The southern Indian state of Kerala is currently battling its worst flood in almost a 100 years, with the death toll rising to more than 350. As rescue operations continue in the flood-ravaged state, it is extremely important to think about the health hazards of flood and prevention of water-borne illnesses. The problem is that once the floodwaters start to recede, the environment will become conducive to epidemic diseases. Hence, communities are often left to deal with various problems, ranging from damaged home and possessions to famine and diseases.
But, you can take steps to prevent various health risks and stay safe during the clean-up process. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has set up some 3,757 medical camps in flood-battered Kerala to help prevent epidemic diseases. While no outbreak of any communicable disease has been reported so far, a statement from the Health Ministry stated that the state has been asked for daily surveillance to detect early warning signs of an outbreak, news agency IANS reported. And here are a few tips to help reduce health risks and the harm caused by flooding:
Drinking water
Water should be boiled and filtered before consuming. Bring water to a rolling boil, allowing it to boil for at least 3 minutes. If you’re unable to boil water, use regular household bleach such as chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) to disinfect water. This may help reduce the risk of cholera and other water-borne diseases.
In case you have no access to drinking water, you can collect rainwater, which can be boiled and filtered before drinking. In extreme cases where there is no access to gas or heating mechanisms, people should consider using a folded clean, thin, white cotton cloth to filter water. The cloth filter is better than no filtration at all, especially when there is no other option available.
Food safety
Consume freshly cooked food and throw out any food that has started to spoil or you think has come into contact with floodwater. Also, the food in your refrigerator may be unsafe to eat if the power has failed for more than a day. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after cooking. If soap and water are not available, the CDC recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
In case, you’re running out of food, try drinking boiled water by adding a salt and sugar in it - for 1 litre of water, you can add 5-6 spoons of sugar and 1 spoon of salt. It is believed that drinking this at regular intervals can help your body stay hydrated. If you have access to medicines, stocking up on ORS packets is an excellent idea to help prevent diarrhoea and dehydration.
Handwashing
Maintain good hygiene, such as proper handwashing using soap and clean (running) water to help prevent the spread of germs. Keeping hands clean during an emergency is one of the best ways to help prevent the spread of germs and diseases. Not only when preparing food or eating, but always keep your hands clean and dry, such as after using the toilet, touching the garbage, before and after caring for someone who is ill, etc.
Electricity
Avoid using electric appliances and lighting matches until your house is checked by a licensed electrician. This is important because, Electrical equipment, wiring and appliances may have been damaged, increasing the risk of electric shock. Also, check for gas leaks.
Cleaning up
Avoid direct contact with mud, dirt and flood waters that may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or sewage when you are cleaning up. Remember, flood water contains sewage and pathogens that can result in water-borne diseases. Clean and disinfect everything that got wet. Ensure that any cooking and eating utensils that may have come into contact with flood water are thoroughly cleaned using hot water and detergent. People involved in cleaning should wear gloves and covered footwear and treat any cuts with antiseptics.
Diseases
Flooding is linked with an increased risk of various water-borne and mosquito-borne diseases and infections. Some common water-borne infections are typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis, hepatitis A, etc. Malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and West Nile Fever are some common vector-borne diseases associated with flooding. It is important that residents take precautionary steps to prevent or reduce the risk of falling ill after rain or flooding. These include following good personal hygiene, using insect repellents and wearing protective clothing to avoid mosquito bites, keeping the surroundings clean to get rid of potential mosquito breeding sites, etc. Stay safe!
Credit: Times Now News
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