It is election season, and with a multitude of opposition parties old and new, and every single constituency being contested, attending election rallies will certainly be something that many of us will be doing! Yet being in crowds also means a heightened opportunity of falling sick, what with the late nights, the haze, and some people falling ill to the remnants of a flu virus that has been going around earlier. The elderly, especially, are particularly vulnerable in crowds. The stuffiness of the event does no good to their already weak respiratory systems.
Here are some ways to stay healthy and comfortable during a rally!
Keep cool
Our weather is already hot and humid, and being in a crowd makes it worst! A battery-operated mini fan could be your lifesaver. You can find these in stores selling electronics, or homeware shops like Japan Home and Daiso have them cheap. Paper fans work too, but it could be difficult to use them without hitting someone else at a high-density rally.
Especially for the elderly, you can drape a wet towel around your neck, or get cooling pads from the pharmacy to place on your neck.
Be appropriately dressed - change out from long-sleeved shirts and ties to comfortable cooling tshirts.
Take care of your legs
You'll be on your feet for about 3 hours. Wear footwear that is comfortable. Ladies, leave your high heels in the office. But you might also want to avoid slippers/sandals in case someone steps on your toes. Your shoes should be spacious enough so that you can wriggle your feet. Shoes with comfortable, well-padded soles will keep your feet happy all night.
Those with knee cap problems, and obese people, should be particularly careful to not place too much pressure on your knees. Bring a stool. Put on your knee guards to give your knees more support.
Stay hydrated
You might be doing quite a bit of shouting, so make sure you have bottled water on you so you can quench your thirst and ease your throat! Just be sure to use the bathroom just before heading to the rally.
Bring earplugs
If you end up right next to the speaker or right in front of the stage, you are going to be extremely grateful for this. Most earplugs don't block out sound completely, so rest assured you will still be able to hear your candidates speak, without busting your eardrums.
Have dinner beforehand, or pack a meal and bring it with you
Many rallies start at 7 pm, which is usually the time when office workers have their dinner. If you have no time to get a proper dinner, do at least bring some food like a sandwich or biscuits. Do not skip meals.
Bring tissue and hand sanitiser
Just in case you have to sneeze, it's unhygienic, not to mention, incredibly rude to sneeze into someone elses' clothing, or into your hands and then go touch something or someone else with your dirty hands. These will also come in handy when you have to clean up after your meal.
Be mindful of people around you
If you want to flail your arms and your banners around or stamp your feet, make sure you look around you before doing so. Be considerate, make sure you don't hit anyone or cross into their comfort zone. Otherwise, someone could get hurt.
Don't rush to leave
When the rally ends, be patient, especially if you're somewhere at the front, and wait for the crowd around you to start dispersing. Don't push or raise voices. If you're in a rush, you probably shouldn't be going at all.
Stay home if you're sick
Illnesses spread fast in crowds. If you're unwell, staying out in a crowd may cause further aggravation as your immune system becomes weaker. Furthermore, you might spread your illness to other rally-goers. So do yourself and others a favour, avoid the rallies if you're unwell.
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