Health advice after tropical storms

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs would like to inform the public that after the passage of Tropical Storm Elisa, the following measures should be taken regarding food and water safety, controlling the spread of infections and combating mosquitoes and rodents:

WATER SECURITY
 Keep the water in a clean, covered container.
 Do not use containers that contain harmful chemicals
 Use a clean container with a handle to "soak" the water in the storage.
 The lid of the container must be tight to prevent mosquitoes from multiplying.
 Water must be treated before it is used for any of the following purposes:
o Prepare a drink or drink
o Wash fruits and vegetables
or make ice cream
o Food preparation
o Wash dishes and cutlery
 Water can be treated by:
o Treat the water by boiling it for at least five minutes before removing OR
o Bleach treatment: add two drops of bleach per liter (or pint) of water. Make sure you mix it well and let it sit for at least thirty minutes before using.
 Swimming or splashing in water as a result of a flood or eating food that may have been contaminated with animal urine can be dangerous.
o Make sure children do not play or eat foods in these waters that may be affected as they can easily become infected with diseases such as leptospirosis.
 People who are occupationally exposed to contaminated water or soil should wear protective clothing and shoes.

 Do not store food that contains chemicals such as kerosene, bleach, detergents, and insecticides.
 Do not use canned food that shows signs of lumps, bumps, or other damage
 Store food in a cool, dry place.
 Keep packages of sugar, flour, rice and biscuits in the original packaging or in tightly closed containers.
 Have an emergency grocery bag ready in case you need to evacuate your home. This should only include canned food and dry food.

CONTROL OF THE SPREAD OF INFECTION
Viruses are transmitted through droplets that circulate mainly when you sneeze and cough. To reduce the spread of the infection:
 Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing to reduce the spread of droplets and thus infection.
 Follow good hand cleaning practices.
 Hands should be washed regularly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used.
 It is important that hand sanitizer is not used as a substitute for hand washing. It is recommended that you wash your hands with soap and water after using the hand sanitizer three times.

Mosquito and rodent control
Conditions immediately following a disaster are likely to lead to rapid increases in insect and rodent populations. This is due to the accumulation of large amounts of water and debris in the environment.

Here are some tips to minimize this:
 All waste must be properly packaged, bound and stored until collection.
Drill holes in the bottom of the boxes to prevent water build-up and dispose of the containers as soon as possible.
Cover tightly all barrels, barrels, tanks, and buckets that contain water for use. If the container cannot be covered, pour cooking oil to cover the surface of the water.
Discard any old tires, cans, bottles, plastic containers, coconut shells, and anything that rainwater can get in.

Adblock test (why?)