Making sense of slimming

If you’re one of the unlucky ones and your area suffers flooding, make sure you and your family are prepared and know what to do.

The risk of infections and illness is very low after your home has been flooded, but it’s better to take precautions to look after the health of yourself and your family.

Read on for guidance from the Health Protection Agency on keeping health risks to a minimum.

If you take medication
General advice
Cleaning up inside your home
Cleaning gardens and play areas
Cleaning clothing and bedding
Returning to your home
Food preparation and storage
If your drinking water becomes contaminated
Water for infants during flooding
How to deal with chemical hazards
Carbon monoxide advice
Other health concerns

If you take medication:

• Plan ahead - buy any repeat prescriptions ahead of time, just in case flood waters prevent you getting to a pharmacy.
• Keep all medication in a water tight container. Where possible store medication on a second floor, or if you live in a one storey home, make sure your medication is as high as possible, for example on a shelf unit.
• Pack all necessary medications in the unfortunate event of having to be evacuated.

Do not take any medication that has been damaged by flood water. If your medication is damaged, speak to a pharmacist, and if necessary buy replacement medication.

General advice

Floodwater and sewage often leaves a muddy deposit. However, experience from previous flooding and sewage contamination has shown that any risk to health is small and you will not need any booster immunisations or antibiotics.

Health risks can be minimised by taking general hygiene precautions and by the use of protective clothing (waterproof boots and gloves) whilst cleaning up.

You should also always wash your hands with soap and clean water:

• after you go to the toilet,
• when you eat or prepare food,
• after being in contact with flood water, sewage or items that have been contaminated by flood water, and
• after participating in flood cleanup activities.

Don’t allow children to play in floodwater areas and wash children’s hands frequently (always before meals). Wash floodwater-contaminated toys with hot water and disinfectant before allowing them to be used again.

Keep any open cuts or sores clean and prevent them being exposed to flood water. Wear waterproof plasters.

Harmful bacteria may be present in sewage and animal slurry, and this can pass into flood water, although it is likely to be extremely diluted. If you or anyone in your family gets symptoms such as sickness, diarrhoea, or tummy cramps, speak with your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 for advice.

If the floodwater contained oil, petrol or diesel it should go away with the floodwater and silt. Any remaining oil, diesel or petrol contamination can be removed by using a detergent solution and washing the surface down after initial cleaning has been carried out.

In inaccessible areas such as under floorboards it may smell but is not necessarily a health hazard. Get further advice from the environmental health department at your local council if the smell persists or if you are particularly concerned about it for other reasons.

As your property continues to dry out, vacuum any loose material and dust on a regular basis.

Very young children should avoid playing directly on timber floorboards or any damaged tiled floors if possible - be aware of the risk of injury from sharp edges on tiles or raised nails in the floorboards until these have been repaired.

Speak with your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 if you become ill after accidentally swallowing mud or contaminated water.

Cleaning up inside your home

When returning to your home after a flood, be aware that flood water may contain sewage. Protect yourself and your family by following these steps:

• If there has been a backflow of sewage into the house, wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves during cleanup.
• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
• Clean walls, hard-surfaced floors, and other household surfaces with soap and water and disinfected with a solution of one cup of bleach to five gallons of water.
• Wash all linen and clothing in hot water, or dry-clean. Air dry items that cannot be washed or dry cleaned, such as mattresses and upholstered furniture, in the sun. Then spray them thoroughly with a disinfectant. Steam clean all carpeting if you can.
• Remove and discard all soft furnishings, fittings, wall coverings, cloth, rugs, and drywall (also include mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products) that are damaged beyond repair.
• Remove dirty water and silt from the property including the space under the ground floor if you have wooden floors. This space may need pumping out.
• Wash down all hard surfaces with hot soapy water until they look clean.
• Allow to thoroughly dry - this will also help to destroy germs left behind.

Heating and good ventilation will assist the drying. You can also help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.

Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, moldings, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent. Then disinfect with a solution of 1 cup of household bleach to 5 gallons of water (this solution should not be used for drinking, cooking, or personal hygiene).

After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and water.

Cleaning gardens and play areas

Do not let young children play on affected grassed or paved areas until they have been cleaned down and restored to their normal condition.

