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Tag: rainy season

  • Eight ways to stay safe during rainy season

    Eight ways to stay safe during rainy season

    The rainy season can be pleasant sometimes; the cool weather, the perfect time to drink a cup of hot tea or coffee, a reason to wear coats and turtlenecks, enjoy snuggle time with loved ones but can also be irritating as it comes with illnesses such as flu, common cold, fever, malaria and others.

    To stay safe during this period, there are some simple tips to adopt.

    Here are the eight ways to stay safe during rains:

    1. DRIVE SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY

    Road accidents are quite common during the monsoon season, which is why drivers need to practice extreme caution in this weather. Since wet tarmac can become rather slippery, it is advised to avoid speeding and tailgating (closely following the car in front of you). If the vehicle behind you is tailgating, make sure to put some distance between the two. Avoid making any sudden turns as well.

    Moreover, be wary of riding motorcycles while it’s raining, as they tend to slip and fall rather easily on wet roads. If you drive a car, be careful of bikers around you.

    2. WASH YOUR HANDS REGULARLY

    To keep you from getting a cold, cough and flu, regular hand washing is necessary to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria. Bacterias and viruses come alive during the rainy season and you can come in contact with them anywhere.

    Wash your hands as often as you can with soap and water. It is also advisable to carry a pocket-sized hand sanitiser with you when you go out.

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    It is important to wash your feet and hands when you get home, especially after contact with rain or flood.

    3. BE A WEATHER CONSCIOUS PERSON

    You need to stay up to date with the latest news on weather and weather forecasts to avoid going out when there will be a heavy downpour. You can monitor the weather through Radio,TV and the internet.

    Follow accounts that share useful information about weather and traffic updates, which might help you to get rid of flooded areas and find alternate routes.

    4. AVOID TOUCHING ELECTRIC POLES AND WIRES

    Staying away from electric poles and wires is one of the most important safety measures for the rainy season. Do not touch wires that have fallen due to heavy rain or are dangling precariously from the pole.

    If you see wires lying in a puddle of water after rain, stay away from it as far as possible since stepping in it can possibly electrocute you.

    5. KEEP MOSQUITOES AWAY

    Rainy season is the perfect breeding season for mosquitoes. They lay their eggs in pools of stagnant water so you must make sure to sweep away any stagnant water that is around you.

    Mosquito repellent spray should be used in the house,burning mosquito coils as well to keep the insects away.

    When you need to go outside,wear long sleeved shirts and rub mosquito repellent cream on your arms and legs. Use mosquito nets around your bed too.

    6. STAY WARM

    It is usually cold outside when it rains,so wear warm clothes to keep your body temperature up.

    Cardigans, sweaters, turtlenecks and coats should be part of clothing during this season. They help you stay warm and avoid catching a cold.

    Remember to stay out of the rain too if you can.

    7. TAKE A HOT SHOWER

    Taking a shower after getting drenched in the rain might sound absurd, however taking a hot shower will help raise your body temperature and also get rid of the germs and protect you from many infections. But If you don’t feel like having a shower, try soaking your feet in warm water.

    8. AVOID GETTING SOAKED IN THE RAIN

    Make sure to always carry an umbrella and rain coat to avoid getting soaked from a sudden downpour. Getting soaked in the rain can cause flu,cold, cough and other rain causing illnesses.

    Rain gear such as umbrellas, rain coats, rubber boots helps to protect you from getting soaked and shields you against cold or fever.

    Wearing rubber boots is advisable to protect yourself against possible viruses and germs that could be in the water.

  • Staying healthy in rainy season

    Rainy season is here again, even as everything is cool and green, this season also comes with some health concerns. Colds, pneumonia, cholera, fever, food and water infections are more prevalent during the rains. Omolara Akintoye writes how families can stay healthy this season

    PERHAPS you’ve been noticing those around you blowing their noses or coughing, or you are the one affected, bear in mind that it’s rainy season. Rather than waiting to develop sickness, it is advisable to put up a stronger guard against it.

    The best way to prevent common cold is to have a healthy, balanced and nutritious diet regularly which will develop the immune system of the body and improve body resistance. Apart from having a healthy food, you need to be a little extra cautious when you go out during the period of weather change and avoid exposing yourself too much to the outside environment. Avoid too much consumption of chilled items like ice-creams and iced drinks during the weather transition period. Avoid moving out in the rain and drenching in the rain water. Instead, carry an umbrella or a rain coat to protect yourself from getting drenched. In case you happen to get drenched in the rain, immediately after getting back to your home change your dress immediately and then let loose your hair and allow it dry as quickly as possible. If necessary, warm up yourself by putting up a room heater and keep yourself warm for some time

    There might be some debate on it, but practice proves that vitamin C helps prevent and cure colds. You should be taking supplements year-round, but be particularly strict about this time. Vitamin C helps reduce the severity of a cold’s symptoms, thereby making them tolerable. With a good helping of vitamin C, your antibodies will fight the cold faster—or keep them at bay. What you can do is prepare for them. Always have your umbrella with you, but it would be best to have a rain coat and waterproof shoes as well. The goal is to stay dry as much as you can.

