Food and Water Safety After a Flood
Posted: Friday, July 18, 2008
by Allan Wright
First Aid Kit Products
Floods are the most frequent natural hazard in North America and we seem to have had to endure quite a number of them recently.
A devastating flood can occur at any time of the year and are most often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid melting of a thick snow pack, ice jams, or more rarely, the failure of a natural or man-made dam.
Food safety after a flood
If in doubt - Throw it out! You must inspect food that has come anywhere near flood water very, very carefully. Floodwaters may carry contaminated mud, chemical waste, petroleum products and even raw sewage, which can make storm-damaged foods unsafe to eat.
Even the slightest contact with floodwater can lead to contamination. There is a simple, basic rule: all foods that have touched floodwater should be dispose of. This includes all fresh produce, meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. Food in glass jars, including all unopened jars. Discard all foods in bags and all opened containers and packages.
The only exception to this rule would be food in sealed in undamaged metal cans. These are safe for use, as long as you carefully clean and disinfect the cans before opening .
This means you must remove the labels and thoroughly wash them with a scrub brush in a strong detergent solution containing chlorine bleach and then rinse well in clear water. The bleach solution should be one half-cup of bleach to one gallon of water. You may wish to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands during this process.
Being Prepared
This brings up the issue of being prepared for a disaster. Nothing will help you and your family through any emergency situation as will being prepared for it.
It may be up to three days before Emergency Services are up and running in your area. Having an emergency preparedness kit , stored high and dry, can literally be a lifesaver.
A supply of Food, drinking water and some additional gear such as Light sticks, Dynamo FM Radio, Flashlight, Hygiene Kit, Waterproof Matches, Emergency Candles, Sanitation Kit and First Aid supplies will be priceless to you and your family.
Cookware and Cooking Utensils If your cookware and kitchen utensils have come into contact with floodwater, they will require special treatment.
Take apart any item that can be cleaned in pieces. If possible, remove handles from pans.
Wash all china, glass dishes, cups and pots and pans that have been in contact with flood waters. Use hot soapy water and a brush to remove dirt. Rinse and then place them in a sanitizing bleach solution for at least 10 minutes and then rinse well in clean water. The bleach solution should be one half-cup of bleach to one gallon of water.
Disinfect silverware, metal utensils, and pots and pans by boiling in clean water for 10 minutes.
Chlorine bleach should not be used in this case because it reacts with many metals and causes them to darken. Throw away dishes with cracks as well as soft, porous plastic or wood items saturated by floodwater, since they cannot be sanitized. These include baby bottles, nipples and pacifiers. They cannot be safely disinfected.
Potable Water
Water; water everywhere and not a drop to drink!
After a flood, you should assume that all water sources are contaminated until they have been proven safe.
Boil all rain and tap water and water from containers you're not completely sure about. Use only bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking or preparing food, washing dishes, cleaning, brushing your teeth, washing your hands, making ice, and bathing until your water supply is tested and found safe.
There are also a few excellent Water Filtration Bottles and Emergency Water Filters on the market that are very effective at producing clean drinking water from almost any water source. These are the same systems that were used by the US military during the Katrina disaster.
If you use a private well for your water supply, be sure to have the water tested before you resume use. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to wash your hands if you have a limited supply of clean water.
Floodwater Avoid contact with floodwater if at all possible, but if you find yourself wading into the floodwater during or after the disaster, remember that you will be in contact with many harmful contaminants that can make you sick. Always wash after contact with floodwater.
I sincerely hope that you have found this article useful in planning your family's preparedness.
Allan Wright
First Aid Kit Products
http://www.firstaidkitproducts.com
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