Any living organisms need fresh air. Anyone can notice that in a stuffy room working capacity drops sharply, concentration worsens, and a head begins to hurt. In short, air flow is necessary. But under certain conditions, another danger arises. So what is a draft?
About airing
A long stay in a room without access to fresh air negatively affects the well-being of a person. And it's not a lack of oxygen - quite the opposite. The fact is that with breathing and from the skin of a person a large amount of substances is released into the air, primarily carbon dioxide. With an increase in its concentration, fatigue and headache appear. If you do not gain access to fresh air, the symptoms will only worsen.
That is why the ventilation of rooms is so important. It must be carried out all year round 2-3 times a day. In the morning this will help to renew the air that has stagnated during the night hours, and in the evening it is better to fall asleep. Here you just need to do this differently depending on the time of year and weather. In winter, it is better to carry out intensive short ventilation. Leaving the room, you need to open the window and close the door for 3-4 minutes. This method will not work if there are plants on the windowsill that are sensitive to low temperature, in which case they will become ill and may die. Well, for a long time, an open window gives a relatively small influx of air, but it fills the room much more strongly. In addition, this style of ventilation can provoke a phenomenon such as drafts. And then the desire for health can turn into unpleasant diseases.
What is a draft?
Sitting in a room with an open window and a door, those who are close to the latter must have noticed the unpleasant chill going down their legs more than once. It makes you shudder and drink tea more often. This is a draft - a fast and, as a rule, cold air flow between its two sources. Sometimes you may not even notice it, for example, if you get carried away with work. But he still insidiously makes himself felt by local hypothermia and, possibly, subsequent diseases. That is why it is necessary to provide the house with good thermal insulation, carefully choose a place to sleep, especially for young children, and also make sure that the cold air stream, for example from the air conditioner, is not directed to the legs, neck, body during operation.
When does it occur?
According to the laws of physics, air moves faster than in a narrower space. When passing through an open window into a room, its speed increases. And the narrower the gap, the faster it will move - usually it reaches the highest intensity directly above the floor and slightly higher. If the windows are closed but do not fit well to the frame, it will still blow into these gaps. And this can be exacerbated by some other factors. Therefore, the first rule of ventilation is to open a window rather than a window. In the first case, the air will update faster with a smaller decrease in room temperature. And the second, in accordance with the presence of other factors, is the following: if the window is open, the door must be closed. This rule applies and vice versa. It is especially important if the window is opposite the door. In the event that they are opened at the same time, and a person will be on the flow path for a long time, most likely he will subsequently become ill. By the way, the same effect can be obtained by sitting under the air conditioner. In any case, it is not surprising that in many countries, even warm ones, they are so careful about drafts.
What is dangerous?
So now it’s clear what a draft is, but why is everyone so afraid of it? The fact is that it provokes a local decrease in temperature and, accordingly, local immunity. But it is actually dangerous not only for people. Animals and plants also suffer from hypothermia without good thermal insulation. And during the repair it is better not to forget about what a draft is and how insidious it is.
For people and animals
For people, local hypothermia is fraught primarily with diseases such as the common cold, myositis or muscle spasm, as well as neuralgia. People say so - "blown away." Depending on where the person has a weak spot, a draft can "hit" on the ears and nose, kidneys, pelvic organs, muscles, etc. A decrease in immunity can trigger an exacerbation of chronic diseases, such as herpes. So do not underestimate the danger, even a commonplace cold with inadequate treatment can cause complications.
Animals are also very sensitive to air currents. If there is a draft in the room, if the places of rest are not correctly arranged, dogs, cats, birds, etc. can get sick. This is especially true for the latter, as well as short-haired pets and those who are completely deprived of hair. Drafts are also especially dangerous for those whose immunity is reduced due to natural causes - for very young or old animals. Therefore, you need to ensure that the cage or bed is raised above the floor by at least ten centimeters - this will reduce the risk.
For plants
Most home flowers love fresh air. This is as important a factor as temperature, lighting, watering. But at the same time, the absolute majority also does not tolerate drafts, instantly dropping leaves and dying. The fact is that high humidity around the flowers, coupled with a cold stream of air, gives dampness, which is especially dangerous for young shoots and sprouts. To prevent such problems, you can pick up special greenhouses that are placed on the windowsill. It will also solve the problem of plant protection during short-term ventilation.
For repair
For many technological processes occurring during the renovation of the interior of the apartment, it is necessary that there was no draft in the room. This applies primarily to wallpapering, because due to the flow of cold air and uneven drying of the glue, they can begin to move away from the walls, which will negate several hours of work. That is why after this stage is completed, the room is locked for about a day, it can not be aired.
Prevention measures
First of all, you need to pay attention to the thermal insulation of the room, if it comes to the house. If possible, get rid of old cracked wooden windows with cracks, put new double-glazed windows. If you still have any problems, there are special lining on the windowsill that protects against air currents. Similar ones exist for doors if they do not close tightly.
Next, you can change the flooring to a carpet or something similar. This additionally insulates the room, and also eliminates the cracks under the door. And although maintaining such a coating is more time consuming, health is worth it.
You should also pay attention to the air conditioner, if any. It should be located so that the air flow from it is not directed at people. Ideal location - in the hallway or corridor, where no one is constantly.
Another point is the selection of suitable clothing. Where there is no way to change the location of the table, for example, standing on the draft itself, you need to warm yourself. It is worth paying attention to the most vulnerable parts of the body - legs and feet. Their hypothermia is fraught with colds, sinusitis and even toothache. In second place, especially for women, is the lower back. It is worth taking care of the neck, shoulders and ears, their hypothermia also leads to unpleasant consequences. Well, of course, it makes sense to pay attention to your immunity - to carry out vitamin therapy and hardening.
Finally, the golden rule: if the window is open, the door must be closed. And vice versa.