    According to some medical researchers, vegetables that contain phytochemicals work better than vitamin C. They are more efficient in pacifying the symptoms of colds and flu. Eating a good dose of vegetables also lessens your recovery time from those illnesses. Vegetables are also rich in vitamin A; that makes your eyes healthier. What more can you ask for from these nutritious plants?

    Say no to street food: We know that the freshly cooked and exposed fish balls, akara, puff-puff are particularly tempting during the rainy season, but it’s time for a temporary farewell. Avoid anything that is cooked in the open air that likely comes into contact with airborne and waterborne diseases. And no, those large umbrellas do not always keep them out.

    For children in the rainy season, there is an increase in the number of respiratory problems such as pneumonia in children, sinusitis, otitis media, and bronchiolitis, which have greater complications in children.

    To prevent your baby from catching a cold, take care of their diet, monitor their health and keep them bundled up, especially when changing environments with different temperatures. Teach them to clean their nose with clean tissues, preferably disposable. Hands should be washed with soap – if it’s antiseptic, even better – for 20 seconds in warm water to eliminate viruses.

    Avoid shared items; It’s preferable not to share glasses or foods that are served from the same place (potatoes, popcorn, etc). Take care of your baby’s diet, since the cold weather requires more calories than in the summer. A good diet will strengthen their defences and help protect them from the cold and other diseases. Breastfeeding will also boost their immune system and protect them from many infections. To prevent the baby from catching a cold, when going out for a walk they should be well bundled, but without overdoing it. Keeping the baby too warm can be counterproductive since the excess fabric prevents the regulation of their body temperature with the environment.

    In conclusion, if you are a little extra cautious during the time of transition of weather, you can protect yourself and your family from getting infected from virus/common cold and thus enjoy a healthy life.

  • Rainy season: LASG Inspects dump site facilities

    In preparation for the coming rains, Lagos State Government has embarked on an inspection tour of dump site facilities across the state with a view to ensuring that operators comply with standards.

    Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti said this while leading a team from the Ministry to the dump sites earlier.

    Durosinmi-Etti  said government has directed that additional platforms should be created at the dump sites, while  operators of dump sites and Transfer Loading stations have been asked to urgently apply  deodoriser to douse odours emanating from waste.

    He expressed the confidence that a cleaner and healthier Lagos was achievable if all hands were on deck through the cooperation of all stakeholders.

    At Solous 3 and Ewu-Elepe dump sites, where he inspected the ongoing road rehabilitation to ease traffic and enhance the turn-around time of compactors, he urged the operators to expedite the construction of the exit road for free movement of compactors in and out of the dump sites.

    At these dump sites and Agege Transfer Loading Station compactors were seen dumping and moving in and out without hitch.

  • Lagos to address waste challenge before rainy season

    The Lagos State Government yesterday said all hands are on deck to holistically address the challenges being experienced in waste management with the implementation of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), assuring that the issue would be addressed before the rainy season.

    Speaking at a briefing to mark the third year anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, said the CLI was introduced last year to foster broad reforms in solid waste management, saying that the scheme remained the panacea for delivering efficient, effective and sustainable environment with its attendant benefits such as job creation, cleaner, safer and healthy environment.

    Responding to question on state of refuse in public places, the Commissioner said the government, in partnership with all stakeholders, was working hard to address the challenge, just as he assured that it would soon be a thing of the past.

    “Very soon, Lagos will be very clean. We are working hard in partnership with all stakeholders to ensure we address the challenges. Both the government and the residents will jointly address the challenges and with Visionscape and the Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators working together, and the cooperation of the people, the challenges would soon be over.

    “We know that our population is increasing as available statistics indicate that 85 people enter Lagos every hour and very few of them go back, and as more people come in, the waste generated in the State is also increasing but we are working to put the right infrastructure and equipment in place to address waste management.

    “However, one thing I can assure the people is that we are working and in another one month before the raining season, it will be over. We know that the raining season is fast approaching and we are also preparing but I like to assure that soon, the challenges will be surmounted,” Durosinmi-Etti said.

