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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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:
- 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.
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- 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.
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- Boiling
water, when
practical,
is the preferred
way to kill
harmful bacteria
and parasites.
Bringing
water to
a rolling
boil for
1 minute
will kill
most organisms.
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- When
boiling water
is not practical,
you can treat
water with
chlorine
tablets,
iodine tablets,
or unscented
household
chlorine
bleach (5.25%
sodium hypochlorite).
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- If
you use chlorine
tablets or
iodine tablets,
follow the
directions
that come
with the
tablets.
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- If
you use household
chlorine
bleach, add
1/8 teaspoon
of bleach
per gallon
of water
if the water
is clear.
For cloudy
water, add
1/4 teaspoon
of bleach
per gallon.
Mix the solution
thoroughly
and let it
stand for
about 30
minutes before
using it.
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- Note: Treating
water with
chlorine
tablets,
iodine tablets,
or liquid
bleach will
not kill
parasitic
organisms.
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- 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.
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How
to Handle Animals
Many wild animals have
been forced from their natural habitats
by flooding, and many domestic animals
are also without homes after the flood.
Take care to avoid these animals. Do not
corner an animal. If an animal must be
removed, contact your local animal control
authorities. If you are bitten by any animal,
seek immediate medical attention. If you
are bitten by a snake, first try to accurately
identify the type of snake so that, if
poisonous, the correct anti-venom may be
administered. Contact local or state health
and agricultural officials for state guidelines
on disposal of dead animals.
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