San Mateo County Health Officer Dr. Scott Morrow warned residents Sunday that floodwaters pose health and safety risks to those returning to flooded areas in San Mateo. Given this, the authorities have issued some recommendations for those who return to these areas.
"Flood water can contain all sorts of hazardous materials and it's obviously best to avoid any contact with the water," Dr Morrow said.
In addition, he warned that "raw sewage, animal waste, toxic substances, chemical compounds, fungi, bacteria, things you would prefer to avoid, can be in the water and you should take precautions to avoid illness or injury."
Among the guidelines the county health officer has issued are:
- Wear boots and gloves when working in areas that have been flooded.
- Make sure the main power switch is turned off before entering a flooded structure. Do not turn it on again until you are sure that there has been no damage to the cables or devices connected to the electrical system.
- If you smell gas or suspect a gas leak, call 911. Then call PG&E at (800) 743-5000. Warn your neighbors of the potential problem.
- Wash your hands often and thoroughly. If you have children who have been in contact with water, make sure they wash their hands as well.
- Keep children and pets away from floodwaters, and avoid outdoor areas that have recently flooded. Take off your shoes and clean your paws before going back inside.
- If you have open wounds or sores, protect them from water. Keep them clean by washing with soap and applying an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. If a wound becomes red, swollen, or oozing, seek immediate medical attention.
- If you swallow floodwater, you should see a doctor immediately due to the risk of hepatitis A infection. “While the hepatitis A virus will not pass through the skin, it poses a threat to those who consume floodwater. Your doctor will determine if you should receive an immunoglobulin injection to prevent infection," Morrow said.
- If you are not sure about the quality of your drinking water, use bottled water. Check with your local water supplier for any boil water orders. If you have a domestic well, it may require disinfection if it was affected by flooding. Check out the guidelines here: smchealth.org/welluse.
- Do not allow children to play with toys that have come in contact with floodwater until the toys have been disinfected. You can disinfect toys with a solution of 1/4 cup of bleach to a gallon of water.
- For general surface disinfection, use a cloth soaked with 1 tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of water.
- If there was no power, throw away all discolored or bad-smelling food, especially meat, poultry, and fish in the refrigerator. Frozen food can last 48 to 72 hours if the freezer is full and the door remains closed. When in doubt, throw it away.
- Contact your local sewer authority if solid waste from sewage is seen.
- Contact your insurance company for additional guidance if your home sustained water damage.
- See more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on flood recovery: www.cdc.gov/disasters/floods/after.html.
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