Harmattan is one of the seasons in Nigeria. The Harmattan is a dry and dusty West African trade wind. It blows south from the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea between the end of November and the middle of March. There are so many challenges one could face during this period like cracking of lips or breaking of lips, cold, dry skin, catarrh, cough and a lot more but among all, cold is the major problem.The cold weather and the heavy amount of foggy dust in the air can limit visibility and block the sun for several days, comparable to a heavy fog shows that the harmattan is here again. Some patients suffering from asthma, pneumonia and people who are prone to respiratory diseases often suffer much because of excess cold and dust.It is advisable to cover yourself well and wear thick cloth during this period so as to keep your body warm and protect yourself from cold. The dry, cold and dusty wind associated with Harmattan also triggers sickle cell crises in affected individuals.

Aside the health issue hamarttan is also a cause of most fire during this period as it easilly exposes our carelessness and non observance of fire safety pricnciple. For fire to start three things most bassically be present, fuel, heat n oxygen. All solid fuels has moisture in them and this is responsible for their high ignition temperature. Harmattan is xterised with moisture absorption a reason why our close gt dried faster than normal. The harmattan gt combustible materials de humidified lowering their ignition temperature thus making them easily combustible. So we must be very careful with ignition sources at home and at work.

Harmattan period is not the best time to wear fur and other artificial hair as they easily build up static charges. Perhaps a reason why most ladies scrach their here more during harmattan.

It is better you wear more of cotton fabrics during this period as cotton will conduct the least static charge during this period. When u wash ur cotton use detergent and dont wash off all the detergent. Detergent helps to reduce the rate of static charge build up during harmattan. This is very iportant for owners of petrol stations and tank farms to ensure this aspect of fire prevention during this period. Those that are responsible for ensuring that standards are met in our petrol stations and oil and gas industries should start thinking along this line.

To prevent fire during this period try adopt the following things

1. Never keep a naked flame
2. Switch off all electrical appliances when not I use
3. Do not overload electrical sockets
4. Be careful with ur decorations.
5. Pay attention to cooking
6. Never use camp gas in the house
7. Clear all Bush around your house.
8. Don't dispose cigarette butt without sniffing off the light.
9. Don't keep the fire works in the house
10. Have a fire extinguisher at home
11. Have a pre fire plan.
12. Practice fire drill at home
13. Most importantly teach everyone in your home about fire safety.

I hope dis helps. Enjoy the weather as we are product of our environment!

HAMMED USMAN(IDIPNEBOSH, GIFireE, ANISP)

FIRE SAFETY EXPERT ! HEALTH AND SAFERT PROFESSIONAL ! FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR ! EMERGENCY RESPONDER

hamshol@gmail.com

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