The floods are coming

This environmental change would result in mass flooding during the rainy season, while their would be the assignment of blame to the litter bugs for blocking drains with litter, the Ministry of works for failing to de-silt and clear water courses and squatters for clearing the hillsides, the floods would come and with it, implications as they relate to public health and safety of the population. These implications include loss of lives, injury as well as disease transmission and causation. The National Association of Public Health Inspectors therefore advises the public on precautions to be taken during and after floods.

Precautions after floods

- Don’t touch flood contact areas with bare hands.

Flood waters enter and wash areas which under normal conditions are not exposed to water, this excess water flushes out faecal matter from latrines, septic tanks, and farms, it also flushes out other organic decaying matter from dry lands. These washings add contaminants to the water load and provide ideal conditions for the propagation and transmission of disease causing organisms. These organisms can hitchhike on hands and be transported into food or water which when consumed will cause diseases.

- Wash all flood contact areas in buildings with a chlorine-based solution immediately after the flood subsides, pay special attention to food contact surfaces

This would destroy disease-causing organisms thereby decreasing the possibility of transmission into human populations. It would also prevent the rapid growth of moulds and mildew. The inhalation of moulds and mildews can impact negatively on human health.

Floods dislocate rodents, their burrows are flushed with floodwaters. To avoid drowning they swim their way to safety on high ground. At these times they would enter buildings. These animals are territorial and mark their territories by urinating on surfaces they come in contact with. In cases of dislocation as would occur during floods, they also mark their pathways so that they can relocate their territories when the floods subside. Infected rodents transmit leptospirosis, the organisms that cause leptospirosis in their urine. The contamination of foodstuffs, food contact surfaces, stored water is highly probable during floods and care should be taken to protect them from flood waters by placing them on higher ground.

- All cooked foods which were in contact with flood waters must be destroyed.

- All uncooked foods, which came in contact with floodwaters, must be disinfected with a bleach solution (ten-two tablespoons of liquid bleach to ten litres of water and allow to stand for five minutes) The treated foods must then be washed in clean potable water before use.

- Animals drowned in flood waters must be disposed of by burying or by utilising the services of the Municipal Corporations.

- Do not wade through flood waters.

Floodwaters coming into contact with skin can cause skin rashes and contribute to other water borne disease.

Injury can also occur from floating objects, which may be visible or partly submerged. These objects can pose great danger, which varies with depth and water velocity.

Chemicals washed into floodwaters also have the potential to cause harm. Some chemicals are soluble in water, these chemicals pose little harm since the dilution factor of the flood waters will minimise their impact, however, there are chemicals which do not readily mix with water and float in its concentrated form eg gas. Chemicals of this type can pose hazard to eyes and other body tissues.

Water movement exerts pressure on roadway, bridges and other surfaces, this can result in dislodge-surfaces and steep drops. Surfaces covered by floodwaters cannot be seen, when walking through the surfaces are anticipated, dislodged areas can result in disorientation and possible drowning. (NB If wading through floodwater is necessary for survival, a bath with soap and water must be taken at the earliest convenient time after wading).

All clothing contaminated with flood waters must be washed in a chlorine solution.

Report all signs and symptoms of diseases to your family doctor or the nearest health facility.

Information courtesy Mohan Bholasingh, President of the National Association of Public Health Inspectors of Trinidad and Tobago.