Because the Harmattan season approaches, with its dry, dusty winds and cooler temperatures, it’s necessary to arrange for its distinctive challenges.
From well being dangers like dehydration and respiratory points to security issues resembling elevated fireplace hazards, being proactive could make a major distinction.
PUNCH On-line experiences that in Nigeria, the harmattan season sometimes happens between November and March.
The height of harmattan is often in December and January when the dry, dusty winds from the Sahara Desert are at their strongest, resulting in cooler temperatures, low humidity, and poor air high quality.
The season step by step tapers off by March, with temperatures rising once more because the wet season begins.
By following easy but efficient ideas, you may keep wholesome, comfy, and secure all through the season.
Listed here are 10 detailed tricks to navigate the approaching harmattan season:
Keep Hydrated: The dry air throughout harmattan can simply result in dehydration. To keep up wholesome pores and skin and forestall fatigue, drink loads of water all through the day, even if you happen to don’t really feel thirsty. Carry a water bottle with you to make sure fixed hydration.
Moisturise Your Pores and skin: The low humidity and chilly winds can dry out your pores and skin. Apply oil-based moisturisers, lotions, or petroleum jelly to areas which are extra vulnerable to dryness, like your fingers, face, and lips. Be sure that to moisturise a minimum of twice a day—morning and night time—for max safety.
Put on Protecting Clothes: Harmattan mornings might be chilly, whereas afternoons might change into sizzling and dusty. Layering your garments lets you regulate simply to the altering temperatures. Go for light-weight, breathable materials however embody a shawl or scarf for heat within the mornings. Sporting lengthy sleeves and trousers can even shield your pores and skin from mud.
Use a Face Masks or Scarf: The mud and particulate matter within the air throughout harmattan can irritate your respiratory system. Sporting a face masks, scarf, or material over your nostril and mouth when outside helps filter out the mud and reduces the danger of respiration points, particularly for these with bronchial asthma or allergic reactions.
Preserve Your House Clear: Mud accumulation is a typical problem throughout harmattan. Mud usually to maintain your house clear, particularly in areas the place mud settles, resembling cabinets, window sills, and electronics. Use a humid material to wipe surfaces to stop mud from scattering again into the air.
Enhance Vitamin C Consumption: The cooler climate can weaken your immune system, making you extra prone to colds and flu. Consuming vitamin C-rich fruits like oranges, tangerines, guavas, and lemons can assist enhance your immune defenses and enhance your physique’s means to combat off infections.
Defend Your Eyes: Harmattan mud can irritate the eyes and trigger dryness or redness. Put on sun shades or protecting eyewear when outside to protect your eyes from mud particles and wind. Synthetic tears or eye drops can even assist hold your eyes moist and comfy.
Use a Humidifier: The air throughout harmattan is extraordinarily dry, which might result in discomfort, particularly indoors. A humidifier helps add moisture to the air, conserving your pores and skin hydrated and lowering irritation in your respiratory system. When you don’t have a humidifier, you may place bowls of water close to heaters or radiators to extend humidity ranges.
Be Fireplace-Secure: The dry situations throughout harmattan make vegetation and houses extra susceptible to fires. Train further warning with fireplace hazards, resembling open flames, stoves, and candles. At all times make sure that cooking gear is turned off after use, and keep away from leaving fires unattended. Preserve fireplace extinguishers accessible.
Preserve Your Surroundings Mud-Free: To minimise publicity to mud, seal home windows and doorways to stop it from coming into your house. Use insect screens the place potential to maintain mud and bugs out. You can even use air purifiers to assist take away mud particles from the air indoors, making a more healthy residing setting.
It’s important to notice the following tips for navigating the harmattan season as a result of the season’s distinctive traits can considerably impression well being, security, and general well-being.
Right here’s why:
1. Well being Safety
Respiratory Points: The dry and dusty air can worsen situations like bronchial asthma, bronchitis, and allergic reactions. Defending your airways is essential to stopping respiratory misery.
Dehydration and Pores and skin Issues: The low humidity can result in dehydration, cracked pores and skin, and chapped lips, which might change into painful or result in infections.
2. Fireplace Security
Elevated Fireplace Dangers: Harmattan’s dryness lowers humidity, making vegetation and houses extra prone to fireside outbreaks. Consciousness helps cut back fireplace hazards.
3. Consolation and Adaptability
Temperature Fluctuations: Mornings might be very chilly, and afternoons sizzling and dusty. Correct dressing and hydration guarantee consolation and readiness for these swings.
4. Illness Prevention
Boosting Immunity: Seasonal sicknesses just like the frequent chilly, flu, and respiratory infections spike throughout harmattan. A powerful immune system, supported by a nutritious diet, can mitigate these dangers.
5. Hygiene and Cleanliness
Mud and Allergens: Mud accumulation can set off allergic reactions and create an unhealthy residing setting. Common cleansing minimises these dangers and promotes consolation.
6. Sustainable Dwelling
Environment friendly Use of Sources: Understanding the way to cope with dryness (e.g., utilizing humidifiers) and preserve water prepares households for the environmental calls for of the season.
Being proactive ensures that harmattan, with all its challenges, might be managed successfully, stopping minor inconveniences from escalating into important issues.