Emergency Preparedness: Preventing Disease While many people are familiar with emergency food and water storage, and may even understand the importance of having alternative lighting and heat, less people probably consider the possibility of getting or spreading the H1N1 virus (and other illnesses) to be under the “emergency preparedness” category. However, developing a serious illness even under the best of conditions can be dangerous; in an emergency or natural disaster, it can be fatal. Being hygienic is a big part of preventing those illnesses. Without hygiene and sanitation, it won’t matter how prepared one’s shelter is, or how comprehensive their emergency communications are; it won’t matter because if people are sick, they won’t be able to make good use out of these items anyway. Food storage, similarly, becomes almost useless in the face of something as serious as the H1N1 virus. If people develop this or similar diseases, they will be too sick to even want to eat, much less be able to digest any nutrients. The H1N1 virus, or the Swine Flu, as it is commonly known, has been paraded on the news as a pandemic and killer virus for so long that warning have likely lost most of their power. However, even with the sensationalized news, the fact still remains that people must be careful of not just the H1N1 virus, but of all disease in the coming winter months. Cold can make anything worse, especially disease; and the winter has a few nasty surprises of its own, including ice storms, blizzards, and cold snaps that have all been known to kill or injure. As anyone who has experienced them knows, these natural disasters and other emergencies can strike at any time; often, they come when it is least convenient and when people feel the least prepared. And while experts can predict the path of a winter storm, it is often difficult to gauge exactly where it will land, how severe it will be, and how long it will last. Just as often, even when experts can say that the storm is going to be a bad one, evacuating is an impractical idea, and people prefer to stay where they are. This can promote illness, and can exacerbate the symptoms of an illness that has already developed. The greatest damage is never done right when the disaster occurs—it is in the aftermath of these natural disasters that the true emergencies lie. Injury, illness, infection, and other risky behaviors all contribute more to the casualty toll than the actual storm. And all of these things happen because in one way or another, people are not prepared. This all paints a very grim picture of the natural disasters to come; but there is a solution, and it is easy to come by. People just need to be aware of the dangers that they and their area face, and prepare for every possibility. This is especially true when it comes to illnesses like swine fu. It’s actually very easy to get the supplies for a disaster when it comes to this aspect of emergency preparedness; all people have to do is put a little thought into it. One of the most important aspects of keeping disease under control is waste, which is the predominant cause of disease after an emergency. This problem can be solved through purchasing either a sanitation kit, or assembling one individually. Sanitation kits should include the following materials to be complete: heavy-duty plastic garbage bags and ties, toilet paper, soap, hand sanitizer, a medium-sized plastic bucket with tight lid, toothbrushes, disinfecting chemicals, a comb, a razor, a mirror, and any other common toiletries and feminine supplies. The medium-sized plastic bucket will serve either as a trash can or a makeshift toilet, depending on the situation. Unless the house is a danger, actual toilet bowls can be used, though in an emergency waste cannot be flushed. Much of the time, plumbing will be down thanks to broken water mains or sewer lines; and besides that, in a serious disaster, emergency officials will need all the water they can get for fires, cleaning, and treating wounded citizens. In order to use the toilet in an emergency, people should first drain the water, then put a heavy-duty plastic garbage bag in the bowl. In that bag, people should pour either the recommended amount of any portable potty chemicals (as specified on the bag or container), or they can make their own disinfectant. To do this, mix one cup of liquid chlorine bleach to one-half gallon of water and pour it into the plastic bag. This will disinfect
the waste and cover the smell. (As a side note, do not use dry or powdered bleach for this since it’s caustic and isn’t safe for this type of use.) If people cannot use their toilet because of safety issues, then a five or six gallon plastic tub can be used, using the same plastic bags and chemicals. If this is necessary, then having a portable lid for this tub will be helpful in keeping a sense of normalcy and keeping people from becoming too stressed. While knowing what to do with waste is perhaps the most important aspect of emergency hygiene and sanitation, there are still many facets to this topic that people should consider; for example, what to do with ordinary garbage. Since during an emergency, it is highly unlikely that garbage disposal services will be running, people should instead bury any biodegradable waste at LEAST two feet deep to prevent the spread of insects and rodents, as well as to discourage other animals from digging up the waste. Another important way to treat disease and keep people from developing it is to have a first aid kit handy in case of emergencies. Make sure to constantly disinfect hands and to keep any cuts or lacerations sanitized and covered. It’s also a good idea to have some masks readily available, and not just for those who aren’t sick. It has actually been recommended that anyone who has contracted the disease wear a mask at all times to avoid infecting others. The Ready Store sells vented particulate respirator face masks that are highly efficient at providing protection against any pathogens; this mask has also received the highest efficiency rating by NIOSH (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). People should also call their doctor before they or anyone in their family is infected and make certain that all their immunizations are up to date. It’s also worth considering installing a HEPA air filter in the house. They attach to the central air or heating, and will filter out any germs that may enter the house. In the event that a family member does become infected however, there are things people can do besides have them wear a mask for safety. It is also important to monitor their symptoms and be more suspicious of those symptoms. This doesn’t mean that a cough should send someone into the E.R., but it does mean that symptoms like a high fever, a rash or infection of the skin, a stomachache, diarrhea, or vomiting should all be monitored closely. Medical advice should also be sought, though not necessarily at a hospital. Calling a medical authority should suffice unless symptoms seem very serious. There are dozens of other small things that people can do to keep themselves and their families safe and disease free during an emergency. One of the most important and leastthought about things is constant hand-washing. This is important during regular circumstances, but during a disaster, it should become a top priority. Wash and disinfect hands before preparing or eating food, after going to the bathroom, after changing diapers or caring for someone who is sick, after handling anything that could be infected or germ-ridden, and before treating any cuts or wounds, no matter how minor. When hands are visibly dirty, they should be washed with soap, even if people are diligent about using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. If soap or water isn’t available, keep using the sanitizer consistently. Finally, people cannot just take care of their own bodies and forget to clean what they are putting into them: namely, food and water. Make sure that any food has been washed or that it was sterile to begin with. If the power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible, and after no more than 12 hours, eat any food that might soon go bad so it won’t spoil the other foods that can last longer. Water is a special challenge, since many households may not have running water during and after an emergency, and people must drink water often to avoid illness. Water is also often contaminated thanks to broken pipes underground, so even if the water is running, it may not be safe to drink. Before consuming any water in an emergency, be sure to filter or purify it first. There are a number of ways to do this, including bleach, purification tablets, and iodine. Although no one likes to think about getting seriously ill, especially during a major emergency, people must think about it if they want to get through a disaster disease-free. If
they follow the above instructions, as well as following their regular sanitation routine (i.e. face-washing, tooth-brushing, and bathing regularly) as much as possible, then they shouldn’t have any trouble this winter.