An El-Nino Survival Guide Without Breaking The Bank
by: Caitlyn Ng
Temperatures are on the rise, and it's not just solely because of the FIFA World Cup 2014. The El Nino heat spell is upon us once again, and it's hit hard, occurring once every 5 years or so. The terrifying fact about this phenomenon is the amount of warm water gathering in the Pacific Ocean. It is the main cause of El Nino and apparently, it is almost as significant as the event in 1997 - 1998. During that time, it became the hottest year on record at the time and the impacts felt globally were major.
The current heat spell is probably going to spell Doom (that's a capital "D" for you right there) for Malaysians, since the country has just only recovered from the one of the worst water shortages that hit the Klang Valley.
We're going to have to roll up our sleeves and pantlegs, for we are determined to survive this El Nino event once more. For the good of all Malaysians, we have decided to come up with a simple guide to help you survive, without much cost to your wallet! Read on, my fellow people, for some handy tips!
1) Keep Hydrated!
2 bottles of water (1.5 litre each): RM1.78
How much would it cost you to keep your body rehydrated all day long? Did you know that it has been estimated that humans generally require about 2 litres of water per day in order to function healthily? Well a bottle of drinking water bought from a supermarket can be as low as RM0.89 for a 1.5 litre bottle, so 2 bottles would only set you back RM1.78, and you'd have met the quota!
This is literally a no-brainer since the scorching heat will definitely dehydrate the human body faster than you can name the 5 great oceans. With bodily functions taking place at a much faster rate in order to keep the body's internal temperature cool (breathing and perspiration mostly; urine and bowel movements are secondary), you're going to have to fill up more than usual.
What happens when you disregard this action? It leads to what is known as dehydration. Mild dehydration shows itself in symptoms such as headaches or lethargy, but is easily rectified by giving your body the fluids it requires. However, since the human body is made up of 75% water, severe dehydration can lead to potentially life-threatening conditions, from fevers to unconsciousness.
2) Protect Your Skin
Nivea SPF30 Lotion (125ml): RM29
White cotton tee: RM19 - RM29
Small umbrella: RM15 - RM20
The biggest organ your body has; neglecting your skin is never smart. But how do you keep your skin safe from harmful effects of the weather without wrapping yourself up like a mummy and staying indoors for all time? Simple things like sunglasses, caps and umbrellas; UV protection lotions and suitable clothing can actually go a long way to combat the effects of the heat.
Try switching to light-coloured clothes as they reflect more UV radiation and don't forget to lather on a generous amount sunblock! But how much will all these cost? You'd be surprised at the answer: not too much!
A 125ml bottle of Nivea Sun Moisturising Immediate Sun Protection SPF30 Lotion costs about RM29.00. SPF30 is able to protect you against 97% of the sun's UV rays, so that should suffice for a few hours of exposure. A simple white cotton tee from the FOS, Uniqlo or any department store would only set you back about RM19 - RM29 (or less if you're willing to get super simple tees from Giant or Tesco). A small umbrella would cost about RM15 - RM20.
Protecting your skin is going to get even more crucial as according to Alui Bahari, the deputy director-general of the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the mercury is set to reach temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celcius!
Using those items will not only prevent your skin from frying itself, it will also help to minimise your exposure to harmful UV rays.
3) Conserve Electricity and Water Usage
Cost of following this tip: Nothing at all, just sheer determination!
Let's have some some tips (that don't cost anything!) to improve energy efficiency and also reduce the amount spent on your bills. First, keep air-conditioners to temperatures between 23 - 25 degrees Celcius. For more ways to save on air-conditioning costs, read our quick and handy guide. Secondly, only iron your clothes at night, when it's cooler and you won't sweat yourself into a puddle of bones and perspiration. Finally, do not boil water or use your washing machine during peak hours if possible (weekends for example), since that will place greater strain on the already-strained electricity load of power plants.
Now we know this tip is going to be quite the toughie, and we admit as well we sometimes have trouble following through. But that doesn't mean you can't try! The temptation to turn the air-con on full blast and then leave it going for the next 24 hours or so, is certainly an idea that has crossed many people's minds but you're certainly not doing your wallet or the environment any favours. Sticking oneself in a cold shower and then contemplating about the mysteries of Life for an hour is also a very enticing notion - and one of the fastest ways to drain our water reserves even further.
4) Stay Indoors
Cost: Some hours of outdoor fun but indoor fun is always possible
This one ties in with the above, since if you stay indoors and minimise all strenuous activities, that reduces the need for more water and electricity to cool down. In addition, it will also reduce your exposure to the sun and harmful UV rays. Of course, we realise staying indoors ALL the time isn't possible nor healthy but any reduction in exposure time will do your body good.
5) Don't Waste Food
Cost: No cost at all, just a tweak in lifestyle.
Why this tip, you ask? The El Nino season's blistering hot spell might bring a dreaded draught upon us causing food shortages that inevitably drive prices up. Not only will there be a scarcity but you'll be paying more for whatever is available!
According to a recent Reuters report, there is already a growing concern amongst Asia’s governments regarding food security issues that could have a large impact on the countries' staples such as rice and other grains.
Instead of going into a panic right now and stocking up the bomb shelter with groceries and canned goods - try simply helping yourself to only what you know you will be consuming. Try not to shop or go out to eat when ravenously hungry because you're bound to pick up more than you can eat.
The heat might be getting to all of us but you don't have to resort to super expensive ways to deal with it. Keep healthy, hydrated and of course well within budget during the heatwave with just a few lifestyle tweaks.
* Caitlyn Ng is an Investigative Journalist of SaveMoney.my, an online consumer advice portal which aims to help Malaysians save money through smart (and most of the time painless) savings in their daily banking, technology, and lifestyle spending habits.
