The St. Louis County Department of Public Health urges caution as floodwater recedes and during cleanup, when most accidents and injuries occur. Floodwaters and standing water can pose various risks to public health, including infectious diseases, chemical hazards, and injuries from hidden objects. Floodwaters can also contain raw sewage and eating or drinking anything contaminated by floodwater can lead to diarrheal illness.
To protect yourself, your family, and others in the neighborhood, the urges everyone to heed the following precautions while floodwaters remain:
- Do not allow children or pets to play in floodwaters or areas that have recently been flooded.
- Check regularly on outdoor pets to make sure their area is free of floodwater.
- Avoid wild animals that have been displaced by floodwaters and remind children never to approach a wild animal.
- Check on elderly and homebound neighbors and relatives to make sure they are safe and aware of the dangers posed by flooding.
- Practice good hygiene (hand washing) after any contact with floodwaters or items that have been in floodwater.
- Wash children’s hands frequently (especially before meals).
- Do not drive through flooded roadways and always pay attention to warning signs.
- If you become wet, seek warmth and change into dry clothes as soon as possible. Although temperatures are currently above freezing, they are low enough to pose the risk of hypothermia.
Once floodwaters have receded and cleanup has begun, the department recommends the following precautions:
- Keep all children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
- If re-entering a home or building for the first time after a flood – especially if there is still standing water – be alert for possible electrical shocks.
- Ensure that all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working as fires, gas leaks, and gas buildups are more common in these situations.
- Be alert for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. The most common symptoms are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. They are often described as “flu-like”. Carbon monoxide can cause you to pass out and too much can kill you.
- Do not allow children or pets to play with toys that have been contaminated by floodwater until after the toys have been disinfected.
- When cleaning up basements or other flood-affected areas, wear waterproof rubber boots, gloves, and goggles. Avoid ingestion of any floodwater. Use bleach to disinfect and sanitize affected areas and use standard precautions while using bleach (avoid skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion).
- Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products).
- Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or floodwaters.
- Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent.
- Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.
- After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands). Or, you may use water that has been disinfected for personal hygiene use (solution of ⅛ teaspoon [0.75 milliliters] of household bleach per 1 gallon of water). Let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy, use a solution of ¼ teaspoon (1.5 milliliters) of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.
- Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
- Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent. It is recommended that a laundromat be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your onsite waste-water system has been professionally inspected and serviced.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill.
For more information about home cleanup following a flood, visit http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/cleanupwater.asp.
Free well water testing
If your home uses well water, it must be tested to make sure it has not been contaminated. DO NOT DRINK ANY WELL WATER UNTIL YOU ARE SURE IT IS SAFE. The Saint Louis County Department of Public Health is offering free well water testing through January 20 for those affected. For information about the free well water testing, visit www.stlouisco.com/HealthandWellness/FreeWellWaterTesting
Food service cleanup
A fact sheet to help guide cleanup efforts at www.stlouisco.com/Portals/8/docs/Health/Food%20Center/Flood.pdf
Update Tetanus shots
The Saint Louis County Department of Public Health also recommends that people consider getting a tetanus booster if it has been more than 10 years since the last one. Tetanus boosters are available at each of the department’s three clinics:
Main Health Campus (John C. Murphy Health Center)
6121 North Hanley Road
Berkeley, MO 63134
North Central Community Health Center
4000 Jennings Station Road
St. Louis, MO 63121
South County Health Center
4580 South Lindbergh Boulevard
Sunset Hills, MO 63127
For more information about the three health centers, including hours of operation and the process for walk-in immunizations, please visit:
www.stlouisco.com/HealthandWellness/HealthCentersandMedicalServices
