frequently and use alcohol-based sanitisers. Avoid touching common surfaces in public areas as much as possible. If you have kids and an adult in the family is sick, keep them away or in a different room.

8. Get the right kind of family health insurance–

You never know when an emergency might strike during monsoons. So, take insurance to stay stress-free financially. Compare multiple insurance providers in the market before choosing a policy. Choose a sum insured that is enough to offer protection to everyone in the family and comes with a wide cashless network of hospitals. Your policy should cover everything from pre and post hospitalisation, hospitalisation, and day care treatments to preventive health checks, ambulance charges, daily hospital cash, home healthcare, and alternative treatments like homeopathy, Ayurveda etc. Elderly family members might prefer such treatments over conventional methods. Check the claim settlement ratio too and ensure that the claim processing is fast. Having family health insurance will also help you avail multiple tax benefits. All in all, be aware of both the pros and cons of the monsoon season. Have a good time but also take steps to prevent common problems and medical emergencies. And cover those you love financially with a family health insurancepolicy from a reputed provider.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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