Sandstorm Survival Tips

Whether it's a full-blown sandstorm, or just a light smoggy dust in the air, these tips will ensure your health is kept safe throughout! These are particularly useful if you are an #ExpatWoman living in any countries that frequently have sandstorms. 

It's important to follow these rules to ensure your respiratory health is protected, as well as your eyes and any skin you may have on show! 

Sandstorms frequent Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon as well as countries like China, Egypt, and Uzbekistan.

Things you should do:

• Wear a mask, handkerchief, scarf or fine muslin cloth around your nose and mouth to filter out fine dust particles. These are particularly effective as protection when wet, too - to help your nose and mouth from drying up. The most important thing to do is to protect your respiratory tract!
• Do wear eye protection, as your eyes are sensitive when exposed to allergens in the sand or dust, which may lead to eye infections. Motorcycle or diving goggles may come in handy at this point, and it doesn't matter how funny you look in them. They're super efficient in protecting your eyes.
• Ensure you wear full sleeved clothing and cover as much of you can of your body to avoid contact with allergens that could give rise to skin allergies. Also to prevent any damage to your skin from larger flying particles that may come with the winds.
• Helpful hint: apply a small amount of petroleum jelly (e.g. Vaseline) to the inside of your nostrils to prevent drying of your nostrils. 
• Keep yourself hydrated! Carry plenty of water, as drinking it will prevent dryness in your body as dust and humidity can steal vital moisture. 
• If you're driving at the time of a storm, find the next safe opportunity to get off the road and park... With your lights on. There is logic in this point; as leaving your lights off may lure confused drivers who are still on the move towards you, as they may believe traffic is moving in that direction. If you cannot find a safe place to park immediately, drive a lot more slower than normal, and pull over when the next available area is safest to do so. 
• If you're prone to having bad allergies, you should use your antihistamines, even before symptoms start appearing.
• Avoid going outside during such storms, especially during high winds or low visibility when the dust levels are particularly harmful. 

SEE ALSO: Stuck in a sandstorm? Show us with #ExpatWoman on social media

What not to do:

• Don't expose yourself to the weather unless absolutely necessary. 
• Do not set your air conditioning unit at very cool, especially when you first step inside your home or car. The temperature outside is somewhat misleading for your body, and it may not react to thermo regulation properly, making you more susepctible to viral infections. Yuck!
• Don't put your air conditioning in your car directly on your face, as even in very cool mode, there are changes that very fine dust may enter, which you may inhale.
• Prevent all kids and pets from playing outside.
• Do not eat any food catered outdoors in restaurants or cafes.