Utilties and Sanitation
2016-05
Objective: In case of an emergency, know how to minimize the hazards of utilities, plan for human waste, and implement adequate sanitation practices.
Buckle up – this is a big month! One of the most important aspects of emergency preparedness is sanitation. If you are unable to use your utilities in your home, you must have an emergency plan for plumbing and sanitation that begins immediately. Neglecting this could result in danger and disease for you and your neighbors! Our sanitation expert, Linda Hufstetler, writes:
“The lack of sanitation facilities following a major disaster can quickly create secondary problems unless basic guidelines are followed. The biggest cause of death after the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 that initially killed over 230,000 was the lack of clean water and poor sanitation practices in the weeks and months AFTER the wave hit. During times of emergency it is critical that sanitation be strictly observed in the cleaning of clothing, bedding materials, and all kitchen and food preparation utensils. Typhoid fever, amoebic dysentery, diarrhea, infectious hepatitis, salmonella and Giardia are diseases that spread rapidly in times of emergency and threaten all, yet are all diseases that can easily be controlled by simply following the rules of good sanitation.”
Utility Safety:
IN THIS UTILITIES SAFETY HANDOUT, Kent Fisher taught us how to safeguard our homes by securing and shutting off our utilities. If you are unfamiliar with your utilities or unsure about how to shut them off, please CLICK HERE to view the actual images used in the training. They include a brief explanation about what to do with each utility in an emergency.
Emergency Toilets:
You’ll find everything you need to know about how to convert your inside toilet into a portable toilet, create a toilet you can use outdoors, and how to dispose of human waste IN THIS EMERGENCY TOILETS HANDOUT.
Sanitation:
Create your own sanitation kit so everything you need is easily accessible in an emergency. Specific suggestions for cleaning body, clothing, dishes, and more included IN THIS SANITATION HANDOUT.
Garbage and Soap Recipes
Time restraints prevented us from covering these topics, but please see THIS GARBAGE AND SOAP RECIPE HANDOUT for important information.
Summary of Training, Action Items and Items to Purchase
Each month we strive to simplify the steps of emergency preparedness by giving you THIS HANDOUT. You can shortcut the large amounts of information this month by purchasing these recommended products and following through with the action items listed.
Productivity Suggestion
It can be challenging to find the time to purchase these supplies, and some of you have expressed interest in receiving a suggested timeline for completing the preparations for this month. For the next three weeks we will share our personal schedule for gathering the recommended items. Please note that this is only a suggestion.
The week of May 22 – Emergency Toilets
Study your week and look for a time that you can block out 1-2 hours for this project. Order the Lugabaloo online, then review the list of recommended items. Determine where you can purchase them and collect all supplies during this time period. Store items inside the Lugabaloo when it arrives.
Thank you all for your support. Please share your suggestions with us. We are here to serve you!