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Keeping cool this summer
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Those who cannot afford air-conditioned cools, make do with lesser comforts. And many actually follow the earthy practice of sprinkling water on the floor at intervals and lying down under the fan with a wet piece of cloth over the face, says SOMA BASU.
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IF ANYTHING, the torrid sun is the only "shining" factor with elections round the corner. And you bet, the rising mercury has already had people wondering how to beat the heat. The month of `Chithirai' has not even started and the city has already experienced an all-time high temperature of 40.3 degrees Celsius this past week. Undoubtedly, it is not the votes but "heat busters" that are ruling the mind of the people.
The scant rains and the perennial problem of water shortage have become permanent companions of worry. Nature does not follow administrative boundaries. So, when monsoon and man fail, drought and despair, heat and dust, parched hopes and skewed priorities render the people more distressed.
When summer announces itself, everything changes. The eating pattern, sleeping, dressing, working, playing, travelling, shopping - yes, name it, everything changes automatically in the sun-bleached months.
The seamier side, of course, is that academic institutions go for vacation. While parents fight hard to keep their wards engaged productively, restless as they get with boredom, the summer months give them the opportunity for some new learning. Schools and private groups float a host of vocational programmes to keep the creative hands and minds busy. The sporty types go for variety adventures while those who can escape leave behind the scorching heat of the plains for the cooler environs of nearby hill stations.
If the city hoteliers badly suffer a dip in their guests' list, the only ones perhaps who make hay during these blistering days are the manufacturers and dealers of electrical gadgets like air conditioners, air coolers, fans, refrigerators and deep freezers and not to forget the ubiquitous juicewallahs and soft drink and ice cream sellers.
Mr. Manoj Kumar sees a 50 per cent rise in his business every summer. He owns one and co-partners a juice stall in the city and says with much confidence that from March to October, he gets on an average 350 to 450 customers per day. This is double the figure in the remaining months.
In the blistering heat, people come to cool off and enjoy the variety of chilled shakes and juices on offer. Given the average pricing of Rs.10 to 25, depending on the size of the glass and the fruit, the roadside stalls are much popular when compared to hotel restaurants or the parlours.
"The restaurants perhaps provide better comfort but we give instant relief to scores of common people, who just get off the bus or park their vehicles for a quick cool sip that is both refreshing and affordable," says Mr. Manoj Kumar.
Like him, Mr. Nagamaniam, an air-conditioner dealer, Mr. Karthik, an air-cooler dealer, and a salesperson at a shop dealing in fans endorse the brisk business they do during summer.
While air-conditioners are ideal for Madurai's sultry weather, their price range prevents many people from buying them, points put Mr. Nagamanian. Yet, he is confident of a 10- 15 per cent rise in his sales margin with each passing summer. In fact, he thinks, that air-conditioners will no longer remain a luxury item in the coming years.
"Like televisions, refrigerators, telephones and computers, they soon will acquire the status of a necessary item in majority homes," he feels.
Mr. Karthik shares that while round the year he averages a sale of 30 air coolers, during the summer months he is able to move out 50 to 70 pieces.
Same is the story with refrigerators, fans, or for that matter even that hardly-given-a-thought items like sun-glasses, umbrellas and caps.
Whatever you are and wherever you are, the guiding principle is to be indoors.
As Deepika, a post-graduate completing her project in Computer Applications confesses : "I just try to be inside air-conditioned offices most part of my day." "Many evenings can be spent inside air-conditioned cinema theatres as well," she adds with a girlish giggle.
True, those who cannot afford air-conditioned cools, make do with lesser comforts. And many actually follow the very earthy practice of sprinkling water on the floor at intervals and lying down under the fan with a wet piece of cloth over the face.
If these are rustic heat evaporators, there is no distinction when it comes to changing the diet.
The body's intake of curd and fluid increases invariably in the sweltering heat.
The tender-coconut or watermelon carts run empty in no time. A vendor with much reluctance shared that he sells not less that three-dozen watermelons a day and makes a neat Rs.500-700 a day.
Of course, nothing beats the homemade buttermilk or chilled lassi, the deep-freezed tangy lemon juice or the variety of salad or even plain barley water not only for quenching thirst and already-on-the-decline appetite but for keeping the body fit.
The idea is to keep your body well hydrated as the sun decides to scorch you with its heat in the coming days. Even the prêt line ought to be cool cotton pastels.
Though there have been no major outbreak of summer diseases or incidents of heat-stroke in the Temple City in the past few years, the medicos do advise on how to keep any summer-related ill-health at bay (see box). Particularly, the infamous sunstroke which is notorious for claiming lives in the North.
However, Dr. K. Bose, the Deputy Superintendent of Government Rajaji Hospital, assures that if a patient is brought early - say within an hour - then chances of revival are more than 50 per cent.
Precautionary measures
Even for an otherwise healthy person, it is important to take measures to keep the body functioning properly during the summer months.
An intake of 1,500 to 2,500 ml of water per day is a must to prevent dehydration, constipation and urninary tract infection. The fluid intake can be in any form but even better if it is supplemented with juice, soups, shakes or any other drink.
As far as possible, avoid hot beverages like tea and coffee and oily and spicy food. Eating at home or outside, opt for simple and bland food items and even better if you can go for seasonal fruits and raw vegetables. Including cucumber, lemon, mint, saffron or any other fresh herb in the diet is beneficial. Remain indoors as far as possible especially during high noon.
Go for your morning walks much before dawn breaks. Keep the doors and windows open for longer hours for cross ventilation.
Feel comfortable in loose and light-shade cotton attires. If possible, bathe twice a day.
Warning signals
Mild to severe nagging headache Nausea or vomiting Feeble BP or a faster pulse rate Profuse sweating and paleness Muscle cramps and fatigue Weakness or dizziness Fever and a dehydrated feeling with cracked lips and a starchy tongue.
People with these symptoms should be immediately shifted to a cooler place and given plenty of oral fluids. But in case of sudden collapse due to heat exhaustion, the person should be immediately taken to the hospital and treated as an emergency. Rehydration with intravenous fluid is a must in such a condition.
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