Monsoons & Accidents – Do’s and Dont’s
by Premier Hospitals | July 5, 2019 |
Monsoon season has arrived in Hyderabad city. The monsoon is going to bring out the child in you, helping you relive the childhood memories associated with it. The scent of the parched earth that has just been hit by the first rain of the season, the excitement of walking after a rain, the crisp Pakora taste with a cup of tea, the spirit of romantic songs while taking in the smell of petrichor, Monsoon has its own indescribable joys, even if comes with irritants like humidity, sweat, long jams on road, disruption of the normal routine life.
With all its fun moments, however, it also brings a package of hazards, such as Fever, waterborne infections, slip and fall, vehicle accidents etc.
Statistics in India reveal that the maximum number of accidents occur during the monsoon. Precautions should be taken during monsoon, as this is the most vulnerable time to contract any illness or sickness. Read this article to learn what to do and not on the rainy roads in this monsoon.
Driving at Speed on Rainy Roads?
If you don't curtail your speed, the Accident & Emergency Trauma Services are Awaiting for you!
Rainy Roads are Notorious for Death Traps
One must in mind that we should assess our vehicles, to guarantee their perfect performance through the storms.
Poor road signs, lack of warnings, potholes, and dug up roads are major causes of accidents during the monsoon period. The age-old drainage systems in metropolitan cities are not fully equipped to cater to the needs of the current conditions as such. This is leading to overflow of drainage on to the roads. The rains coupled with the drainage overflow, the quality and insufficient extent of roads, and encroachment of footpaths by street vendors is resulting in potholes, traffic stalling and accidents.
Please bear in mind that each of us has a family at home eagerly waiting for our safe return. It is better to be vigilant when navigating through the roads during rains rather than be hasty and in a hurry to reach our respective destinations.
According to records with the Transport Research Wing of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, there were 8,014 mishaps, and 779 people were killed in 2017 while in 2016, there were upwards of 6,902 accidents and 714 fatalities due to road accidents.
From June to September, considered the rainy season, the state has a significant increase in the number of road traffic accidents.
Most people know about the safety measures to be taken during the monsoon season. However, they don't follow them. For instance, utilizing the umbrella while riding a vehicle is unsafe. In older vehicles, the wipers and halogen lamps may be broken. Carelessness in dealing with such issues increases the risk of accidents.
Roads with potholes, faulty street lights, water clogging on roads due to poor drain facilities, etc., make the situation worse by giving both the pedestrians and drivers a hard time, especially to two-wheeler riders as they would have difficulty balancing their vehicles while fighting the rain.
Most of the accidents during monsoon happens in the early time of the season. Potholes become difficult to spot once the monsoon begins. Any repairs to the house should be given priority so that you can avoid accidents in the house.
Top Reasons Behind Road Accidents in the Rainy Season:
- Drivers not being able to adjust to the changed street conditions
- Inability to see potholes because of water-logging
- Poor visibility of street signs and other vehicles
- Oil slick on the rainy street
- Absence of windscreen and side mirrors for vehicles.
Outdoor Safety:
- Check before you leave. Have a look at the tire and inflate to the correct pressures. Check the tread depth and if not up to the required minimum, replace tires. Check that the windscreen washer fluid in the tank should be full. Keep the car clean, including the front and rear windscreens. Check the defogger works as well.
- Slow down on the slippery roads.
- Break the old brakes. Replace brake pads and callipers.
- Be ready with flashlights, umbrellas, and spare tools at all times.
- Keep on the roads. Avoid the submerged roads. Beware of live wires, sinkholes, potholes on the streets.
- Â Maintain a lower gear to have more control in case of bad traction on slippery roads.
- Keep distance from the car in front.
- Lower the beam. Don’t dazzle the drivers of oncoming cars.
- Be a middle man. Stay in the middle of roads as the sides tend to get waterlogged.
- If it is a care, please check the wipers of the car. It is the most neglected part of the car, and people tend to think that it would work fine in any given season. However, the wipers need their fair share of attention in the monsoon.
- Pedestrians Wear bright clothes and raincoats, use brighter colour umbrellas while out on roads
- Pedestrians should alert while crossing the road about the vehicles passing by.
