The Dirty Truth of Disasters
By Mark Prince
Disasters can create effects that go beyond damage to homes and businesses. At times disasters can bring people into closer physical contact with each other. Families may be forced to live in one room of the home and without running water to bath or wash hands on a regular basis bacteria and viruses can grow and be passed from one person to another. Disasters are the time to think about health issues and steps should be taken to prevent the spread of disease and bacteria.
Your disaster preparedness must include procedures for sanitation. Hands must be kept clean and you should never make concessions on sanitation because of the disaster. Hand sanitizers are an excellent way to destroy bacteria on the hands. Bacteria on the hands can enter the body by touching the eyes, nose and mouth. If you handle food without cleaning your hands you can contaminate the food, and many times the foods consumed during a disaster are not heated enough to destroy the bacteria.
Food whether it needs refrigeration or not once opened can begin growing bacteria. Avoid opening up more food packages than you can consume in a few hours. Make sure you wash all plates and serving utensils before using. Make sure every member is aware of the importance of cleaning his or her hands after using the bathroom. Young children may take advantage of the situation so they must be monitored closely to prevent the spread of diseases. Instruct them in how to use hand sanitizers and/or waterless wipes.
Sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) is common household bleach, and every disaster kit should contain a gallon for sanitizing food handling surfaces and any objects that children handle. Mix the bleach with water to make a cleaning solution that can be sprayed or wiped on to hard non-pour surfaces. Use one tablespoon of bleach per one quart of water. Wet all surfaces with the solution and allow to air dry. Do not use to sanitize your hands. You can soak dishes, cups and silverware in the solution after rising off food particles.
Food that has gone bad in your refrigerator should be removed and buried to prevent odor, bacteria growth and to prevent insect and rodent infestations. Bag up tightly and do not leave any in your home even if it is inside a sealed bag or garbage can.
Disasters will in many cases, disrupt your water supply and may even damage a city's sewage system. Procedures must be in place to deal with human waste. Portable toilets are one option as long as there is a means to process the waste such as with chemicals or waste bags. Outdoor latrines are another option, and for the most part the most efficient means. Screen the latrine for privacy and use lime in the pit for odor and bacteria control. Use lime to control odors in your garbage pit as well.
Keeping your clothes clean will help prevent skin irritations, and help control the spread of bacteria. There are various ways to launder clothes without modern conveniences. You can wash clothes in a bathtub, with water and soap, or any tub. In the past to get whites clean people boiled their clothes, but boiling requires a large vessels and boiling can cause damage to some types of material. You can however, heat clothes with soap and water in a large vessel, to clean and sanitizer them. Keeping your body clean is important as well and during a disaster is not the time to forego bathing. You can use body wipes or take sponge baths with soap and warm water.
Your disaster preparedness must include procedures for sanitation. Hands must be kept clean and you should never make concessions on sanitation because of the disaster. Hand sanitizers are an excellent way to destroy bacteria on the hands. Bacteria on the hands can enter the body by touching the eyes, nose and mouth. If you handle food without cleaning your hands you can contaminate the food, and many times the foods consumed during a disaster are not heated enough to destroy the bacteria.
Food whether it needs refrigeration or not once opened can begin growing bacteria. Avoid opening up more food packages than you can consume in a few hours. Make sure you wash all plates and serving utensils before using. Make sure every member is aware of the importance of cleaning his or her hands after using the bathroom. Young children may take advantage of the situation so they must be monitored closely to prevent the spread of diseases. Instruct them in how to use hand sanitizers and/or waterless wipes.
Sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) is common household bleach, and every disaster kit should contain a gallon for sanitizing food handling surfaces and any objects that children handle. Mix the bleach with water to make a cleaning solution that can be sprayed or wiped on to hard non-pour surfaces. Use one tablespoon of bleach per one quart of water. Wet all surfaces with the solution and allow to air dry. Do not use to sanitize your hands. You can soak dishes, cups and silverware in the solution after rising off food particles.
Food that has gone bad in your refrigerator should be removed and buried to prevent odor, bacteria growth and to prevent insect and rodent infestations. Bag up tightly and do not leave any in your home even if it is inside a sealed bag or garbage can.
Disasters will in many cases, disrupt your water supply and may even damage a city's sewage system. Procedures must be in place to deal with human waste. Portable toilets are one option as long as there is a means to process the waste such as with chemicals or waste bags. Outdoor latrines are another option, and for the most part the most efficient means. Screen the latrine for privacy and use lime in the pit for odor and bacteria control. Use lime to control odors in your garbage pit as well.
Keeping your clothes clean will help prevent skin irritations, and help control the spread of bacteria. There are various ways to launder clothes without modern conveniences. You can wash clothes in a bathtub, with water and soap, or any tub. In the past to get whites clean people boiled their clothes, but boiling requires a large vessels and boiling can cause damage to some types of material. You can however, heat clothes with soap and water in a large vessel, to clean and sanitizer them. Keeping your body clean is important as well and during a disaster is not the time to forego bathing. You can use body wipes or take sponge baths with soap and warm water.
About the Author:
Preparing for a major disaster includes taking the proper steps to ensure that your loved ones have the proper emergency supplies for their sanitation needs after a major disaster. Preppers take the time to secure such items now to ensure their safety and security in the future.
