Monsoon: water & food safety
- Drink boiled, filtered or reliably purified water — most monsoon stomach infections are water-borne.
- Avoid raw street food and cut fruit kept in the open during the rains.
- Wash hands with soap before meals and after coming home — it's still the single best protection.
- Keep feet dry; fungal infections thrive in damp footwear.
Dengue & malaria prevention
- Empty stagnant water weekly — coolers, plant trays, tyres, open drums. Dengue mosquitoes breed in clean, still water.
- Use mosquito nets and repellents, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Wear full-sleeved clothing during peak mosquito season.
- Any high fever with severe body ache, headache behind the eyes, or rash needs a doctor and a blood test — don't self-treat, and never take painkillers like aspirin/ibuprofen on your own in suspected dengue.
Summer: beating the heat
- Avoid direct sun between 12 pm and 4 pm; plan outdoor work for mornings and evenings.
- Drink water regularly through the day — don't wait for thirst. ORS or nimbu-pani with a pinch of salt helps replace lost salts.
- Light, loose, cotton clothing and a covered head make a real difference.
- Heatstroke warning signs — hot dry skin, confusion, very high temperature, fainting — are an emergency: move the person to shade, cool them with wet cloths, and get medical help immediately.
Winter: flu & respiratory care
- Annual flu vaccination is worth discussing with your doctor, especially for elderly family members and those with asthma, diabetes or heart disease.
- Keep warm but ventilate rooms daily — closed, crowded rooms spread infections faster.
- Cover coughs and sneezes; wash hands often during flu season.
- Elderly people and young children should avoid close contact with anyone who has flu symptoms.