Hoshiarpur- Civil Surgeon Hoshiarpur Dr Pawan Kumar Shagotra said that during floods, water-related diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, jaundice (hepatitis-A and E), cholera, skin infections and snake bites can occur.
Therefore, it is very important for people to be careful. Some important instructions/suggestions have been given for those people. For general precautions during floods, avoid direct contact with flood water. Wear protective shoes (gumboots) while walking in water-logged areas.
Wash hands frequently with soap and water - especially before eating, keep food and drinking water covered and protect from flood water. Ensure safe cooking, storage and handling of food. Prevention of water-borne diseases Drink only boiled or chlorinated water. Where boiling is not possible, use chlorine tablets.
To prevent skin allergies, infections and fungal diseases, avoid prolonged contact with flood water; wear dry clothes as soon as possible. After coming into contact with flood water, take a bath with clean water and soap. District Epidemiologist Dr. Jagdeep Singh shared the tips and said that to prevent vector-borne diseases, eliminate standing water from containers, tires, roofs, pits, coolers.
Cover the above tanks and water storage containers properly. Do not let the water stand - and cover all containers. Sleep under a mosquito net every night to avoid mosquito-borne diseases. Wear long-sleeved clothes especially for children and pregnant women and apply mosquito repellents.
Start ORS at the first sign of diarrhea and go to the nearest health camp/institution. He further said that to prevent snake bites, avoid walking in waterlogged or bushy areas after dark; Use sticks/torches to clear the path. Do not put hands/feet in holes, crevices, or dense vegetation.