    He said 13,958 Community Sanitation Workers (CSW) have so far been employed to sweep inner streets in the 377 political wards in the State, with recruitment exercise still ongoing, adding that under the new arrangement, the sweepers would be directly supervised by the Ministry, while mechanized sweeping would be managed by three companies – Avatar, Wastercare and Corporate Solutions.

    He said the PSP operators have now been charged with the responsibility of managing residential and general waste collection, while Visionscape now has the mandate of implementing waste management infrastructure development across the State, in addition to intervening in public waste collection to cover any service lapses that may occur.

    On infrastructure, the Commissioner said the retrofitting of Transfer Loading Stations in Agege, Oshodi and Lagos Island had attained over 80 per cent completion with plans for more, while Epe Landfill under construction had achieved remarkable progress with completion of the weigh-in bridge, adding that government in partnership with the private sector would soon commence another engineered hazardous landfill in Erikiti, Badagry.

    He also said the responsibility for maintenance of drainage infrastructure across the State had been ceded to the Lagos State Public Works Corporation, while based on ongoing efforts, the challenges to residents following the fire at Olusosun dump site would soon be over.

    He said government, through the Lagos State Parks and Gardens (LASPARK) propagated over 100,000 nursery plant seedlings of various species with the period under review, while it cumulatively planted 7,388, 096 trees.

    In the area of noise pollution, the Commissioner said the government treated a total of 1,185 petitions out of which 60 per cent were abated, while the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) arrested 2,097 environmental offenders comprising illegal street traders, hawkers, highway pedestrian defaulters, environmental nuisance polluters and cart pushers, among other achievements.

  • Rainy season: NCAA issues weather alert to pilots, airlines

    THE Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a weather hazard alert to pilots and airline operators over the rainy season.

    The  alert, according to NCAA spokesman, Sam Adurogboye,  is quite imperative at the outset of the rainy season, which is usually accompanied with severe thunderstorms and many other hazardous weather phenomena.

    He listed the weather phenomena as including turbulence, microburst, low level wind shear and hail events.

    The phenomena, the NCAA said, constitute factors known to pose obvious threat to aircraft operations.

    The advisory circular is  based on the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) released for the year 2018 by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

    It predicts March/ April and May/ June as the onset  for rainy season in the southern and northern parts.

    It reads : “Therefore, pilots, operators and air traffic controllers should take note of their responsibilities.

    “Air traffic controllers may temporarily close airspace when hazardous weather conditions such as severe thunderstorms, squall lines, microburst or low level wind shear are observed or forecast by Nimet.

    “Flight crews/operators and Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) shall ensure adherence to aerodrome weather minima.

    “Pilots shall exercise maximum restraint whenever adverse weather is observed or forecast by Nimet.

    “Pilots/Flight crew members shall obtain adequate departure, en-route and destination weather information and briefing from Nimet Aerodrome Meteorological officer prior to flight operations.

    “Operators are, therefore, advised to ensure necessary measures are put in place to manage effects of flight delays or cancellations on their passengers.

    “All stakeholders are required to ensure strict compliance with this circular as violations would be viewed seriously.”

     

     

  • Ugwuanyi promises more projects as rainy season recedes

    Ugwuanyi promises more projects as rainy season recedes

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has pledged to increase the provision of essential infrastructure “now that the rain is fast receding”.

    The governor said more contractors would return to old sites while work would begin on new ones.

    Ugwuanyi spoke at the holy mass/march past at the Michael Okpara Square in Enugu for Nigeria’s 57th Independence Day anniversary celebration.

    The ceremony, which was marked with funfair, was attended by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and other members of the National Assembly from the state.

    Others included Deputy Governor Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, Enugu State House of Assembly Speaker Edward Ubosi and other members of the Assembly, members of the Judiciary, led by the Chief Judge, Justice Priscilla Emehelu, heads of security agencies, past governors, religious leaders and all the bishops in the state.

    Ugwuanyi reiterated his administration’s commitment to peace, national unity and safety of Nigerians and foreigners residing in the state.

    The governor congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari, fellow governors, members of the National and state assemblies, the Judiciary, past Presidents and former Heads of State as well as all Nigerians “on this great accomplishment of 57 years of nationhood”.

    He paid glowing tributes to Nigeria’s founding fathers for their “enormous sacrifices and unassailable patriotism”.

    These, he said, were instrumental to the freedom the nation still enjoyed till date.

    Ugwuanyi recalled that the labour of the nation’s leaders, like “Herbert Macaulay, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and a host of others, who nurtured the dream of a free Nigeria to fruition”.

    The governor also expressed appreciation to the residents “for continually upholding the ideals of our fathers, especially the ideal of one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity”.

