John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.
What To Do After a Hurricane (What are hurricane aftermath health concerns?)
How can I store food safely?
A refrigerator will keep foods cool for about 4 hours without power if it
is unopened.
Thawed food can usually be eaten if it is still "refrigerator cold," or
re-frozen if it still contains ice crystals. Discard any food that has been at
temperatures greater than 40 F (4.44 C) for 2 hours or more, and any food that
has an unusual odor, color, or texture. Eat foods that are likely to spoil
first, such as meats and dairy, to minimize waste; however it is better to
dispose of foods if there is any question about its safety or contamination
status.
If the power is out for longer than 4 hours, follow the guidelines below:
Use dry ice, if available: 25 pounds of dry ice (solid carbon dioxide or
CO2) will keep a ten-cubic-foot freezer below freezing for 3 to 4 days. Use care
when handling dry ice, do not allow it to touch skin because it can cause
frostbite and do not it in confine areas where CO2 gas can accumulate.
For the freezer section: A freezer that is half full will hold food safely
for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not
open the freezer door unless it is absolutely necessary. Before the storm, you can fill water
bottles or empty soda bottles with water and freeze them to help keep the
freezer full and cold.
For the refrigerated section: Pack dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy,
and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Discard this food if it
seems spoiled.
Use a digital quick-response thermometer to check the temperature of
the
food right before you cook or eat it.
How can I make sure our water is safe?
Hurricanes, especially if accompanied by a tidal surge or flooding, can
contaminate the public water supply, which can cause illness. Do not assume
water in a hurricane-affected area is safe to drink.
Listen for public announcements about the safety of the municipal water
supply. Use bottled water for eating or drinking. If you do not have bottled
water, and are not sure that your tap water is safe, follow these directions to
purify tap water published by the government for public information:
Filter the water using a piece of cloth or coffee filter to remove solid
particles.
Disinfect using one of the following methods:
Boiling: Boil water vigorously for 1 minute. To improve taste, pour from one
clean container to another several times to aerate. Allow water to cool for 30 minutes before
using.
Purification tablets: Purification tablets are available at most drugstores or camping supply
stores. Follow directions supplied on the packaging.
Filters: Use a "backpacking" type filter and follow the directions on the
filter.
Bleach purification: Liquid household bleach can be used for water
disinfection. The only active ingredient in the bleach should be sodium hypochlorite of the
concentration of 5.25% to 6%. There should not be any added soap or fragrances. (A major
bleach manufacturer has also added sodium hydroxide as an active ingredient, which
they state does not pose a health risk for water treatment.) Add bleach to the water
according to the amounts listed in the table below. Stir to mix and let stand 30 minutes prior
to using.
Amount of Water
Clear Water
Cloudy Water*
1 quart
2 drops of bleach
4 drops of bleach
1 gallon
8 drops of bleach
16 drops of bleach
5 gallons
1/2 teaspoon of bleach
1 teaspoon of bleach
*Excessive turbidity (cloudiness) will greatly reduce the effectiveness of
the bleach.
The bleach method may not kill all parasites and the filter methods must be
followed carefully; people need to read the directions carefully to produce the
safest possible drinking water.
If there is flooding along with a hurricane, local waterways may become
polluted with waste. There is risk of disease from eating or drinking anything
contaminated with floodwater.
Do not allow children to play in floodwater areas. Wash children's hands
frequently and disinfect any toys that have come into contact with flood waters,
using a solution of one cup of bleach in five gallons of water.
Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults.
Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
Tinnitus is a ringing or swishing that seems to originate in the ear or head. Most of the time it is not a serious problem (it is however, a nuisance to those that suffer from the condition). Causes of tinnitus include loud noise exposure (firearms, loud music), medications, and other diseases (Meniere's disease). Treatment options are limited for tinnitus. Tinnitus can be prevented by wearing hearing protection when exposed to loud noises.
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. The causes of vomiting differ according to age, and treatment depends upon the cause of nausea and vomiting.
