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For Immediate Release
Date: July 12, 2017
Contact: Hannah Goering
(847) 377-8099
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Lake County Health Department advises residents to be careful
during flooding
Heavy rains in Lake County have
brought about incidents of flooding and possible sewer back-ups in a number of
areas. The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center recommends
the following steps to minimize health hazards due to flooding:
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Do not
attempt to enter or cross flooded streams or rivers. Floodwaters can be
very powerful. Even streams, rivers, and areas of standing water that appear to
be calm or shallow can be very dangerous.
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Avoid
contact with floodwater if possible. Flood water can contain organisms that
may cause disease. Prevent children and pets from playing in or drinking water
left in puddles or flooded areas.
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Wash
hands and scrub fingernails thoroughly with soap and safe water, especially
before eating or drinking.
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Do not
eat food that has been exposed to floodwaters. Thoroughly wash off sealed
cans in good condition. Immerse the cans in a bleach disinfecting solution made
by mixing two teaspoons of household bleach per gallon of water for at least
five minutes. All spoiled foods and leaky or bulged cans should be discarded.
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Consult a
physician about obtaining a tetanus booster if you work in or walk through
floodwaters. People with open cuts or other wounds should take extreme care
when walking through floodwaters due to the possibility of contracting
tetanus. In general, flood workers who
have had a tetanus shot within the past 10 years will not need to be
revaccinated. However, workers who acquire a wound and who have not had a
tetanus shot within 5 to 10 years may need a tetanus booster.
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If you
have a private well, check its condition. If the well casing is submerged,
surface water may have entered the well and contaminated the drinking
water. In these cases, you should not
drink the water until the flood waters have receded and the water from the well
is tested and shown to meet drinking water standards. Contact Environmental Health Services at
(847) 377-8020 for well testing information.
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Check for
safety hazards before entering a flooded home or basement. Make sure that
no electrical or other safety hazards, such as leaking gas, exist.
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Scrub
basement and other areas that have been flooded with a household detergent
solution. Use a solution of one-quarter cup of household bleach in a gallon
of water, then flush the washed areas with safe water.
- Scrub
furniture, walls, fixtures and appliances with soap and safe water.
- Machine
wash affected clothing, bedding, and cloth toys.
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Sanitize
non-porous children’s toys by first washing them with soap and safe water,
then soaking them for at least one minute in a solution of one tablespoon of
bleach to a gallon of water. Do not rinse objects after soaking; allow to air
dry.
Do not hesitate to ask any
questions if you have any doubts about the safety of any food, water or
conditions around your home. Call
Environmental Health Services of the Lake County Health Department at: (847)
377-8020. You
can access an interactive map of current road closures and traffic information on the Lake County PASSAGE website, www.lakecountypassage.com/ and on Twitter by following @LCPASSAGE.
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