Easy ways to protect your kids from Delhi’s nasty pollution
Delhi's air quality is already at its worse. As per official statistics, the current AQI (air quality index) of Delhi is 431, which as per doctors is equal to inhaling 50 cigarettes a day. And as per a report published in the Lancet, pollution kills more than 2.5 million people every year in India. The problem takes a more serious turn when we think of our kids' safety. This is because kids and elderly are more prone to getting affected by the toxic air around us.
What exactly is smog?
Smog is a mixture of smoke and fog, which causes air pollution. Smog is made of gases like nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulphur oxides and smoke from other sources. Smog also contains pollutants like carbon monoxide, CFCs and radioactive substances. It poses serious health risks to young children, senior citizens and patients of lung and heart problems. But there are certain steps that you can take to ensure the safety of your children.
Tips to protect your kids
Stay indoors
The easiest and the most obvious solution to protect yourself from pollution is by staying away from it. Keep your kids indoors and limit their exposure to outdoor activities as much as possible.
Use air masks
Air masks can be of great help in protecting yourself from pollution. Choose the ones made of comfortable fabric like cotton and something that fits the face perfectly. Masks help in keeping away the dust, pollutants, bacteria and even viruses.
Keep your indoors clean
Use heavy curtains to keep the polluted air from entering your homes. Make sure the paint on your walls doesn’t contain harmful substances that give toxic fumes. These can cause similar symptoms to air pollution.
Keep yourself and your younger ones hydrated
Water helps in detoxing the body by flushing out the toxins that can aggravate the symptoms. Good fluid intake is recommended for everyone in the family including kids and elderly.
Use air purifiers and keep air purifying plants
If your kid or anyone else in the family has asthma or allergies, you can invest in an air purifier. It can help clean the air by removing allergens and tiny particles. You can also install one in your car. Another natural way of keeping the indoor air clean is by keeping plants that purify the indoor air. You can buy areca palm, aloe vera, azalea and tulsi to keep your home fresh.
Choose the right foods
During this time, ensure to have foods that keep your immunity system nourished. Have fruits, vegetables, Omega 3 and foods rich in Vitamin C to give your immune system a boost.