The County of Health provides tips for cleaning after a ticks fire

The Los Angeles County Health Department reminds residents to return to their homes to take precautions when cleaning after a fire, and provides tips on the best cleaning methods.

Although the ashes of forest fires are relatively non-toxic and resemble ashes found in a house, they can irritate skin, nose and throat. Ash, dust and dirt (especially burnt buildings) can contain toxic and carcinogenic chemicals, including asbestos, arsenic and lead.

"If the residents go home and clean up after evacuation, they are more likely to come into contact with ashes and soot, especially in areas near or damaged by fire, and we all ask them to remember the smoke and ashes . " They can be harmful to health, even to healthy people, "said Muntu Davis, MD, MPH, Los Angeles County Health Commissioner.

"If you see smoke, soot, or ashes, or smells like smoke, look out for your immediate surroundings and take precautions to protect your health," Davis said. "These precautions are especially important for children, the elderly, and people with heart or lung disease."

Ash cleaning:
* Do not let children play in or with ash-covered objects.
* When cleaning, wear gloves such as kitchen gloves, long-sleeved shirts and long pants to avoid skin contact. If you have ash on your skin, wash it as soon as possible.
* You can wear a disposable N-95 or higher disposable mask, which you can buy from a dealer or hardware store, to avoid breathing in ash and other airborne particles. They do not protect gases. N-95 masks must be properly adjusted for protection without grooves at the edges. A poorly fitted mask is equivalent to not using a mask. Follow the instructions on the packaging for proper use. N-95 masks can make breathing difficult, especially in people with lung or heart disease.
* Avoid ashes in the air as much as possible. Do not use leaf blowers or other measures that could blow up ashes. A gentle sweeping of the inside and outside surfaces, followed by a wet wipe, is the best way to clean an area with ashes. If desired, a solution of bleach and water may be used to sanitize an area. Read the label on the packaging for proper use.
* Workshop vacuum cleaners and commercial household vacuum cleaners are not recommended for ashes. These vacuum cleaners do not filter small particles but push them into the air where they can breathe. HEPA filter suckers, however, can filter and use small particles.
* The collected ashes can be thrown into the normal garbage by first placing them in a plastic bag to prevent the ash from falling off and disappearing when the garbage is emptied.
* Shower regularly throughout the day as you clean the ash areas.

Food safety:
You may experience a power outage or find that your kitchen contains ash, soot, dust, and other airborne particles. Follow these recommendations to prevent food-borne illnesses:

* All foods or drinks with an unpleasant odor or signs of spoilage should be discarded. The best course of action is: "If in doubt, dispose of it."
* In general, food in the refrigerator is safe when the power is turned off for more than 4 hours and the refrigerator door is closed. Food can be stored in the refrigerator for a few hours if the fridge and freezer doors are closed when the oven is off to maintain the possible refrigeration temperatures.
* If a power outage lasts more than four hours or the refrigerator door is not closed, perishable foods such as meat, dairy and eggs should be discarded.
* Items thawed in the freezer should be thrown away. Do not freeze thawed foods again. All other food must be checked for safety.
* Ash-covered plastic bottles containing a liquid such as water should be disposed of. It is not enough to rinse the bottle as these particles contaminate the closures, making decontamination very difficult.
* Foods that have not been stored in sealed or sealed containers and covered with ash should be discarded. This includes products stored in cardboard or other flexible packaging.
* Food stored in sealed or unopened glass or metal containers or jars, such as baby food, must be safe. Clean before opening and transfer to another container before eating.
* Dispose of food in garbage bags and close it carefully before throwing it away. Double bagging is recommended to prevent the breeding of flies.

Further information about safe cleaning after a fire get you by the health department of the county of Los Angeles. Click here . http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/docs/ReturningHomeAfterAFire.pdf.

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