Floodwater Eye & Ear Care: Quick Steps & Red Flags (Video)

Transcript

Floodwater in eyes or ears? Stay till the end for the one mistake.

Floodwater in eyes or ears? Stay till the end for the one mistake.

Floodwater Eye & Ear Care

Here's the short, honest answer, and one tip most people miss.

Why dirty water hurts

Your eye’s surface, the conjunctiva, is a thin, moist membrane. A splash of dirty water overwhelms its defenses, and rubbing with dirty hands spreads germs. In the ear, wax makes a protective, slightly acidic barrier, but trapped water weakens it, letting microbes settle.

First aid for eyes

First, wash your hands. Tilt your head and let a steady stream of clean, boiled-cooled or bottled water rinse the eye. Keep it open gently with clean fingers for a few minutes. Remove contacts and discard daily lenses.

Home care for pink eye

Pink eye after floodwater is bacterial or viral, with redness, grit, watering, and yellow or green discharge. Clean with a cotton ball dipped in boiled, cooled water, wiping from the inner corner outward using a fresh piece. Wash hands after each wipe and keep towels, pillowcases, and makeup separate.

A painful red eye or blurred vision after floodwater is a same-day visit, not a wait-and-see.

Ear water: tilt and dry

If water is stuck in the ear, tilt your head toward the blocked side and gently pull the earlobe down and back to open the canal. Then dry only the outer ear with a clean towel, avoiding any insertion.

Drying and protection

A cool hairdryer on the lowest setting, held a short distance away, can help evaporate remaining moisture. To keep the ear dry while bathing, place a lightly petroleum-jelly-coated cotton ball in the outer opening.

Signs of ear infection

It starts as an itch, then becomes sore. Pain spikes when you tug the earlobe or press the flap in front of the canal. Look for swelling, smelly discharge, muffled hearing, fever, or pus. A doctor can examine and prescribe ear drops if needed.

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Read the full guide

The full guide is on thecareonline.com. General information only, so check with your doctor for your own case.