Sunlight and soil help destroy harmful bacteria and there should be no risk to health after a week or so. The best way to reduce these risks further is to always wash your hands before eating or preparing food.

Cleaning clothing and bedding

Clothing, bedding and other soft fabric items such as children’s toys should be laundered on a hot wash (60C or the highest temperature indicated on manufacturer’s instructions) which will destroy most germs that may be present.

Other soft furnishings that have been contaminated and cannot be put in a washing machine will have to be professionally cleaned. If this is not possible, they may have to be disposed of.

Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.

It is best to wash clothes and linen elsewhere until your property’s waste-water system has been checked.

Returning to your home

It is recommended that you only fully move back into your home once the above cleaning has been carried out. There may be additional works to be carried out eventually as advised by your insurance company, housing officer, landlord or builder.

If you decide to return to your home before this further work is completed you should:

• Try to have some heating on at all times. Consider the use of a dehumidifier. Ensure the property is well ventilated. Leave windows open as much as possible but be mindful of security.
• Ensure that if you have air-bricks to any under floor spaces that these are unblocked to give cross ventilation to these areas.

Food preparation and storage

• Don’t eat any food that has been covered by or come into contact with sewage or floodwater.
• Wash your hands before and after preparing food.
• Ensure all surfaces that food will come into contact with are sound and disinfected. If work tops and other areas show signs of damage, avoid food contact with these areas. Particularly make sure that the shelves including those in your refrigerator where food is stored are cleaned and disinfected.
• Use boiled water which has then been allowed to cool to wash food which is eaten raw. It is safe to use unboiled tap water in the preparation of food which is to be cooked. It is safe to use unboiled tap water for cooking if it will be boiled during the cooking process.
• Food preparation surfaces should be wiped down using hot unboiled tap water containing washing-up-liquid, and dishes and other utensils should also be washed in hot unboiled tap water containing washing-up-liquid.
• Try to keep any opened food in an enclosed box or tin.
• All crockery, pots and pans should be thoroughly washed with hot soapy water before using. If any of these are badly chipped or damaged do not use. You could use a food safe disinfectant to sanitise them after cleaning.

Frozen food that has been at room temperature for a few hours should be discarded. Put contaminated flood-damaged food in black plastic refuse sacks, seal and put out when your next refuse collection is due. Check with insurers before disposal.

Don’t be tempted to try and salvage damaged food including tins as they may be contaminated with sewage and chemicals left from the floodwater.

If your drinking water becomes contaminated

If your water comes through a mains supply, follow the advice of your local water company regarding the safety of their water supply.

Water companies have a duty to take all necessary steps to protect public health. If a water treatment works becomes flooded, alternative supplies are normally available but consumers may be advised to boil water before drinking or temporarily refrain from using water for domestic purposes.

If you notice a change in water quality, such as the water becoming discoloured or there is a change in taste or smell, or if you are unsure, ring your local water company. If in doubt, boil all water intended for drinking or use bottled water.

If you have been advised to boil your water, then boil all water for drinking, brushing teeth, washing food and making ice.

If your water is a private supply such as a well or spring, then check that it has not been affected by the floodwater. If a private well or spring has been covered by floodwater, if the water changes colour or taste, or you believe the supply has been affected by the flood then boil the water before you use it.

Continue to boil the water until the supply has been tested and shown to be safe. Boiling water kills pathogenic bacteria, viruses and parasites that may be present in water. Bring the water to the boil and then allow it to cool before drinking. It can be stored in a clean jug covered by a saucer in a cool place (preferably in the fridge). Ice should be made from water prepared for drinking.

Use a bleach solution to rinse containers before reusing them after flooding. Use water storage tanks and other types of containers with caution. This applies particularly to pans and utensils used in cooking or food preparation.

Also remember:

• Ensure that you drink enough water to keep hydrated.
• Water from the hot tap is not suitable for drinking.
• Ensure the water taps are cleaned and disinfected before using them for the first time.
• Use water as sparingly as possible.
• Check that elderly friends, family members, and neighbours have adequate water supplies.

Water for infants during flooding

Where the drinking water supply is either interrupted or contaminated, it is important to take precautions for formula-fed infants.

