With all the changing weather patterns at the moment, many regions all over the world are experiencing either drought or flooding; some of them one after the other and it is important to know how to deal with flooding and how to keep things hygienic.
Water is vital for human life, but too much water, especially when it is flooding our homes, can be very unhealthy and cause various water-related diseases. It is therefore important that we make sure that we apply certain measures in order to ensure that our environment is sanitary.
Try to avoid direct contact with floodwater wherever possible, but in the event that this is not possible, here are a few precautions and good hygiene practices to bear in mind:
Food: Do not eat any food that has been covered by or even touched by floodwater as it can contain many bacteria and viruses that could make you ill. This also applies to any fruit or vegetables grown in your garden if it has been flooded.
Children: Children should be kept well away from floodwater and not allowed to play in it as they could get ill. They should also wash their hands regularly in cast they touch any infected surfaces or items, and especially after playing outdoors and before meals. They should also be taught not to drink any water other than what you give them or have told them is safe to drink.
Protective Clothing: Always wear protective clothing when cleaning up after a flood, including waterproof gloves, goggles and rubber boots. If you have any open sores, make sure that they are covered with waterproof plasters as well as protective clothing.
Water: Use fresh, warm if possible, soapy water to wash off items that were in contact with the floodwater and get rid of harmful micro-organisms. Make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly or use disposable soapy, wet wipes or sanitising gel to clean them thoroughly afterwards.
Make sure that your drinking water is sterile and safe to drink. Do not drink water from the taps/municipal supply until told by authorities it is safe to do so. If there is any doubt about the water, rather drink bottled water or even better, invest in a water cooler – a mains or point-of-use (POU) water cooler can be safely attached to your main water supply and fitted with a triple action carbon filter that will filter out all toxins and provide you with chilled, great-tasting and safe drinking water virtually 24/7.
