It is that time of the year when temperatures are extremely hot during the day and abnormally cold during the night.
Consequently, wild animals and reptiles are forced to compete for water with humans for survival thereby occasioning human-wildlife conflicts.
Unfortunately, a school boy has reportedly succumbed to snakebite in the neighboring county in the past week.
Authorities in Elgeyo Marakwet County are calling on local residents to be sensitive to the prevailing Climatic conditions.
Ms. Caroline Magut, the Chief officer for Preventive and Promotive Health Services in the County Government is advising locals in the lowlands to ensure their doors and windows were throughout closed alongside keeping the home environment free from bushes or heaped refuse.
“People can also use the local methods of splashing snake repellants like diesel around homes and placing water a distant from the house. Doing this will make thirsty snakes to drink and go away instead of looking for water inside the houses. People should also avoid walking in bushy areas and if they must, they should wear boots,”said the medic.
Anti- venom
Meanwhile, the department has adequately stocked all the health facilities with Anti- venom drugs across the Kerio Valley.
Hydration
People in the region are also advised to drink a lot of water and fluids to avert dehydration.
Child health
During this season mothers are also advised to scale down the number of warm clothes with which they cover their infants to reduce heat rashes.
“They should just be sensitive to the climatic conditions because even baby pampers and warm clothes court heat rashes,” said Ms. Magut.
Respiratory conditions
People with respiratory conditions such as asthma during this season when the atmosphere is unfriendly are also advised to consider using nose-masks, said Magut.
According to Mr Simion Cheptot, the ministry of Environment director of meteorology in Elgeyo Marakwet, the current daytime temperatures in Kerio Valley range from 28 – 34 degrees celcius.
The highlands of Elgeyo Marakwet through the escarpments upto Uasin Gishu plateau range between 23° to 26° celcious.
In the night, it ranges between 7-11°celcious over the Highlands of Elgeyo Marakwet and Uasin Gishu with 18 – 23 degrees celcius in Kerio Valley, said the meteorologist.
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