Flood Season Health: Simple Habit That Saves Families (Video)

Transcript

Did you know a single soap wash can stop most flood illnesses?

Did you know a single soap wash can stop most flood illnesses?

Flood safety tip

Find out the single habit that can keep your family safe when floodwater mixes with animal waste.

Germs mix in flood

A flood turns separate animal and human spaces into one big sink. Urine, dung and germs spill into water, onto floors, into wells, and onto hands. You can get sick through cuts, eyes, or by drinking the same water animals use.

Wash wound duration

If bitten or scratched, run soap and water over the wound for at least fifteen minutes.

Leptospirosis risk

Leptospirosis comes from a bacterium that lives in the kidneys of rats, cattle, pigs and dogs, and it shows up in their urine for months. In floodwater it can linger for weeks and enter the body through cuts, soft skin, eyes or mouth. Early signs appear one to two weeks later: fever, headache, muscle pain and red eyes.

Rabies after flood bites

Floods drive stray dogs, cats and wild critters into cramped dry areas, making bites more common. Rabies spreads through saliva when an animal bites, scratches or licks broken skin. The wound must be washed immediately, never stitched, and you should visit a hospital or rabies centre that day.

Quick reminder

Any bite or scratch from a dog, cat or wild animal means soap, running water and a hospital the same day.

Cattle water hazards

In many villages the same well, pond or canal serves people and livestock. When floodwater rises, dung and urine blend into the water, spreading bacteria that cause diarrhoea and stomach cramps. Boil the water at a rolling boil for at least one minute, or use chlorine tablets as directed, then store it safely.

Hand-washing after animals

Soap is the cheapest protection in a flood camp. Wash your hands for about twenty seconds, just hum a short tune twice, after feeding, milking, cleaning dung, handling pets, or wading in floodwater. Keep food covered and dispose of dung far from the kitchen.

The one habit to protect

The single habit that cuts most flood-related illnesses is washing your hands with soap right after you touch any animal, dung or floodwater, and always drinking boiled or treated water. If you get bitten, scratched or develop a fever, see a doctor immediately.

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Read the full guide

Read the complete guide on thecareonline.com. This is general information, not medical advice.