WINTERS

            Have you ever heard the sound that come from the mouth of our children. Ooooh! Aaahhh! Eeeh! That's what comes out of the mouth of children when they wait for their school bus, on an early winter morning. It's a pity to see all those kids in shorts and skirts out there shivering, and trying to get whatever little warmth they can from the exhaust pipes of the passing vehicles. But there were many students who liked to be in their short and skirts, be it summer or winter! They would be shivering but if you asked them about their uniform, not a word of complaint would come out of them.

Winters relieve us from the striking heat of June - July. It is the best season from the 'health' point of view also. Our desire and capacity to eat is enhanced and we eat times & again and whatever we eat is easily digested. But this season brings some problems also for our body and if we do not take care of the body properly, it may give us cold, cough or even fever. Take care of the few following tips, protect yourself and enjoy the season to its maximum. Whether winter brings severe storms, light dustings or just cold temperatures, some valuable tips on how to keep your children safe and warm. 

—      Our head, chest & feet are the most sensitive parts in our body in the winters & most of the times they are the reason that our body catches cold. If it happens our chest is blocked, cough starts and sometimes the body catches the fever even. So it is very important that one should cover his/her chest properly. As soon as the winters start, start wearing a woollen baniyan beneath, as the cotton baniyans can not protect the body that much.

—      The hands, feet & the head are the exposed parts in our body. While going out in winters, take care that your hands are covered with gloves and head with a scarf, especially when you are going out.

—      Like our chest, our feet are also very sensitive to catch a cold. Do not walk on the floor barefooted. Put woollen or cotton socks instead of nylon. Nylon can not prevent the cold.

—      Do not wear sleeveless or half-sleeved garments. Wear only cotton and woollen garments with full sleeves.

—      Put always a muffler around your neck, especially while riding a two wheeler. If you have a sore throat or caught a cough, do not forget the muffler.

—      While in bed, the body gets the chill easily. So wrap your body in a thick blanket or a quilt properly. Take your gloves & socks off while in the bed.

—      Keep a shawl at your bedside and put it on while coming out of the bed.

—      After you are awake, do not immediately go for a bath. Let your body temperature be normal first.

—      Take your bath in fresh or lukewarm water. Do not use too hot or too cold water.

—      After you had your bath, do not come out of the bathroom wearing your gown or towel alone. Put some woollen garment on or a shawl around you.

—      If possible, wash you hair while sitting in the sun. Never tie your wet hair. Do not go on the scooter with wet hair. Dry your hair in the sun.

—      Winters are not the right season to apply henna in your hair. Henna is quite cold in itself & can give you cold. But if you have to apply it, heat it first and sit in the sun after applying it. Wash your hair in lukewarm water.

—      Sun activates the body. Try to sit in the sun with your back towards it for some time. It is good for removing the body stiffness.

—      Do not drink the kept water, as the water gets colder with the passage of time. But if fresh water is not available, make it lukewarm first.

—      On having an irritating throat, gargle with lukewarm salty water.

—      Do not use portable heaters or lanterns while sleeping in enclosed areas such as tents, campers, and other vehicles. This is especially important at high altitudes, where the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is increased.

—      Set reasonable limits on winter outdoor play. Children should be called inside at regular intervals to warm up with beverages like hot milk, hot chocolate, coffee, or tea.

—      In the winter time we regularly eat a lot more than we do in any other season. This is good as long as we are eating the right foods. Eating foods rich in protein, vitamin A, B1, and B2 is a great way to improve your skins healthiness. Foods that are full of antioxidants help your skin to fight off inflammation and protect the cells of the membranes from being destroyed by the elements. Drinking green tea or eating foods with omega 3 are other great ways to help. These are rich with antioxidants.

These are some simple but applicable tips which can protect you and your child from getting ill in this precious time.