Preventing Illness During an Emergency
Germs such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites cause infections that can
lead to serious illness. There are things you can do to stay healthy during an
emergency:
• Wash your hands often.
Wash the front and back of your
hands and wrists, between your
fingers and around your nails with
soap and water for 15 seconds.
Wash your hands:
o
After using the toilet
o
Before and after eating or handling food
o
After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
o
Before and after you have contact with someone who is sick
o
Before and after changing a baby’s diaper
o
After touching another person
o
After handling dirty dishes or garbage
o
After touching animals or handling animal waste
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not
available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs
often spread when you touch something that has
germs on it and then touch your face.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you
cough or sneeze to prevent spreading germs to those
around you. Throw away the tissue and wash your
hands. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze
into your shoulder or arm.
• Clean surfaces such as countertops, sinks,
doorknobs, telephones and light switches with a
disinfectant cleaner or cleaner with bleach. You can
also mix your own water and bleach solution. Mix ten
parts water to one part bleach.
• Limit your contact with those who are ill.
• Avoid shaking hands if you are ill and with others who are ill.