Staying Safe and Well

DON’T:

• walk or drive through flood water
• start to clean up or carry out repairs until you are sure it is safe to do so
• use a candle to guide you when entering a flooded building
• touch electrical appliances, sockets or switches that have been in contact with flood water. If in doubt, ask a qualified electrician
• lift anything beyond your own personal capacity
• use petrol or diesel generators inside buildings. The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide which can quickly build up to poisonous levels
• pump out your premises until the water has subsided. Coordinate removal of water and sludge between connected houses to prevent structural damage

DO:

• evacuate if asked to do so by the emergency services
• wash your hands and areas of exposed skin with clean, warm water and soap after contact with floodwater. Wet wipes can be used if no clean water is available, but hands should be washed with soap and water at the next available opportunity. Alcohol gel only works on visibly clean hands and is not effective against many bugs which may be in flood water. It can be used as an additional measure after hand washing/wipes.
• cover cuts or broken areas of skin with waterproof plasters to prevent them being exposed to floodwater
• keep children, vulnerable people, and pets well away from flood waters
• move furniture, portable electrical items and valuables out of harm’s way
• boil water for drinking and food preparation.
• phone your water company if you notice a change in water quality, such as a change in the colour, taste or smell of your tap water
• turn off gas and electricity. For further guidance see:
  • Northern Powergrid
  • Electrical Safety First
  • Gas Safety
• dispose of all food which has been in contact with flood water
• wear rubber gloves, goggles, a face mask and appropriate footwear when cleaning up. Flood water may be contaminated with sewage, sharps, syringes, and chemicals. If found, avoid injury by picking up needles or syringes with a net or shovel, not with fingers. Contact Environmental Health to report found sharps. If injured by a sharp, squeeze the puncture site to make it bleed, wash the site with soap and clean water, pat dry and apply a plaster, then speak to A&E as you will need the injury assessed and may need a blood test or vaccine.
• use disinfectants such as bleach in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions. All contaminated hard surfaces will need to be disinfected. N.B. disinfectants are only effective if used at the correct concentration and left in contact with a surface for the correct time.

Suggested procedure: ensure adequate ventilation to use the products safely.

1. Clean surface with soap and clean water
2. Disinfect with bleach
3. Allow to air dry