    He said: “Let me also seize this opportunity to enjoin all Nigerians to continue to be their brother’s keeper. Like every family, we are bound to have our disagreements, but what divides us is far less than what unites us. Let us continue to emphasise those things that unite and make us great and eschew those that divide us.

    “Let peace, equity and justice reign in the heart of every citizen and government at all levels. Every Nigerian deserves justice, irrespective of his or her ethnic, political and religious background. Do justice to your brother and sister. Do justice to your neighbour. Do justice to the stranger and it shall be well with us.

    “As a people renowned for their peaceful and hospitable nature, we remain committed to the peace and safety of all Nigerians and foreigners alike residing in the state. We assure and indeed reassure you of your safety.”

  • Staying dry without sacrificing style

    Staying dry without sacrificing style

    Choosing an outfit during rainy season can be really tough because there are so many things to consider. Rain can be a nuisance if you haven’t prepared for it. Typically, certain outfits are a ‘no-go’ for the rain. For instance, rocking suede shoes or white jean on a rainy day, can easily ruin the day.

    However, you cannot predict the rain, yet you cannot just stay indoors. You need to go to work, school, visit a friend, buy food stuff and so much more. Choosing what to wear this season require a little planning and preparation so the rain doesn’t come unaware looking like a ‘deal breaker’.

    You cannot change the weather, but you have the power to change the way you look in it. The rain should not hinder your daily activities. Here are few tips on how to stay dry without sacrificing style.

    INVEST IN TURTLE NECK SWEATERS:

    These sweaters keep you warm. It can be worn with corporate pants, skirts, denim and still look very stylish. You can never go wrong with this.

    GO FOR DARKER JEAN:

    Unlike a white jean, darker jean is better for the weather. You can easily dust off dirt and go on with the day.

    WATERPROOF MAKEUP:

    If you are not careful, the rain can ruin your makeup. It is best to wear waterproof makeup or very light and natural makeup.

    GO FOR SIMPLE HAIR:

    This season, you should rather go for hairstyle that requires little or no stress at all. It should be easy getting your hair styled and getting ready for the day regardless of the weather.

    HOODIES:

    Hoodies help to protect you hair. Invest I n hoodie jackets and denim this season.

    KNITTED WEAR:

    It could be a sweater, cardigan or dress. Knitted piece are options for the cold.

    RAINY FRIENDLY SANDALS:

    Refrain from leather shoes, stilettos and strappy heels unless your work requires you to do so. Invest in rain friendly sandals and rubber boots. There are fashionable sandals and boots that are water proof. You could rock these to work and still look very stylish.

    WATER PROOF BAGS AND WALLET:

    Tote bags

    The rain should not stop us from carrying our valuables about. There are files and documents that are very essential for the day’s activity. This is why we should invest in water proof bags and wallet. They help protect our valuables from rain drops.

    SWEATSHIRTS BECOMES YOUR BEST FRIEND:

     

    Sweatshirts could be really fashionable and also an option for the cold. there are stylish ways of rocking your sweatshirts to work and look super sweet alongside preventing yourself from cold.

    GET A GOOD UMBRELLA:

    Finally, you should invest in good, strong and fashionable umbrella. Umbrellas protect us from the rain. Get umbrellas that are strong enough to withstand the wind and heavy pour. There are really good and handy umbrella.

    It is important to prepare for the rain this season so it doesn’t come unaware seeing like a ‘deal breaker’.

     

     

     

  • Staying healthy during rainy season

    Staying healthy during rainy season

    Rainy season is a season of fun and greenery environment. However, this season also invites a number of health problems such as water infection, cold, flues, cholera etc. This infections can be very difficult to be dealt with. This makes it very important to take precautions. Here are some tips to keep you healthy and safe these rainy months.

    1. DRINK PLENTY WATER:

    It is natural to reduce the intake of water this season because of the sudden change in environmental temperature. Nevertheless, it is health to drink plenty water this season. Avoid waiting to get thirsty before taking water. This is because water helps to drain toxins from the body. It is however important to note that diseases in rainy season are mostly waterborne so you have to be cautious of your drinking water source. It is best to take boiled or purified drinking water.

    1. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY DIET:

    Our body is prone to infections this season. You should avoid eating just anything. Street food are not just the best this season. Avoid eating out this rainy season, make sure you prepare your meal with full precaution.

    1. HAVE YOUR RAIN GEAR WITH YOU ALWAYS:

    You should be ready for downpour always. A rain coat with hooded jacket should be kept handy. Avoiding exposing yourself to the cold, make sure you keep yourself warm because shivering depresses the immune system and this makes us more likely to catch colds. Therefore, always have your coats and sweaters handy.

