EMERGENCY
HYGIENE
SANITATION
HANDWASHING HYGIENE DIAPERING
EMERGENCY HYGIENE SANITATION LINKS
HEALTHY WATER SITES
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SECTION 1
HANDWASHING
HYGIENE
DIAPERING
Handwashing
Keeping hands clean during an emergency helps prevent the spread of germs.
If your tap water is not safe to use, wash your hands with soap and water
that has been made safe to use. See the handwashing section below for more
information on how to keep hands clean during an emergency.
How should you wash your hands?
Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap,
and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather
the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the
“Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
What should you do if you don’t have
soap and clean, running water?
Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on
them in most situations. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based
hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers
can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers
do not eliminate all types of germs and might not remove harmful chemicals.
Hand sanitizers are not as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.
How do you use hand sanitizers?
Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
Rub your hands together.
Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.
Caution!
Swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitizers can cause alcohol poisoning.
Keep it out of reach of young children.
When should you wash your hands?
Before, during, and after preparing food
Before eating food
Before and after caring for someone who is sick
Before and after treating a cut or wound
After using the toilet
After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
After handling pet food or pet treats
After touching garbage
Hygiene
Hygiene is especially important in an emergency such as a flood, hurricane, or
earthquake, but finding clean, safe running water can sometimes be difficult.
The following information will help to ensure good hygiene in the event of an
emergency.
Bathing
Bathing or showering after a water-related emergency should only be done with clean,
safe water. Sometimes water that is not safe to drink can be used for bathing, but
be careful not to swallow any water or get it in your eyes. Do not bathe in water
that may be contaminated with sewage or toxic chemicals. This includes rivers,
streams, or lakes that are contaminated by flood water.
If you have a drinking water well, listen to your local health authorities for advice
on using your well water for showering and bathing. If extensive flooding has occurred
or you suspect that your well may be contaminated, contact your local, state, or tribal
health department for specific advice on well testing and disinfection.
Dental Hygiene
Brushing your teeth after a water-related emergency should only be done with clean,
safe water. Listen to local authorities to find out if tap water is safe to use.
Wound Care
Keeping wounds clean and covered is crucial during an emergency. Open wounds and rashes
exposed to flood water can become infected. To protect yourself and your family:
Avoid contact with flood waters if you have an open wound.
Cover clean, open wounds with a waterproof bandage to reduce chance of infection.
Keep open wounds as clean as possible by washing well with soap and clean water.
If a wound develops redness, swelling, or oozing, seek immediate medical care.
Vibrios are naturally occurring bacteria that live in certain coastal waters. They
can cause a skin infection when an open wound is exposed to salt water or a mix of
salt and fresh water, which can occur during floods.
The risk for injury during and after a hurricane and other natural disasters is high.
Prompt first aid can help heal small wounds and prevent infection. Wash your hands
with soap and water before and after providing first aid for a wound to help prevent
infection. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% if soap and
water are not available. Tetanus, other bacterial infections, and fungal infections
are potential health threats for persons who have open wounds.
Visit Emergency Wound Care After a Natural Disaster and listen to the short PSA Emergency
Wound Care after a Disaster to find complete information on caring for wounds.
Healthcare professionals should visit Emergency Wound Management for Healthcare Professionals
and Management of Vibrio vulnificus Wound Infections After a Disaster.
Diapering
In emergency situations, making sure that diaper changing practices remain hygienic is essential
to reducing the spread of germs. Even a microscopic amount of fecal matter can contain millions
of germs. CDC has developed guidelines and checklists to help parents, childcare providers,
emergency responders, and others learn how to practice safe and germ-free diaper changing in
emergency situations.
Hygiene, Handwashing, & Diapering
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/hygiene-handwashing-diapering/index.html
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SECTION 2
EMERGENCY
HYGIENE
SANITATION
LINKS
Hand Hygiene Resources during Disasters
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/educationalmaterials.html
Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives
https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html
Household Cleaning &; Sanitizing
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/cleaning-sanitizing/household-cleaning-sanitizing.html
Flood Waters or Standing Waters
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/extreme-weather/floods-standingwater.html
Guidelines for the Management of Acute Diarrhea After a Disaster
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/disease/diarrheaguidelines.html
Diapering in the Home or Childcare Facility (Non-emergency)
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/diapering/index.html
Preparedness for Expectant and New Parents
https://www.cdc.gov/features/disaster-planning-parents/index.html
Emergency Wound Management for Healthcare Professionals
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/emergwoundhcp.asp
Management of Vibrio vulnificus Wound Infections After a Disaster
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/disease/vibriofaq.asp
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SECTION 3
HEALTHY
WATER
SITES
Healthy Water
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/index.html
Drinking Water
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/index.html
Healthy Swimming
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/index.html
Water, Sanitation, & Environmentally-related Hygiene
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/index.html
Global WASH
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/index.html
WASH-related Emergencies & Outbreaks
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/index.html
Other Uses of Water
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/other/index.html
HANDWASHING HYGIENE DIAPERING
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/hygiene-handwashing-diapering/index.html
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Outdoor
Industry Association
https://outdoorindustry.org/
Black Stump
https://www.blackstump.com.au/index.html
Mother Nature Network
MNN
https://www.mnn.com/
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KNOWLEDGE
WEIGHS
NOTHING
https://knowledgeweighsnothing.com/
Animals and Their Habitats
http://www.dpughphoto.com/index
Smart Power 4 All
http://www.smartpower4all.org/
Readers Digest
https://www.rd.com/
How Stuff Works
http://www.howstuffworks.com/
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How It Works Magazine
https://www.howitworksdaily.com/
VisiHow
http://visihow.com/Main_Page
VisiHow
http://visihow.com/Main_Page
How Products Are Made
http://www.madehow.com/
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World Economic Forum
https://www.weforum.org/
Inhabitat
http://inhabitat.com/
The Encyclopedia of Life
http://eol.org/
Biokids
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/
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WATER
http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/
APPROPEDIA
SUSTAINABILITY
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
http://www.appropedia.org/
Society for Freshwater Science
http://www.freshwater-science.org/default.aspx
The Plant Encyclopedia
http://theplantencyclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
The Self Sufficient Living
http://theselfsufficientliving.com/
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