By Pavit Nanda Anand, Mom Blogger @Hellosupermoms
It is that time of the year when all of us in Delhi NCR are engulfed in an ugly smog and we are unable to breathe clean and healthy air. The smog refuses to settle down and the toxic air around us affects our little ones. Cough, throat irritation and viral infections are quite common among kids these days. The unfortunate thing is that not only has the outdoor air pollution increased but even the indoor air quality has deteriorated.
Here are some guidelines which we must be aware of, but we need to remind ourselves regularly:
Five important routines to be followed religiously every day when the air around is unhealthy
- Check daily air pollution forecasts in your area
- Avoid exercising outdoors when pollution levels are high
- Limit children’s outdoor playtime – afternoons are a relatively safer period
- Refrain from morning walks
- Ventilate your home
Four ways to avoid indoor air pollution
- Try and avoid dusting or cleaning and use of chemical sprays around your child
- Keep doors and windows shut during peak hours of poor air quality
- Use chimney in the kitchen
- Use exhaust in the bathroom
Three things we should surely include in our diet
- Jaggery (gur)
- Green vegetables such as carrots, red bell peppers, cauliflower, spinach, tomatoes
- Fruits rich in Vitamin C such as oranges, strawberries, apples, watermelons, guava, amla
Two vital investments
- Use air purifiers, especially in kids’ room and in the room of elderly people
- Keep purifying plants such as aloe vera, ivy, spider plant, snake plant, money plant inside the home. They help purify the air and reduce indoor pollution
One most important action
- Wear N95 face mask whenever you are stepping outdoor. This not only protects you from breathing in harmful particulate matter but also protects you from viruses and other infectious illnesses.