Preparing your home and your family for monsoons

Date : 25/07/2016
Read: 4 mins

The monsoon is here in full force; but have you taken the necessary steps to keep your family safe from its health risks?

Preparing your home and your family for monsoons

When they said, ‘Prevention is better than cure’, it is highly probable they were talking about the Indian monsoons – unpredictable and beautiful, the rains can tough, making preparation utterly imperative.

Here are some tips that may help you take care of your home and family this monsoon, if you haven’t already.

Avoid pooling of water: Do a thorough check of your house and make sure there are no puddles or pools of water anywhere- be it in a flower pot in the garden, a bucket in the garage, or even the sewers and drains around your house, as these can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes and the diseases that come with them, such as Cholera, Malaria and Dengue.
Check roof: Seepages can lead to cold and cough infections. To avoid this, get any holes or cracks in walls/roofs checked by a professional and get them sealed off.
Greenery check: Heavy rains pose the risk of falling trees, which can lead to both damage and injuries. Make sure there are no trees around your house that pose a potential hazard to you, your home or even your parked car. Check for loose branches or chances of uprooting, and contact government officials if you detect a risk. If you’re wondering whether your car insurance provider would help you in case of damage, here’s what is and what is not covered by car insurance [Infographic].
Clean out garages: Water can flow into your garage, causing seepage and damage to your car or other stored items. Ensure that your garage is cleaned regularly or arrange for a temporary garage for your car to keep it safe during monsoon turbulence. You can also seal it off using some adhesive or even stuff plastic into the edges to avoid water coming in.
Identify evacuation routes: If there are certain roads that are prone to flooding, try and avoid them by using an alternative route – especially if it’s on the way to work, home, or any other place you frequent, or may need to reach in an emergency.
Prepare an emergency kit: You may think this is too much effort, but if you live in a coastal area or really any town that has a faulty sewage system, you may face flooding. In this kit, include all basic necessities, including adequate food, medical supplies, drinking water, prescription meds and enough supplies for your pets. You should also include torches, batteries, a functional backup battery for your UPS, excess fuel for your generators etc.
Take care of important documents: Rain water may seep in through an open window and damage several of your essentials, such as passports, ID cards or property or bank-related documents. Take that bit of extra care to make sure that they are completely safe, and if possible, kept in waterproof zip-lock bags to protect from moisture damage.
Take care of your family’s health: Illnesses are often at their peak during the monsoons. Hence, it is imperative that you take adequate care of yourself and your family members in terms of health. Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water to stay healthy. Also, make it a habit to carry a small towel and some hand sanitizer to prevent any infections.
Get health insurance: Without financial support provided by a health insurance policy, you could face up to lakhs of medical treatment costs that could derail your financial planning. If you’re just getting started or have some unanswered questions, here is Health Insurance For Dummies: 7 Essential Questions And Answers.
Identify networked hospitals: To plan for emergencies, you should check with your health insurance provider and identify hospitals near your home and workplace that are part of your insurer’s ‘network’. This will ensure that you can enjoy cashless hospitalisation at a quality institution and receive medical care and attention without worrying about paying bills.