September 16, 2004 Safety is Key When Returning Home after a Hurricane

- The Department of Health stresses safety to residents returning home to areas that have been affected by Hurricane Ivan. LDH Offers the following reminders to residents for a safe and injury-free return:

Don’t Wade or Swim in Contaminated Floodwaters
The Louisiana Department of Health advises people to avoid contact with floodwaters.

There is always the possibility that heavy rains will cause sewage treatment systems (both community and residential) to fail. Sewage disposal ponds and cattle and swine lagoons can also overflow.

If people come in contact with floodwater, they should bath and wash their clothes with hot, soapy water. Floodwaters are always potentially dangerous because they could harbor bacterial disease.

People whose homes were flooded during the hurricane should assume everything touched by flood water is contaminated and will have to be disinfected. Most cleanup can be done with household cleaning products. Residents are advised to wash their hands frequently during clean up and always wear rubber gloves.

Public Health Officials Warn of Flooding's Delayed Dangers
Residents working on or living in buildings damaged by water during flooding should be aware of the potential for biological contamination. State health officials advise residents to take further precautions.

If conditions are favorable, microscopic organisms such as bacteria and fungi can begin to multiply after the initial cleanup has been completed. People who live and work in contaminated buildings run the risk of developing or worsening potentially serious illnesses such as asthma and allergic rhinitis.

Porous, soft or spongy materials such as carpet, upholstered furniture, sheet rock and bedding that are soaked by floodwater or rainwater dry very slowly. With sufficient moisture, microorganisms can reproduce in these materials to numbers that can present a health risk after only a few hours.

The only way to effectively prevent this growth is to control the moisture. Once the materials have been contaminated, they must either be thoroughly cleaned or disposed of.

The following guidelines are recommended for cleanup activities:

Officials warn that some systems may be so damaged that repairs will be required before they will work again. Significant health problems associated with a residential sewage disposal system that does not work are the release of untreated sewage onto the top of the ground, into streams and bayous, or into stagnant pools left behind by flooding.

For more information about how to deal with failed residential sewage systems contact your parish health unit.

Disaster Victims Cautioned about Food Handling
Citizens should be careful not to use foods damaged or spoiled due to loss of electricity or flooding, according to State Health Officer, Dr. Jimmy Guidry. Citizens are urged to use the following guidelines:

If you have questions about food safety, call your sanitarian at your parish health unit or contact your regional public health administrator.
 
No Special Immunizations Needed in Storm’s Wake
Officials with the Louisiana Department of Health say there is no need for any special immunizations in the wake of a hurricane or other severe storm.
 
“National experience from multiple flood disasters demonstrates that residents exposed to flood waters are not at a greater risk for hepatitis A or typhoid fever,” said State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry.
 
Guidry explained that residents who cut or puncture themselves should get a tetanus shot unless they have had one in the past five years. Adults should routinely have a tetanus shot every 10 years, but a booster shot is necessary if they have a dirty wound or if the last shot was over five years ago.
 
Health and Safety Important in Cleanup
As people start cleaning up the mess left by a hurricane, they need to take extra precautions to protect their own health and safety. People whose homes were flooded should assume everything touched by flood water is contaminated and will have to be disinfected. Most clean up can be done with household cleaning products. Remember to wash your hands frequently during clean up and always wear rubber gloves. If your home flooded you should:

For more information on cleaning up after a flood, contact your local parish health unit.

Don’t Get Hurt After the Storm
The dangers associated with hurricanes aren't necessarily over once the storm has passed. Accidents and injuries often occur while people try to deal with power outages or begin cleanup efforts.
 
A study of 2,090 hurricane-related emergency department visits during and after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and the North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, found that 88 percent of the patients were treated for injuries.
 
Insect stings and wounds accounted for nearly half of the total cases. Nearly one-third of the wounds were caused by chain saws. Motor vehicle accidents and falls were also major causes of storm-related injuries. Many such injuries can be prevented by being aware of hazards and by avoiding potentially dangerous situations.

Some extra caution can prevent mishaps:

 

Surgeon General Ralph L. Abraham, M.D.

Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein

Powered by Cicero Government