By Mark Prince
Disasters can create effects that go beyond damage to homes and businesses. At times disasters can bring people into closer physical contact with each other. Families may be forced to live in one room of the home and without running water to bath or wash hands on a regular basis bacteria and viruses can grow and be passed from one person to another. Disasters are the time to think about health issues and steps should be taken to prevent the spread of disease and bacteria.
Your disaster preparedness must include procedures for sanitation. Hands must be kept clean and you should never make concessions on sanitation because of the disaster. Hand sanitizers are an excellent way to destroy bacteria on the hands. Bacteria on the hands can enter the body by touching the eyes, nose and mouth. If you handle food without cleaning your hands you can contaminate the food, and many times the foods consumed during a disaster are not heated enough to destroy the bacteria.
Food whether it needs refrigeration or not once opened can begin growing bacteria. Avoid opening up more food packages than you can consume in a few hours. Make sure you wash all plates and serving utensils before using. Make sure every member is aware of the importance of cleaning his or her hands after using the bathroom. Young children may take advantage of the situation so they must be monitored closely to prevent the spread of diseases. Instruct them in how to use hand sanitizers and/or waterless wipes.
Sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) is common household bleach, and every disaster kit should contain a gallon for sanitizing food handling surfaces and any objects that children handle. Mix the bleach with water to make a cleaning solution that can be sprayed or wiped on to hard non-pour surfaces. Use one tablespoon of bleach per one quart of water. Wet all surfaces with the solution and allow to air dry. Do not use to sanitize your hands. You can soak dishes, cups and silverware in the solution after rising off food particles.
Food that has gone bad in your refrigerator should be removed and buried to prevent odor, bacteria growth and to prevent insect and rodent infestations. Bag up tightly and do not leave any in your home even if it is inside a sealed bag or garbage can.
Disasters will in many cases, disrupt your water supply and may even damage a city's sewage system. Procedures must be in place to deal with human waste. Portable toilets are one option as long as there is a means to process the waste such as with chemicals or waste bags. Outdoor latrines are another option, and for the most part the most efficient means. Screen the latrine for privacy and use lime in the pit for odor and bacteria control. Use lime to control odors in your garbage pit as well.
Keeping your clothes clean will help prevent skin irritations, and help control the spread of bacteria. There are various ways to launder clothes without modern conveniences. You can wash clothes in a bathtub, with water and soap, or any tub. In the past to get whites clean people boiled their clothes, but boiling requires a large vessels and boiling can cause damage to some types of material. You can however, heat clothes with soap and water in a large vessel, to clean and sanitizer them. Keeping your body clean is important as well and during a disaster is not the time to forego bathing. You can use body wipes or take sponge baths with soap and warm water.
Your disaster preparedness must include procedures for sanitation. Hands must be kept clean and you should never make concessions on sanitation because of the disaster. Hand sanitizers are an excellent way to destroy bacteria on the hands. Bacteria on the hands can enter the body by touching the eyes, nose and mouth. If you handle food without cleaning your hands you can contaminate the food, and many times the foods consumed during a disaster are not heated enough to destroy the bacteria.
Food whether it needs refrigeration or not once opened can begin growing bacteria. Avoid opening up more food packages than you can consume in a few hours. Make sure you wash all plates and serving utensils before using. Make sure every member is aware of the importance of cleaning his or her hands after using the bathroom. Young children may take advantage of the situation so they must be monitored closely to prevent the spread of diseases. Instruct them in how to use hand sanitizers and/or waterless wipes.
Sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) is common household bleach, and every disaster kit should contain a gallon for sanitizing food handling surfaces and any objects that children handle. Mix the bleach with water to make a cleaning solution that can be sprayed or wiped on to hard non-pour surfaces. Use one tablespoon of bleach per one quart of water. Wet all surfaces with the solution and allow to air dry. Do not use to sanitize your hands. You can soak dishes, cups and silverware in the solution after rising off food particles.
Food that has gone bad in your refrigerator should be removed and buried to prevent odor, bacteria growth and to prevent insect and rodent infestations. Bag up tightly and do not leave any in your home even if it is inside a sealed bag or garbage can.
Disasters will in many cases, disrupt your water supply and may even damage a city's sewage system. Procedures must be in place to deal with human waste. Portable toilets are one option as long as there is a means to process the waste such as with chemicals or waste bags. Outdoor latrines are another option, and for the most part the most efficient means. Screen the latrine for privacy and use lime in the pit for odor and bacteria control. Use lime to control odors in your garbage pit as well.
Keeping your clothes clean will help prevent skin irritations, and help control the spread of bacteria. There are various ways to launder clothes without modern conveniences. You can wash clothes in a bathtub, with water and soap, or any tub. In the past to get whites clean people boiled their clothes, but boiling requires a large vessels and boiling can cause damage to some types of material. You can however, heat clothes with soap and water in a large vessel, to clean and sanitizer them. Keeping your body clean is important as well and during a disaster is not the time to forego bathing. You can use body wipes or take sponge baths with soap and warm water.
About the Author:
Preparing for a major disaster includes taking the proper steps to ensure that your loved ones have the proper emergency supplies for their sanitation needs after a major disaster. Preppers take the time to secure such items now to ensure their safety and security in the future.
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