In these circumstances there are three options for the use of water to make infant formula milk:

1. The preferred option is to use bowser or bottled water, brought to a ‘rolling’ boil and allowed to cool. A rolling boil is when the water is bubbling so hard that the bubbles keep coming up when you stir the water. Then follow the manufacturer’s instructions on making up the feed.
2. Commercially ready made formula milk may be used as an alternative to powdered feeds made up with bowser water.
3. If neither option 1 or 2 are possible because there is no energy to allow boiling, bottled water (table, spring or mineral water) can be used unboiled to prepare baby feeds, but the prepared feed should then be used immediately. Unboiled bowser water should not be used.

Note that the bottled water available during flooding incidents is suitable for making up infant formula. Additional advice is available on the Food Standards Agency website.

Parents with infants that are unwell with diarrhoea and vomiting should seek medical advice or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

How to deal with chemical hazards

Be aware of potential chemical hazards you may encounter during flood recovery. Floodwaters may have buried or moved hazardous chemical containers of solvents or other industrial chemicals from their normal storage places. If you are worried about major chemical contamination, contact the fire and rescue service for advice in the first instance.

Car batteries, even those immersed in flood water may still contain an electric charge and should only be removed with extreme caution by using insulated gloves. Avoid coming into contact with any acid that may have been spilt from the battery.

In general you should avoid contact with contaminated water and materials, but if it becomes necessary to do so, you should wear protective clothing and gloves. You should also avoid enclosed areas that may be chemically contaminated, such as garages and cellars, where hazardous fumes may build up.

Carbon monoxide advice

Remember that petrol or diesel generators, camping stoves and other devices that use gasoline, propane and natural gas are not usually designed for indoor use. This is because they can release carbon monoxide which can quickly build up to poisonous levels without proper ventilation. So it’s best to use these devices outdoors if possible.

If you do need to use these devices indoors:

• Keep windows and doors open to allow adequate ventilation.
• Use the devices for as short a time as possible.
• Use a carbon monoxide detector if possible. These are available from most DIY stores and basic models aren’t very expensive.

Also remember that some dehumidifiers and pressure washers are not suitable for indoor use.

Remember the following

• Good hygiene practices are essential. Always remember to wash your hands after going to the toilet, and wash them thoroughly before preparing, or eating, food.
• Where possible, avoid direct contact with floodwater, but those who do have to deal with floodwater should protect themselves by wearing adequate protective clothing. At the very least, you should wear suitable gloves and, ideally, you should also wear overalls and wellington boots if they are available.
• Children should not play in flooded areas.
• Replace manhole covers dislodged by the flood.
• Don’t switch on electrical appliances, which have been in contact with floodwater unless a competent electrician has checked them. Your local Electricity Board will be checking main supplies.
• Ensure that your home is properly aired to encourage drying.
• Make sure that any mould growth is properly treated.

Other health concerns

You may need to take some time to consider your mental health as well. Remember that some sleeplessness, anxiety, anger, hyperactivity, mild depression, or lethargy (tiredness) are normal, and may go away with time. If you get any of these symptoms on a long-term basis, speak with your GP.

Finally, remember that cold can play a major role in your personal health. Make sure you keep warm so you avoid cold related conditions such as hypothermia.

If you have any further concerns about you or your family’s health, speak with your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647.

Glossary

Antibiotic

Antibiotics are medicines that can be used to treat infections caused by micro-organisms, usually bacteria or fungi. For example amoxicillin, streptomycin and erythromycin.

Anxiety

Anxiety is an unpleasant feeling when you feel worried, uneasy or distressed about something that may or may not be about to happen.

Bacteria

Bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms that live in the body. Some can cause illness and disease and some others are good for you.

Depression

Depression is when you have feelings of extreme sadness, despair or inadequacy that last for a long time.

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is the passing of frequent watery stools when you go to the toilet.

Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity is a higher than normal level of activity and restlessness.

Mental

Mental refers to the processes in the mind.

Stomach

The sac-like organ of the digestive system. It helps digest food by churning it and mixing it with acids to break it down into smaller pieces.

Vomit

Vomiting is when you bring up the contents of your stomach through your mouth.