Hurricane Recovery and Hurricane Recovery and Response: Promoting Health Response: Promoting Health

and Safetyand SafetyDiane Z. Weems, MDDiane Z. Weems, MD

Chatham County Health DepartmentChatham County Health DepartmentDzweems@dhr.state.ga.usDzweems@dhr.state.ga.us

Goals to Maintain a Productive Goals to Maintain a Productive WorkforceWorkforce

Prevent IllnessPrevent Illness

Prevent injuryPrevent injury

Treat illness and Treat illness and

injuries promptlyinjuries promptly

Prevent/recognizePrevent/recognize

fatiguefatigue

Before the DisasterBefore the Disaster Provide annual information and trainingProvide annual information and training Provide annual First Aid / CPR trainingProvide annual First Aid / CPR training Support Personal Preparedness Support Personal Preparedness Encourage adequate immunizationEncourage adequate immunization

– Annual influenzaAnnual influenza

– Up to date tetanus and diphtheria toxoidUp to date tetanus and diphtheria toxoid

(Primary series and Td booster w/I 10 yrs)(Primary series and Td booster w/I 10 yrs)

-Hepatitis B vaccine series for persons who will -Hepatitis B vaccine series for persons who will be expected to have contact with bodily fluidsbe expected to have contact with bodily fluids

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster

Prevent Illness from FOODPrevent Illness from FOOD Identify and throw away food that may not be Identify and throw away food that may not be

safe to eatsafe to eat

--any food in contact with flood/storm waterany food in contact with flood/storm water

-canned foods that are bulging/damaged-canned foods that are bulging/damaged

-perishable foods that have been above 40 -perishable foods that have been above 40 degrees for 2 hours or moredegrees for 2 hours or more

-Cans in contact with floodwater – remove -Cans in contact with floodwater – remove labels, wash the cans and dip in solution labels, wash the cans and dip in solution of 1 of 1

c. bleach in 5 gallons waterc. bleach in 5 gallons water

Store food safelyStore food safely

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster

Prevent Illness from WATERPrevent Illness from WATER

-Listen to and follow public announcements -Listen to and follow public announcements regarding safety of tap waterregarding safety of tap water

-Correctly boil or disinfect water-Correctly boil or disinfect water

Hold water at rolling boil for 1 minute OR Hold water at rolling boil for 1 minute OR add 1/8 teaspoon unscented bleach/gallon of add 1/8 teaspoon unscented bleach/gallon of water, stir and let stand for 30 minutes OR use water, stir and let stand for 30 minutes OR use water-purifying tabletswater-purifying tablets

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster

Assure safety and prevent injuries:Assure safety and prevent injuries: Avoid Electrical HazardsAvoid Electrical Hazards Avoid unstable buildings and structuresAvoid unstable buildings and structures Beware of Hazardous materials Beware of Hazardous materials Beware of wild or stray animals Beware of wild or stray animals Clean up and prevent mold growthClean up and prevent mold growth Prevent musculoskeletalPrevent musculoskeletal

injuries injuries

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster

Assuring health and safety:Assuring health and safety: If flooding has occurred, workers with If flooding has occurred, workers with

chronic respiratory disease or who are chronic respiratory disease or who are immunocompromised should not enter until immunocompromised should not enter until the building is cleaned, drythe building is cleaned, dry

and decontaminatedand decontaminated

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster

Avoid heat related illnesses –Avoid heat related illnesses –Take breaks in shaded areas or in cool rooms if Take breaks in shaded areas or in cool rooms if

availableavailableDrink water and nonalcoholic fluids often Drink water and nonalcoholic fluids often If possible, limit outdoor activities during the If possible, limit outdoor activities during the

hottest parts of the dayhottest parts of the dayWear lightweight, loose-fitting,Wear lightweight, loose-fitting,

light-colored clothing if possible light-colored clothing if possible

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster

Avoid mosquitoesAvoid mosquitoesWear long pants, socks and long-sleeved shirtsWear long pants, socks and long-sleeved shirtsUse insect repellents that contain DEET or Use insect repellents that contain DEET or

