Video: The rain just keeps on coming. Mid-September 2018 Emergency has been followed by many others. Water spills everywhere from everything into everything. Don't drink the water. Hygiene is top priority after a flood. Keep hands away from face until cleaned and boil everything. Listen for public health warnings. Plan ahead for spare drinking water in well sealed containers.
Please follow NDRRMC, Barangay, DOH and other civil authority evacuation and emergency center instructions for your province. NDRRMC has issued notices. Turn your smart phone on if you did not get.
Clean Water Safety
After a Typhoon or flood passes: we have emergency life-saving information for you about the water left behind by monstrous weather systems. Avoid that water. Keep clean.
by Sharon Santiago, Feminine Perspective Staff
You are welcome to contact me and fellow workers for advice.
You can phone but might be BC / PH 0928 716 4921 / Click your choice:
Email or SIgnal HelpLine
After the passing of the storm:
- Stay home or in your shelter. Boil and filter all water that you will consume. Only drink bottled water from a reliable source. Boil it anyway unless it is provided by officials who have certified that you are being given clean potable water. If you can, boil it anyway. Don't get sick.
- Keep your hands clean. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap generously. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. On your way to your cleaning area you can use your alcohol spray or sanitizer cream making sure you get under your finger nails. Keep your sanitizer bottle clean.
- Keep all toilet and washroom areas clean. Because of E. coli ( coliform bacterium of the genus Escherichia) contamination during epidemics where diarrhea is a disease symptom, toilet areas including towels, racks, 'TP' holders, door handles and anything in the area needs to be kept very clean.
- In your home, teach a routine of cleaning before and after toilet use. The preferable decontaminate is hydrogen peroxide solution because it is the only substance that can reliably kill most forms of 'crypto' (more further down) which have mutated to a hard shell parasite almost immune to chlorine.
- Nasty bugs lurk in your home. I will help you kill them but it is a never-ending process that requires good habits. You can easily accomplish this. Start with your own personal hygiene.
- Do not wade or swim in flood water. You put yourself in extreme risk. If you come in contact with this water, clean and disinfect yourself thoroughly after discarding your outerwear in a safe area outside your living quarters. In the meantime keep your hands away from your face and keep your mouth and nose covered with an N95 respirator mask or in an emergency a couple of layers of clean scarf or whatever you can get air through without water or particulate splashes.
- Do not allow children to play in the flood water or any standing water for that matter until your local health units have given the all-clear. That should be 'never'.
- Keep your hands clean and away from your face.
- Create a contamination-free system for baby's diaper disposal. There is grave danger for baby's feces to infect you, family and to reinfect herself. Keep mom and baby clean. Soap and clean water are the barest essentials but with good technique and habits, that's all you need. Moms, be confident in your abilities and be proud of yours and baby's cleanliness.
Besides about 200 viruses that give you cold and flu symptoms, here are examples of high morbidity waterborne diseases that are easy to catch from flood water.
- Salmonella,
- Cryptosporidium
- Viral Gastroenteritis,
- Shigellosis,
- Cholera,
- Hepatitis A,
- Leptospirosis,
- Typhoid Fever,
- Malaria, and
- Dengue fever
What is diarrhea?
If on more than four occasions per day your body has fluid or loose bowel movements, you have diarrhea and are ill. Get medical help. In the meantime drink only clean water and eat bananas, rice (white), applesauce and toast, in that order.
Cryptosporidium 'Crypto' is so common but it's a horrible parasite we need to kill. The best way ahead is to not let it spread. Don't be a breeding ground for its babies.
Cryptosporidiosis (Crypto) is a gastrointestinal illness caused by the parasite, Cryptosporidium.
The hallmark symptom of Crypto is watery diarrhea, which might be accompanied by stomach ache, nausea and vomiting, fever, and a general sick feeling. Healthy people infected with the parasite almost always get better without any treatment but treatment is available by prescription.
An unusual feature of Crypto is that some people seem to get better only to have the diarrhea come back in a few days.
Symptoms can come and go for up to 30 days, but often subside in 1 to 2 weeks.
Crypto can be a severe and prolonged disease in persons with weakened immune systems, such as those with AIDS or those taking drugs that suppress the immune system. Because the parasite is in feces, anything that gets contaminated by feces can potentially spread the parasite.
As a result, the parasite can be spread directly from person to person, through contact with contaminated objects (e.g., toys), or by swallowing contaminated water (drinking and recreational) or food. The spread of infection is highest among young children who are not toilet trained and their caregivers (those who change diapers). Did I mention you should keep your hands clean and away from your face.
Nitazoxanide has been approved for treatment of diarrhea caused by Cryptosporidium in people with healthy immune system. Most people who have healthy immune systems will recover without treatment. Diarrhea can be managed by drinking plenty of clean fluids to prevent dehydration.
Nevertheless, if you display these symptoms, see a doctor or nurse as soon as possible. If you go to the hospital, wear a mask, don't touch anything, and keep your hands clean, away from your face.
Did I mention
- Keep your hands clean and away from your face.
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Young children, the elderly and pregnant women may be more susceptible to dehydration if they become infected with a diahrea-causing illness.
Rapid loss of fluids from diarrhea may be especially life threatening to babies. Mother's milk is best. Mom. Stay healthy, please. Be careful what you consume. Keep your hands clean and away from your face.
Anti-diarrheal medicine may help slow down diarrhea, but a health care provider should be consulted before such medicine is taken. Drink clean fluids and eat bananas, rice (white), applesauce and toast, in that order.
People who are in poor health or who have weakened immune systems are at higher risk for more severe and more prolonged illness.
Medical Note: The effectiveness of nitazoxanide in immunosuppressed individuals is unclear. For persons with AIDS, anti-retroviral therapy that improves immune status will also decrease or eliminate symptoms of Crypto. However, even if symptoms disappear, cryptosporidiosis is often not curable and the symptoms may return if the immune status worsens. Death is can occur. Keep your hands clean and only consume uncontaminated food and water.
Vibrio cholerae, rotavirus, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infections are also a risk post storm.
- Keep your hands clean and away from your face.
- Boil and filter all water.
- Disinfect all garments and things you come in contact with if they have been exposed to flood water.