Rainfall Season Has Arrived And Alleviated Dangerous Climate
By: Lovina Nova Sukra a/p Lorganaden
Editor : Kumutha Vallii Veloo
The whole haze fiasco that started on mid September due to forest burning in Borneo is slowly coming to an end as it has been raining more often lately. The thunderstorms and heavy rainfall has helped revamp the horrendous environment condition caused by the haze that created a dirty blanket of white pall smoke air which made the surrounding temperature even hotter than usual.
According to the Air Pollutant Index (API), it now shows a positive reading for most of the states in Selangor, significantly Bangi, that is around 51 to 70 which is considered moderate and non-hazardous. This API reading used to hit 200 to 300 which was very unhealthy and caused schools to close down and difficulty of outdoor activities but now we are free from the danger of this haze.
The haze has reduced tremendously and the environment surroundings shows a huge different as we can now see the blue sky and white clouds very clearly. The constant downpour and rainstorms is due to the monsoon transition period that started on the 24th of September until early November. The rain water has helped wash out the thick smokey air that was covering the skies massively.
Although the haze could come back due to wind blowing from other hazardous hotspots like in Borneo and Indonesia to Malaysia, there are some hearsays that cloud seeding, the process of artificially creating rain, might be the solution in attempt to diminish this haze issue. However, this option is also a temporary solution.
In spite of the fact that it has been raining more frequently lately, we should still take precautions and always take care of our health because there are so many illnesses that can be caused by haze such as eyes conjunctivitis, bronchitis, throat irritation, eczema, skin rashes, respiratory illness and many more. Therefore, we should always be aware of the weather and environment surroundings as it gives a big impact on our health and well-being.
This might be just another haze episode to most Malaysians because this has happened countless time over the past years and they might not be taking the precautions seriously but this issue has become very crucial as it is taking some innocent lives of the citizens. The haze was so terribly bad that the number of people falling ill in Malaysia has increased to 40%.
Simple Precautions to Protect One’s Health from Damaged Climate
The horrific haze that has been happening in Southeast Asia countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo and Singapore has contributed to the overall Earth climate change that has been a worldwide alert recently. NASA, a federal agency, pledged that we are facing a climate crisis this year in 2019.
We really have no one and nothing else to blame but our own human race that’s disrupting the Earth and everything on it. Although it is out of our control because there are just some selfish humans who do not care about the damage they do to this sphere. Therefore, we must do better, be aware and be alert of the precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones during this climate crisis.
It is just the little things that can prevent us from getting sick and protect our health from getting distorted from the dreadful climate. We should avoid exposing ourselves under the hot sun in the daylight. Outdoor activities should be lessen in the afternoon as dangerous ultra rays are everywhere, dirty smoke from vehicles adding to the already damaged ecosystem and less humidity. Not to mention, the drier air can hurt your eyes and cause red eyes.
Wearing sunscreen with a SPF above 50 is highly recommended during times like this. It acts like a shield for our skin from harmful UV rays, boiling hot sunlight and potentially getting burns. We should also start using umbrellas not only during the rainfall but also when it is piping hot.
If we get caught up in the rain, remember to always clean and wash your hair after. This is because the rain water is coming from the clouds that evaporates whatever liquid whether it is harmful or not and changes it into gas. Then the potentially harmful gas turns back to liquid through condensation and releases through raindrops on us.
This rain water could cause damage to our skin if we do not get rid of the chemicalized rain water. Now in this season of Monsoon in Malaysia with constant downpours, it is important to always keep your health in check. Rain water can cause skin infection diseases such as eczema, scabies, ringworm and athlete’s foot.
Personal hygiene is very important and must be taken care of to avoid these kind of diseases that could potentially threaten your life. Remember to always wash your hands and feet, exfoliate your body skin and clean your scalp. Also to always keep yourself dry since staying wet for too long will attract bacteria that lives mostly in moist areas.
We should also always be aware of the surrounding and be able to determine whether it is safe to step out or not in certain environments. Always bring a face mask in your bag incase it suddenly starts to turn hazy when you are outside. Face mask acts as a filter to protect us from inhaling dangerous chemical gas into our lungs.
Last but not least it is very vital to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated in this climate we are facing right now. Water not only provides oxygen to our body but also the hydration prevents us from getting diseases such as dry cough, sore throat, high fever, chapped lips and peeling of skin. Taking your daily vitamins and healthy nutrients is also important to fight infectious diseases and increases our antibodies.
These are just little tips just as a reminder to always be cautious of your health during this climate change as many people had to go through some health issues due to lack of safety measure. Therefore, we must take care of our family, friends and ourselves in this hardship time.