    1. AVOID WALKING IN THE RAIN:

    Walking in the rain makes you prone to diseases and it can cause fungal infections at the feet and nails. Avoid staying wet in stocks and shoes, avoid sitting in the AC environment once your cloth get wet. However, if it wasn’t avoidable, Take a warm shower right after getting drenched. This helps stabilizes the cold temperature brought by the rains, helping the body return to a normal temperature after drying off and getting dressed.

    1. MAINTAIN PERSONAL HYGIENE:

    Cleanliness is very important during rainy seasons, clean your hands regularly and use a sanitizer always. Germs can be transmitted by physical contact and enter the body when infected hands touch vulnerable parts like our eyes, nose and mouth. Washing hands often and drying them on disposable paper towels or hand towels regularly can significantly reduce the chances of catching a virus.

    1. USE MOSQUITO REPELLENT OFTEN:

    Accumulated water, breeds insect such as flies and mosquitoes. To avoid this, regularly empty out still water sources, such as planter saucers and trays, pet water bowls and decorative urns, around the home. Also, you should use mosquito repellant.

    1. SLEEP SOUNDLY:

    Lack of sleep makes us more prone to diseases. If you feel stressed, you are likely to become ill compared to when you’re feeling buoyant, happy and relaxed. It is advisable to relax often and sleep soundly this season.

    It is very important to take precaution during the rainy season to avoid catching infection.

  • Care for children in rainy season

    Care for children in rainy season

    RAINY season brings in nostalgic memories of our childhood days. The fun we had in the rain and how our parents warned us not to get wet again. They ensured we carried our raincoats and umbrellas always to avoid getting wet and falling sick. Dad always ensured the nets were tucked to prevent mosquito bites and associated illness.

    Rainy season also reminds us of greenery and colourful flowers all over. This is the time when planting takes place in the garden. Babies are the ones prone to these diseases as their immunity is low and they are also much more exposed to the micro-organisms than adults. During the rainy season, these microorganisms get favourable environment to grow, so proper care is required for the small babies.

    The Nation spoke with a paediatrician with Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Clinic, Lagos, Dr. Mrs. Funke Olatunji, who gave the following health tips which can protect the health of a child during the rainy season: Ensure to bathe your little one at least once a day. To keep him/her healthy after the bath, ensure that you towel the child’s body with a cotton absorbent towel. Restrict your child from having outside food, especially the ones sold by roadside vendors. “This season is odd as it attracts infections due to improper hygiene conditions of the surroundings,” she warned. For small babies, boil and cool water and then ensure storage is also maintained. Special care has to be taken for the water intake. Avoid outside water, carry a bottle of water when you plan going out with the baby. Make sure the kids do not play in stagnant and polluted water as it may lead to skin infections and other illnesses too.

    Give your child light and easy-to-digest food during rainy seasons. Basic reason, she explained, is that the digestive system is weak during this time of the year and spicy foods can lead to digestion problems.

  • Ikeja Electric urges caution as rainy season begins

    Ikeja Electric urges caution as rainy season begins

    Ikeja Electric has called on the general public to exercise extra caution around electrical installations within its network as the rainy season begins to gain momentum.

    The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, noted that the rainy season is usually plagued with increased accidents within the electricity sector as a result of heavy rainfall, windstorms and floods. He urged the public to be on guard in order to avoid being victims of any accident that could easily occur during the rains.

    He said Ikeja Electric places premium on the safety of its staffers and customers alike, hence the proactive call for caution during this accident-prone season.

    Speaking on the need to observe all safety codes and regulations, especially during the rainy season, Ofulue said the company will continue to sensitise its customers and the public on the safety measures to adopt to ensure their safety.

    He noted that the need for heightened awareness on safety measures during the rainy season is due to the hazard that the mix of electricity and water poses. He advised  the public to avoid conditions that could compromise safety around electricity, such as using wet electrical appliances; stepping in puddles of potentially charged water, coming in contact with exposed electrical wires, among others, as such actions may have fatal results.

    He also warned the public to be mindful of streetlights within the Lagos metropolis as fatal cases have been reported where road users unfortunately come in contact with exposed energised wires connected to the streetlight.

    Ofulue called on residents within the company’s network coverage to also be mindful of snapped power cables and fallen poles, incidents which can occur during heavy rainfall. He said wherever such incidents occur, residents should call the company’s Customer Care help lines on 01-7000250, 01-4483900 and 0700-0-2255-453 or through the company’s social media handles immediately, while maintaining a safe distance from the point of the accident.