Dogs days of summer is here, in this region of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council). There may be parts of world where people long for summers to renew from freezing winter. But for the Gulfi's summer is the most unwelcome period. When residents flee on holidays. Children schools close, construction works get delayed. Tendency of people falling sick intensifies. And the list is huge.
Here's a overview of the Gulfi's summer and also few handy summer survival tips.
Yes, the heat can be killing. It burns and bruises skin, and exhausts a human easily. Many succumb to this scorching heat by strokes, heat cramps, etc.
Though an absolute festival for the travel agents and airways. Yes, most flights run full, airport remains jam packed most of the peak hours. Back inside the city the life goes dull and sluggish.
You find a scene of few men dressed in coverall sleeping under a tree with small boxes of lunch and bottles of water around them.
Many families including myself bother to keep tiny bowls of water refills on balcony or window sills for few wandering feathery friends who might survive or not, the peak summer heat.
Schools run circulars for children not to wear their ties, no compulsion on the sock and shoes, carry and drink lots of water and so on. Children open parks seem deserted and abandoned.
Inside companies HSE department gets busy circulating messages that read "summer is here, are you drinking enough water". Clothing traders are busy letting out summer sale.
And that's not all. Summer times multiply the frequency of road accidents due to tyre bursts. And one such fatal accident in the year 2011 had perhaps been an eye opener for all the Doha drivers to take this matter not so easy. The intense heat produces increase in temperature of the air and hence builds up pressure and and increases frequency of tyre bursts. Yes, the automobiles for the GCC are specially built for the temperature conditions of desert yet the tyre life is limited and should be taken care.
Talking of the labour category, this is the toughest time for them where there is lack of air conditioning in open work areas. Since continuous exposure to intense temperature (even if not direct heat) leads to heat strokes and other illness, GCC labour laws strictly has banned prolonged work periods by giving mid afternoon break compulsorily. Any breach of this law is liable for punishment.
A normal human body perspires in summer (ordinary heat) and cools the skin and this serves natural defense in fighting heat. However the circumstances of extremely high temperature and humidity of desert does not allow this natural defense system to work that effectively.
But for this phase of summer, it does not mean a bane for life in Gulf. There are certain precautions that need and are taken to reduce health hazards due to extreme temperatures like 50 degree Celsius. Also few other precautions that reduce many other risks due to intense temperatures.
- Make it a point to expose your body to normal heat throughout year so that the body gets used to the desert summer heat and does not collapse as the outside temperature shoots. By doing so you also provide vitamin D to your skin which lacks in most residents and is a constant issue among them forcing them for medical treatment.
- Keeping body hydrated is important and NOT consuming too much of cold drinks or fancy energy drinks. Keeping water handy all time, having healthy sport drinks like "Iso-Star" which are rich in salts like sodium and potassium which are lost when we perspire.
- Special care should be taken for children who can not play in open play areas but only in indoor play pens. Older children playing outdoors need to drink water very frequently, avoid exposure to direct sun. Consume fruits like banana which are rich in salts like potassium.
Prolonged exposure to direct sun, especially parts like face, nose are prone to skin cancer. Hence compulsory use of hats, sun screen lotions (with adequate care to check for the SPF-Sun Protection factor as per heat conditions and children age), preferably use of sun glasses are simply a necessity.
- Coming to safety standards the usage of "cheap / low quality" electrical products pose main cause for electrical sparks and fire in summers. It is a a simple fact that the electrical products should be designed not just for current carrying capacity but also should account additional allowance for outside temperature shoot. Any branded item does not come with a low price tag, and if it does and you choose to buy it specially for residences please mind that you are simply risking your life.
- Usage of vehicles: Timely servicing of vehicles for tyre life; Never leave children inside cars unattended by adults ( Not that you could do so in other times! but to take special caution in summer).
All precautions apart, drink drink and drink lots of plain water.
With proper health, safety and travel tips followed, summer can fun too. You can now plan your pool/beach parties with your children if you can not travel all the way to Maldives this summer. Have your Pina-Colada and enjoy!
We enjoy summer in Doha. Why not.
References.
- Special care should be taken for children who can not play in open play areas but only in indoor play pens. Older children playing outdoors need to drink water very frequently, avoid exposure to direct sun. Consume fruits like banana which are rich in salts like potassium.
Prolonged exposure to direct sun, especially parts like face, nose are prone to skin cancer. Hence compulsory use of hats, sun screen lotions (with adequate care to check for the SPF-Sun Protection factor as per heat conditions and children age), preferably use of sun glasses are simply a necessity.
- Coming to safety standards the usage of "cheap / low quality" electrical products pose main cause for electrical sparks and fire in summers. It is a a simple fact that the electrical products should be designed not just for current carrying capacity but also should account additional allowance for outside temperature shoot. Any branded item does not come with a low price tag, and if it does and you choose to buy it specially for residences please mind that you are simply risking your life.
- Usage of vehicles: Timely servicing of vehicles for tyre life; Never leave children inside cars unattended by adults ( Not that you could do so in other times! but to take special caution in summer).
All precautions apart, drink drink and drink lots of plain water.
With proper health, safety and travel tips followed, summer can fun too. You can now plan your pool/beach parties with your children if you can not travel all the way to Maldives this summer. Have your Pina-Colada and enjoy!
We enjoy summer in Doha. Why not.
References.
