• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Information to Protect Returning Residents Against Mold, Unsafe Water, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Available From CDC

Posted on: Tuesday, 4 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

News Advisory:

-- Information to Protect Returning Residents against Mold, Unsafe Water, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Available from CDC

-- Simple Steps Can Prevent Illness, Injury and Death

Since Hurricane Katrina first made landfall on August 29 in Florida, 10 people are known to have died of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and another 46 people in three states have received hospital-based care. Mold and unsanitary water pose new health hazards for residents returning to their hurricane-affected homes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers simple tips based on authoritative health and safety research to help protect the lives and health of people affected by the hurricanes.

Reporters and editors can help listeners, readers and viewers prepare for a safe return home by sharing this information accessible from the CDC Web pages:

Hurricane readiness and recovery information and links are at

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/hurricanes.asp

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

In the past two hurricane seasons, CO poisoning killed16 people and injured at least 160 others. Death, illness and injury from CO exposure are preventable with these simple steps:

-- Never use the generator indoors or in a garage, carport, or basement.

-- Keep the generator or pressure washer engine outside and away from doors, windows, and vents.

-- Read product directions for other safety tips.

-- Install a battery-operated CO detector near the bedrooms.

-- Chain the generator to a tree or other fixed object to prevent theft.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, nausea or vomiting, seizures and loss of consciousness. People who have these symptoms or perceive them in a family member should leave the house and seek medical help immediately.

Recorded PSAs about CO poisoning hazards can be downloaded at

http://www.cdc.gov/co/psa.htm

Mold Removal

For susceptible individuals, those with asthma, allergies, or whose immune systems are suppressed from treatment for such illnesses as HIV or cancer, mold can be a serious health hazard. If mold growth exists in a home, it should be cleaned up and any water problems - such as leaks in roofs, walls or plumbing - should be fixed. Controlling moisture in the home is the most critical factor for preventing mold growth.

People cleaning up mold in their homes can follow these simple steps to protect their health:

-- Clean and dry anything wet.

-- Air out wet areas.

-- Throw away wet things that cannot be repaired, like carpet, upholstery, ceiling tiles. When in doubt, throw it out.

-- Clean hard surfaces with one cup of bleach mixed in one gallon of water. Always wear waterproof gloves and protective eyewear when using bleach mixtures.

Clean Water Protects Health

Water may not be safe to drink, clean with, or bathe in after a hurricane or flood. During and after a disaster, water can become contaminated with microorganisms, such as bacteria, sewage, agricultural or industrial waste, chemicals, and other substances that can cause illness or death. Until local authorities confirm that water is safe to drink and use, families can maintain good health with these steps:

-- Drink only bottled, boiled, or treated water until you know local water is safe. That applies to cooking, dish washing, bathing, and tooth brushing, also.

-- Kill harmful germs by bringing water to a rolling boil for 1 minute.

-- Most important, wash your hands with soap and clean water! Wash your hands before preparing food, before eating, after using the toilet, and after cleaning up.

-- When there's not enough clean water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Text for PSAs about other hurricane issues are at

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/psa.asp.

A full range of health and safety information to assist people in returning home safely is available from http://www.cdc.gov.

---

Note to Editors: Reporters and editors can telephone 404.639.3286 to arrange interviews with subject matter experts on these and other hurricane-recovery topics.

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

More News in this Category