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Category: Sanitation

Strategic Resources

Strategic Resources

Some things are more important in your emergency preparedness program than others.  Think about what the immediate needs of those who witnessed the tidal wave that hit the Fukujima, Japan nuclear power plant and its’ environs.  FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE DISASTER, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SURVIVORS THOUGHTS WERE ABOUT THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS? Consider:  “Where can I get a clean glass of water,” and shortly thereafter, “Where can I find a restroom that is still working?” Remember the rule of 3’s:…

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Emergency Preparedness – Clean Mind, Clean Body . . . Take Your Pick

Emergency Preparedness – Clean Mind, Clean Body . . . Take Your Pick

“Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly use,” said President Kimball to a young missionary. I have always pondered if heavenly and earthly things are mutually exclusive. “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” In heaven I’m sure this is true. But here? Actually, cleanliness is next to impossible when public services break down after a disaster. Billions of people today are living in horribly unsanitary conditions because their public services are a disaster. This simple fact greets…

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Imagine Life Without a Toothbrush

Imagine Life Without a Toothbrush

Emergency Preparedness – Imagine Life Without a Toothbrush      At the beginning of the 20th Century two things were certain:  the average American family of four had one toothbrush per household, and that family was lucky to have two full sets of teeth between them.    The greatest advances in oral hygiene have been made in just the last 70 years.  Exported Chinese hog bristles made it possible for toothbrushes to be cheap.  Tooth powder (a big step up…

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Toiletology 101

Toiletology 101

Emergency Preparedness – Toiletology 101      There is disagreement over who was the inventor of the modern flush toilet – Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), an English sanitary engineer, or Sir John Harrington, another Englishman of the 16th Century.    At the end of World War I fewer than 30% of U.S. homes had bathrooms and returning G.I.s began to bring plumbing indoors, privy to the influences of Mr. Crapper and Mr. John encountered in Europe. This invention, largely ignored, has…

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Infectious Diseases

Infectious Diseases

Emergency Preparedness – Infectious Diseases       The biggest threats of infectious disease after disasters don’t come from dead or decaying bodies, or even spoiled food.  They result from failure of basic public-health services:  sewage disposal and water purification.  That means disaster victims are at risk for enteric disease – intestinal illness.  The culprits: — E. coli:  common cause of diarrhea, cramping, diminished fluids and malnutrition. — Vibrio cholera:  mostly eradicated in the U.S., but acquired from poorly cooked shellfish…

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Infants Farewell

Infants Farewell

Emergency Preparedness – Infants Farewell      The following is text from a SITREP from William Griffith, 315th Wing Deployment Officer and Shelter Commander of 731 people, Keesler AFB, Miss., DAY THREE (30 Aug 05) of Hurricane Katrina: “. . . SUPPLIES RUNNING OUT.  Most critical shortfalls:  food, diapers, baby food, and feminine hygiene products.  Issue MREs for adults.  Assign “Baby POC” (Person Of Command) to track baby supplies.  Develop new metric for morning/evening briefings – diaper burn rate.  17…

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72 Hour Emergency Kit — #5 Sanitation.

72 Hour Emergency Kit — #5 Sanitation.

72 Hour Emergency Kit — #5  Sanitation        After the basic essentials of  water, food, clothing and shelter comes the all important safety awareness centered on sanitation.  THINK CLEAN.   Recognize that microorganisms bring their own set of hazards into our environment, as do rodent and other critter carriers that emerge after disasters.  Cleanliness is next to godliness, and next to impossible if normal electrical, water and sewer services are breached.  Lack of refrigeration accelerates spoilage, to include worst-case problems…

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Potty Talk

Potty Talk

    Ten times more people die or are incapacitated after disasters from poor sanitation conditions than are injured in the disaster itself.  After the earthquakes in January, l994, in North Ridge, California, not only was the water system breached, but the sewer system was also.  Nothing flushed.  This caused the #1 and #2 problems, if you catch my drift, and the entire town stunk.  Trucked in from as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada, water was only used for drinking….

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