PicaridinPicaridin

www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dybid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htmwww.cdc.gov/ncidod/dybid/westnile/RepellentUpdates.htm..Drain all standing water left in Drain all standing water left in

open containersopen containersAvoid outside work if Avoid outside work if

possible during dusk/dawnpossible during dusk/dawn

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster

Treat WoundsTreat WoundsClean all open wounds and cuts with soap and Clean all open wounds and cuts with soap and

clean waterclean waterKeep wounds covered with clean, dry bandagesKeep wounds covered with clean, dry bandagesApply antibiotic ointmentApply antibiotic ointmentUp to date tetanus vaccination Up to date tetanus vaccination Seek further medical attention if redness, Seek further medical attention if redness,

swelling, pain or drainage developsswelling, pain or drainage develops

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster Pace yourself and get support – avoid/prevent Pace yourself and get support – avoid/prevent

fatiguefatigueBe alert to physical exhaustion, strain, fatigueBe alert to physical exhaustion, strain, fatigueSet priorities for tasks, and set a reasonable Set priorities for tasks, and set a reasonable

pace the work – take frequent rest breakspace the work – take frequent rest breaksWork with a partner or in groups – avoid working Work with a partner or in groups – avoid working

alonealoneMaintain as normal a schedule as possible – Maintain as normal a schedule as possible – regular regular

eating and sleeping are crucialeating and sleeping are crucialTry to eat a variety of foods and increase your intake Try to eat a variety of foods and increase your intake

of complex carbohydrates (breads, muffins made with of complex carbohydrates (breads, muffins made with whole grains, granola bars)whole grains, granola bars)

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster

Do something physical such as stretching or Do something physical such as stretching or moving aroundmoving around

Be aware of caffeine consumption – use Be aware of caffeine consumption – use temporarily to increase alertness, do NOT temporarily to increase alertness, do NOT use if already alert or before sleeping/restinguse if already alert or before sleeping/resting

Engage in active conversation with othersEngage in active conversation with others

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster

Practice good health habits – environment and Practice good health habits – environment and existing factors likely to reduce immune function existing factors likely to reduce immune function and open the door to illness:and open the door to illness:

Practice Good Practice Good HandwashingHandwashing (alcohol-based (alcohol-based products are satisfactory if clean water not products are satisfactory if clean water not available are limited in supply) and available are limited in supply) and respiratory respiratory etiquetteetiquette

For those with chronic diseases, be sure to For those with chronic diseases, be sure to continue to take all chronic medications as continue to take all chronic medications as prescribed and monitor as appropriateprescribed and monitor as appropriate

Respiratory EtiquetteRespiratory Etiquette

To help stop the spread of germs, To help stop the spread of germs,

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. cough or sneeze.

If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. upper sleeve, not your hands.

Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Put your used tissue in the waste basket.

Clean your hands after coughing or sneezingClean your hands after coughing or sneezing

Wash with soap and water.Wash with soap and water.or or

Clean with alcohol-based hand cleanerClean with alcohol-based hand cleaner

After the DisasterAfter the Disaster

Help workers navigate personal issues and Help workers navigate personal issues and lossloss

Support employees’ access to mental health Support employees’ access to mental health counselingcounseling

Know the community resources available –Know the community resources available – American Red Cross, United Way and its American Red Cross, United Way and its

agencies, Public Health and other agencies, Public Health and other community agenciescommunity agencies

Think ahead, plan, and practice! Think ahead, plan, and practice!

ReferencesReferences American Red Cross: American Red Cross:

http://www.redcross.org/services/disasterhttp://www.redcross.org/services/disaster US Department of Homeland Security: US Department of Homeland Security:

http://www.ready.gov Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes Department of Health and Human ServicesDepartment of Health and Human Services

http://www.dmh.mo.gov/diroffice/disaster/documehttp://www.dmh.mo.gov/diroffice/disaster/documents/EmergencyResponseWorkersCopingFacts.pdfnts/EmergencyResponseWorkersCopingFacts.pdf