After a hurricane, flood or natural disaster you need to be careful and avoid electrocution risks at home and outside of it.
Power line and vehicle risks
• Never touch a downed power line. Call the power company to report the downed line.
• Do not touch cables during cleaning chores or other activities.
• Do not drive in stagnant water if there are downed power lines in the area.
• If a power line falls on your car while you are driving, stay inside the vehicle and continue driving to move away from the cable. If the engine stops, do not turn your car off from the ignition. Alert other people to prevent them from touching the car or cable. Call or ask someone to call your local power company and emergency services. Do not allow anyone to come near the car unless it is the emergency staff. The only case in which you should decide stepping out of a vehicle that is in contact with a downed line is if said vehicle is on fire. Open the door. Do not exit the vehicle, you may be shocked. Instead, jump out without touching the vehicle until reaching the ground. Once out of the vehicle, move away by crawling until being at least 50 feet away, keeping both feet on the ground.
• Do not attempt helping another person in a vehicle while you are standing on the ground.
• If circuits and electrical equipment are wet, in or near water, shut off the power from the switch board. If there is no way to avoid walking on water to reach the switch board, call an electrician.
• Never shut off, turn on or use an electrical tool or appliance while standing on water. Do not restore power until an authorized electrician has inspected the equipment. Make sure that every piece of equipment and appliance is completely dry before using it. If you have any doubts, ask an authorized electrician to inspect the appliances.
• If you spot bare cables or sparks when restoring power, or if there is a burnt odor without visible fire, you should immediately shut down the electrical system at the main circuit breaker.
• You should check with the power company about using electrical equipment, even electrical generators. Do not plug generators to your home’s electrical circuits if you do not have the appropriate automatic cut-off devices. If a generator is running when the power is restored, it can create a great fire risk and jeopardize workers repairing the power lines.
First aid in case of electric shock
If you think someone has been electrocuted, follow these steps:
1. First observe. Do not touch. The person may still be in contact with the electrical source. If you touch the person you might be shocked yourself.
2. Call or ask someone to call 911 or the emergency medical aid system.
3. If possible, shut down the power source. If not, move the source away from you as well as the affected person with a non-conducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.
4. When the person is away from the electrical source, check the pulse and breathing. If there is no pulse or breathing or if they are dangerously abnormal, begin CPR immediately.
5. If the person is very weak or pale or seems to be in shock, lay her down with the legs raised and head placed slightly beneath the level of the rest of her body.
6. Do not touch burns, break blisters or remove burnt clothes. Electrical shocks can create internal burns, so make sure that the person is taken to the doctor.
Protect yourself against dangers caused by animals and insects after a natural disaster
In general
• Stay away from wild or stray animals.
• Call the local authorities to deal with the animals.
• Protect all food sources and dispose of dead animal remains to avoid attracting rats.
• Dispose of dead animals as soon as possible and follow animal control recommendations.
• For more information, get in touch animal shelters and services, a veterinarian or your local Humane Society to receive instructions on dealing with pets, stray animals or wild animals after an emergency.
Avoid mosquitoes
• Rain and floods in an area affected by a hurricane can cause an increase of mosquitoes, which may carry diseases such as the West Nile Virus or Dengue. Most of these mosquitoes will be a pest, but will not carry diseases. Local, state and federal health authorities will actively work to control the spread of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes.
• To protect yourself from mosquitoes, install metallic nets at your home’s windows; wear pants and long sleeve shirts; and use DEET or Picardin repellents. Follow the instructions in the product’s label and be careful when using DEET in small children.
• To control mosquito increase, empty all stagnant water in open containers outdoors, such as pots, tires, pet dishes or buckets.
How to prevent or react to a snake bite
• Beware of snakes that might be swimming in the water to reach higher grounds and those that might be hidden under rubble or other objects.
• If you see a snake, slowly step back moving away from it and do not touch it.
• If you or someone else has been bitten, try to see and remember the color and shape of the snake. This information may help when treating the bite.
• The person that has been bitten must be kept still and calm. This can slow the venom spreading, if the snake is poisonous. Get medical attention as soon as possible. Call 911 or Emergency Medical Services. Provide first aid, if you are not able to take the person to the hospital immediately.
o Make the person lie down or sit, keeping the bite above the level of the heart.
o Tell the person to stay calm and not move.
o Cover the bite with a clean and dry bandage
After a natural disaster, it is possible that the snakes have been forced to abandon their natural habitat and move to areas where they are not common or expected. When returning home, beware of snakes that might have sought shelter at your home. If you see a snake at your house, immediately call your local animal control agency.
Signs of a snake bite
If you must walk in flood waters, you might feel a bite, but not know that you were bitten by a snake. You may think that it is another kind of bite or scratch.
Pay attention to the following signs of a snake bite.
According to the type of snake, the signs and symptoms may include:
o A pair of puncture marks in the wound;
o Redness and swelling around the wound;
o Strong pain where bitten;
o Nausea and vomit;
o Shallow breath (in extreme cases, there might even be respiratory arrest);
o Sight disorders;
o Increased salivation and sweating;
o Numbness or tingling around the face and limbs.
What NOT TO DO if you or someone else has been bitten by a snake.
o Don’t lift the snake or try to catch it (this can put you or someone else at risk of being bitten).
o Do not apply a tourniquet.
o Do not cut the bite with a knife.
o Do not suck the venom out.
o Do not apply ice or immerse the wound in water.
o Do not drink alcohol to ease the pain.
o Do not drink beverages with caffeine.
