William Penn Life, 2004 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-10-01 / 10. szám
More than bailing out How to protect your health and safety during a flood First it was Charley, then Frances, and then Ivan. Three hurricanes struck the southern U.S. several weeks ago, causing widespread damage and death along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. As the storms moved further north, they weakened but still caused extensive damage throughout the eastern U.S. Much of the damage was caused by flooding. In addition to all the damage to homes and property they cause, floods bring with them a number of serious health risks.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has compiled a list of steps you can take to help protect your health and safety during a flood and its aftermath. How to Avoid Illness Always wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected before preparing or eating food, after toilet use, after participating in flood cleanup activities, and after handling articles contaminated with flood water or sewage. If you receive a puncture wound or a wound contaminated with feces, soil or saliva, have a doctor or health department determine whether a tetanus booster is necessary. How to Make Sure Your Food is Safe Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water. For infants, use only pre-prepared canned baby formula that requires no added water, rather than powdered formulas prepared with treated water. Thawed food can usually be eaten or refrozen if it is still "refrigerator cold," or if it still contains ice crystals. To be safe, remember, "When in doubt, throw it out." Discard any refrigerated or frozen food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture. How to Make Sure Your Water is Safe Listen for public announcements on the safety of the municipal water supply. Flooded, private water wells will need to be tested and disinfected after flood waters recede. Questions about testing should be directed to your local or state health departments. Safe water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene includes bottled, boiled or treated water. Your state or local health department can make specific recommendations for boiling or treating water in your area. Here are some general rules concerning water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene. Remember: • Do not use contaminated water to wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash and prepare food, wash your hands, make ice, or make baby formula. If possible, use baby formula that does not need to have water added. You can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to wash your hands. • If you use bottled water, be sure it came from a safe source. If you do not know that the water came from a safe source, you should boil or treat it before you use it. Use only bottled, boiled or treated water until your supply is tested and found safe. • Boiling water, when practical, is the preferred way to kill harmful bacteria and parasites. Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute will kill most organisms. • When boiling water is not practical, you can treat water with chlorine tablets, iodine tablets or unscented household chlorine bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite):- If you use chlorine tablets or iodine tablets, follow the directions that come with the tablets.- If you use household chlorine bleach, add one-eighth teaspoon (0.75 ml) of bleach per gallon of water if the water is clear. For cloudy water, add one-quarter teaspoon (1.50 ml) of bleach per gallon. Mix the solution thoroughly and let it stand for about 30 minutes before using it.- Note: Treating water with chlorine tablets, iodine tablets or liquid bleach will not kill parasitic organisms. Use a bleach solution to rinse water containers before reusing them. Use water storage tanks and other types of containers with caution. For example, fire truck storage tanks and previously used cans or bottles may be contaminated with microbes or chemicals. Do not rely on untested devices for decontaminating water. How to Handle Animals and Mosquitoes Many wild animals have been forced from their natural habitats by flooding, and many domestic animals are also without homes after the flood. 6 Killian Pen Life, October 2004
