Prevent Injury and Illness During Storm Cleanup

Prevent Injury and Illness During Storm Cleanup

Storms can cause extensive damage, which requires careful cleanup. Unfortunately, storms have many potential dangers – like injury and illness or infection. During storm cleanup, you must take the necessary precautions to stay safe. Use this helpful guide to prevent injury and illness during storm cleanup.

Prevent Injury and Illness During Storm Cleanup

Wait for Calm

The first thing you should do after a storm (or disaster) is to wait for calm. Never start cleaning up in the middle of a storm, unless the situation warrants calling emergency response services.

Do not start cleanup until after you’re sure the storm has passed. Check with your local weather station, and stay updated on weather conditions in your area.

Contact Emergency Response

Stay in touch with emergency response services. They might be necessary to help clear debris or open access to certain compromised areas. Emergency services can also provide evacuation or immediate medical help if it’s necessary after the storm.

Don’t assume that someone else has already called emergency services. Make the call.

Be Prepared: Light and Equipment

Be prepared for anything during a storm cleanup, and start by making sure that you have lights and other first aid necessities. Illumination is one of the most important things to prevent injury. You can’t avoid what you cannot see properly.

Headlamps are useful for keeping your hands free, though you also might want to keep a few backup flashlights in your kit. Pack other equipment in a watertight backpack, keeping it above water levels where necessary.

Safety equipment and other useful items:

  • Safety goggles – useful for keeping debris and dust out of your eyes
  • Reflective jackets and tape worn during cleanup increase the visibility of your crew
  • Wear rubber boots
  • Insect repellent
  • A basic first-aid kit before attempting any cleanup or rescue
  • Laundry and dish detergent

Avoid Contaminated Water During Storm Cleanup

Storms can tear open pipes and displace contaminants, making illness an extremely high risk after storms. Sewage or flood waters can contaminate water sources. Avoid contaminated water, as it’s often the first source of illness and infection. It’s important to keep in mind that all open water sources might be contaminated. Don’t directly touch, inhale, or consume any water.

Don’t Approach Blindly

Assess damage from a distance before approaching the affected area. Always, look before you leap, and plan before you proceed.

Always approach any situation with caution, even if it appears like all dangers are clear.

Storms might also displace animals, including large ones. Keep this in mind as you proceed through a storm cleanup.

Wearing Dust Masks

Dust masks and other personal protective equipment are crucial for storm cleanup. After a storm, dust and other debris can be dangerous to your respiratory system. Most of what’s floating around aren’t things you should breathe in or touch.

Choose high-quality personal protective masks that guarantee better protection, or use filtration masks with changeable filters.

Storm damage can bring water and moisture to walls and floors. Carpets, carpet padding, drywall, and insulation that have been contaminated create perfect conditions for dangerous mold.

Mold can cause allergic reactions, asthma attacks, and other respiratory problems.

Always Wear Gloves During Storm Cleanup

Safety equipment doesn’t stop at wearing masks. Always wear gloves, the best you can afford, to guarantee protection. Gloves may become damaged or torn, so always keep a backup pair.

Always wear gloves when doing any of the following:

  • Removing and discarding drywall and insulation
  • Handling wet carpet and carpet padding
  • Removing flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, countertop appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures
  • All items handled after a storm cleanup potentially have sharp edges and can cut skin and lead to infection.

Clothing

During Storm Cleanup

Cover all potential entry points in your clothes, including at the base of your shoes and wrists. This prevents any contaminants or bugs from entering here, causing a potential risk of infection. This simple safety measure can make a big difference in keeping you healthy and safe.

After Storm Cleanup: Hot water and Laundry

Wash all clothes worn during storm cleanup separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens. Clothes should be washed in hot water and detergent.

Insect Repellent

Carry a safe, effective insect repellent. Storms can displace insects, and trigger others (like mosquitoes) into activity hyperdrive.

Bug bites are a potential health hazard, which can lead to an additional infection danger from bites. Always carry insect repellent during storm cleanup, as recommended by the CDC.

Storm Cleanup And Ventilation

Cleaning up after a storm brings potential airborne hazards, including dust and airborne disease. Sometimes, cleanup is not only limited to outside areas. The inside of some homes or businesses may also require cleaning.

Ensure proper ventilation, as storms can trap airborne particles that you don’t want to breathe in. People sometimes use alternate fuel sources with power outages and storms. Have a carbon-monitor ready to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

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