By Dr. Modi Batterjee, IBCLC, DHA
Flash floods can be a disaster caused by many factors, natural and man-made. Most flash floods are witnessed after the occurrence of a thunderstorm, large amounts of rain, melting snow, and mud slides that flows into narrow water pathways, that have been created over a very long periods of time.
Flooding, although typically carrying a negative association, is quite a natural phenomenon and is simply the reaction of a water flow system to the presence of too much water during a short period of time, hence the name flash floods. Flash floods can be the most dangerous flooding disaster humans might face because they carry the strength and destruction of the floods with great unpredictable flowing power. It is quite essential to learn how to protect yourself and your family from floods and to understand the hazards that happen after a flash flood rushes through your life.
What should you do?: Always be prepared if you live in an area that may be threatened with floods.
Stay Home: If the rain begins to pour, it is recommended to stay indoors, sheltered with loved ones in a safe and secure building (school, home, office, etc). Many individuals may want to celebrate the weather and go on a short outing to explore its beauty once the storm has passed, but they do not realize that they have put themselves in the way of a rushing flash flood that is gaining momentum and destructive speed towards them. Others may be aware of the flash floods and plan a getaway by leaving their homes (or a secure building) by car. However flash floods can happen in less than ten minutes not giving anyone enough time to escape. In either situation families endanger themselves by leaving the safety and security of their homes or other secure structures.
Go UP: When the rains pour and the threat of a flash flood is high it is recommended to stay in the highest level of the building that you are in (home, school, office etc). In our homes the roof top is the safest place to be.
Save Lives not things: It is important to understand that during an emergency situation (i.e. flash flood evacuation) we are prepared to save lives. We must only grab our loved ones and leave everything else behind. Any valuables must stay behind and be replaced if they are destroyed.
Clean Water: Drinking clean water is essential after a flood occurs; this is to keep people hydrated and free from communicable diseases.
Donations should be: bottled water, drinking water pumps and/or water purification tablets and water filters. These items will assist the families in keeping their water clean (free from bacteria and fungus) enough to wash and rinse foods and utensils.
Avoid the Flood waters: After the flood water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, dead animals, rotting food or raw sewage. Practice good personal hygiene, and discard all food that comes in contact with flood waters; these contaminated foods can cause severe infections. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines. Any moving water is a potential danger as well; these waters may run deep and have a strong current that can cause drowning. Be aware of areas where floodwaters have receded. Roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car.
Beware of Animals: Watch out for animals, especially poisonous snakes that may have come into buildings with the flood waters. Flood waters force snakes and many other animals out of their homes. Use a stick to dig through debris if you have to.
Stay Away from Electricity: Turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel in your building or any other building that you may enter after a flood. Never enter flooded areas or touch electrical equipment if the ground is wet. Use battery-powered lanterns or flashlights. Battery-powered lighting is the safest and easiest, preventing fire hazard for the user, occupants, and building.
Source: MENNE, B. ET AL. Floods and public health consequences, prevention and control measures. New York,
United Nations, 2000 (document MP.WAT/SEM.2/1999/22).
December 6th, 2011 at 5:36 am
I love the blog site layout ! How did you make it? It is very sweet!
December 6th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
Dear Katie, I’m sorry to hear that your doctor produced a mistake and put you on Depo injections. You say which you are nonetheless obtaining injections? These injections are created from progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone which is used mainly as a method of birth control for females who cannot use any other form of birth control. Among the drug’s side effects is weight gain. A single injection lasts for three months. So if you are nonetheless finding these injections, please, please, tell your doctor that you don’t want to receive them any longer. The effects with the drug will remain within your body for three months, so during these three months, it may possibly be difficult to lose the added weight which you gained, no matter what you do. You can find other more gentler ways to regulate your periods and menses, specifically at your tender formative age. Here are some of the negative reasons for not utilizing Depo-Provera: it can cause decreased bone density which can lead to osteoporosis, depression, increased blood clots, liver damage, headaches, hair loss, leg cramps, nervousness, dizziness, abdominal bloating, and weight gain. For your stretch marks on your stomach, it is possible to rub some vitamin E on them. Just puncture a capsule of vitamin E and gently apply to your stomach location once or twice each day. The stretch marks will respond to the vitamin E if you use it regularly and use it as soon as they appear. The older the stretch marks, the longer and far more difficult they’re to rub away. It is best to use natural vitamin E, which can be distinguished from the synthetic form by the following small print and notations on the vitamin bottle: d- is the natural form, and dl- will be the synthetic form. Use only the d- form which will be the natural form. I feel that synthetic substances have caused enough harm already, and really should be laid to rest. Uncover a doctor who will listen to you, have patience until the Depo drug gets out of your system and body, and continue follow a healthy diet and exercise regimen to get back to your former weight. Please read the posts above to learn far more about dieting. Excellent luck.
January 24th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your article seem to be running off the screen in Chrome. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know. The layout look great though! Hope you get the issue fixed soon. Thanks