Please add the Premier Hospital contact number 91-77020 0116  to your contact list for any Accident & Emergency Care.
Indoor SafetyÂ
- Â During monsoon, the weather will be cold; to avoid difficulty in joint pain, staying warm is an effective way. Turn up the heater, and sleep under the electric blanket, or warm your clothes in the dryer before wearing.
- If you have any trouble with fluid in your joints, Wear compression socks or gloves at night If there is any swelling. In a humid climate, the Pain gets worse better seek relief indoors as the water content will be less in air.
- Dehydration makes you more sensitive to pain, so get hydrated.
- As moving reduces fluid and removes stiffness, regular Exercise is another effective remedy.
- The floors with cracks and holes are the places for the growth of Moss and fungus in the humid monsoon season. These are very harmful to the people living in the houses; thus, before the monsoon starts, everyone should check, locate and repair the cracks
- If a flood were to occur, make sure to reach higher ground such as a multi-storied building.
- The exterior of the home has to paint with a waterproofing coat of paint To avoid seepage of rainwater into the house.
- Water stagnation should be avoided by regular checking of the rainwater harvesting pipes and make sure that water clogging is not present on the roof.
- Most electrical accidents happen due to people using electricity near water. Â Avoiding wet switches and sockets and Stay safe this monsoon season.
- Â Should check the Water accumulation around the house so that mosquitoes are prevented.
- Use Cell phones and Cordless phone, corded phones should not be used during a thunderstorm as there are dangerous as light travels through the telephone wires during thunderstorms.
- Before the storms arrive, Unplug expensive electronics including TV, stereo, home entertainment centres, and computers modem lines.
- Stop playing video games that are connected to the TV.
- Children shouldn’t be let out to play as soon as the rain subsides, and let the water settle down to give a clear picture of the environment.
- The crossing of the flowing stream should be avoided. If the current is strong, the force of the water could pull us down, which may cause injuries.
- Avoid going out at night, as it would be difficult to scan the surroundings due to foggy weather. If going out at night is unavoidable, please be very cautious.
- It is advised not to go anywhere near electrical wires or fences.
- Make sure not to park your vehicles close to a water body, as heavy inflow of water into the water body could give rise to a flood. A heavy flood could carry your vehicle with it, thereby damaging it.
- Studies show that ten inches of water can float average-sized (mini-vans, hatchbacks, SUVs, and small trucks). Strength of the flow is what matters the most.
- Also, please avoid parking below a tree, an electric pole, or huge flex hoarding boards.
- Roads get washed away by the force of the water current. Hence, it is advised not to drive your vehicles through flooded roadways.
- Never try to resuscitate your vehicle which is caught in rising water, instead get out of the vehicle, look out for higher ground and run towards it.
- Being on higher ground, not only saves you from the approaching water but also gives you a vantage point to figure out a safe route from escaping water.
- At traffic signals, when the traffic lights are not visible or malfunctioning, follow the four-way stop rule and proceed with extreme caution.
Conclusion:
Monsoon always brings joy to us after scorching Summer, hence the sweetness associated with the word Monsoon. Monsoon brings with it not only joy but heavy gusts of wind and rainfall. A sudden change of weather could also set in motion certain illnesses/diseases.
With water, the surroundings could become slippery, making it difficult for us to walk, and sometimes knocking us off our feet. Monsoon weather also makes the healing process slow. Hence, as the famous saying goes, Prevention is Better than Cure, it is better to be vigilant than be sorry.
The lists of Dos and Don'ts mentioned above are not exhaustive. It is we who know what causes harm and what does not and proceed accordingly.
Feel free to call Premier Hospital to know more information about Accidents & Emergency trauma care treatment.
Stay Safe on the Road this Monsoon!
About The Hospital:
Since the inception of Premier Hospital in 1991 till today, we have grown to unprecedented levels, due to our excellence in medical sciences and healthcare. Premier Hospital is the creation of Dr Mahesh Marda and when it was first established, was only a small, 30-bed hospital facility. Back then, we provided only secondary care to patients, but that certainly has changed in the present landscape.