Stress occurs when forces from the outside world impinge on the individual. Stress is a normal part of life. However, over-stress, can be harmful. There is now speculation, as well as some evidence, that points to the abnormal stress responses as being involved in causing various diseases or conditions.
Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating. It can occur at any age and it appears as a rash that itches or feels prickly, and looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters. Pictures of heat rash are included.
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).
Suicide is the process of intentionally ending one's own life. Approximately 1 million people worldwide commit suicide each year, and 10 million to 20 million attempt suicide annually.
Heat stroke (heatstroke or sun stroke) is a form of hyperthermia. Heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not promptly and properly treated. Symptoms of heat stroke include: high body temperature, absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, disorientation, seizure, and coma. A victim of heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent organ damage.
Burns are categorized by severity as first, second, or third degree. First degree burns are similar to a painful sunburn. The damage is more severe with second degree burns, leading to blistering and more intense pain. The skin turns white and loses sensation with third degree burns. Burn treatment depends upon the location, total burn area, and intensity of the burn.
Grief is the feeling one experiences after a loss (of a friendship, death of loved one, job). Complicated grief refers to grief that lasts for more than a year. Mourning describes the customs and rituals that help a bereaved individual make sense of their loss.
Tetanus is an often-fatal disease caused by nerve toxins produced by the common bacteria Clostridium tetani. In a seven-day period after infection, a person experiences muscle spasms, restlessness, headache, irritability, then lockjaw, and the lungs stop functioning. Tetanus is treatable with antibiotics and drainage. Sedation is often give to stop muscle spasms.
Cuts, scrapes, and puncture wounds are common, and most people will experience one of these in their lifetime. Evaluating the injury, and thoroughly cleaning the injury is important. Some injuries should be evaluated by a doctor, and a tetanus shot may be necessary. Treatment will depend upon the severity of the injury.
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement fluids. Warning signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, and fainting.
Stress may be considered as any physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental unrest and that may be a factor in disease causation. An important goal for those under stress is the management of stress in our lives. Elimination of stress is unrealistic, since stress is a part of normal life. We can however, learn to manage stress through techniques such as exercise, relaxation, meditation, time management, and support systems so that we have control over our stress and its effects on our physical and mental health.
Hyperthermia is the overheating of the body. Heat-related illnesses like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rash, and sunburn are all hyperthermia conditions. Treatment of these conditions depends upon the condition, environment, and circumstances. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, and may result in death if not treated promptly. Heat exhaustion may lead to heat stroke if not treated properly.
Drowning is a common cause of death and disability worldwide. In the US, it is the third most common cause of accidental death. Brain damage, pneumonia, ARDS, hypothermia, and spine fractures are complications of drowning. At times, there are discussions of wet vs. dry, or salt vs. fresh water drownings. Children and young adults are at most risk for drowning accidents. Medical emergencies in the water may lead to drowning (such as seizures, hypoglycemia, sudden cardiac death, or heart attack). Treatment of a drowning victim depends up on the severity of the injury. Prevention is the key to prevent drowning.
Noise-induced hearing loss may be an acoustic trauma (temporary hearing loss), or permanent due to an acute acoustic trauma. Experts agree that continual exposure to more then 85 dBs (decibels) is dangerous to the ears. Ear plugs and ear muffs can help prevent noise-induced hearing loss as well as decreasing exposure to loud noises.
Heat cramps usually affect people who sweat a lot during strenuous activity or work in a hot humid environment. Symptoms of heat cramps are muscle pains or spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms or legs that occur in association with strenuous activity. Heat cramps is part of a group of heat-related illnesses.
First aid is a complicated subject and it is situation-specific. First aid is the help and medical assistance that someone gives, not only to an injured person, but to a person who is sick. Preparedness is a key element of first aid, like having basic medical emergency kits in your home, car, boat, or RV. Cuts, puncture wounds, sprains, strains, nosebleeds are one type of injury that may require first aid; heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and heat stroke are examples of more critical first aid emergencies.
Taking care of a disease such as diabetes is a life-long process. Learn how to care for yourself or loved one with diabetes in situations such as illness, work, school, travel, or a natural disaster.
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