Safety tips for cleaning a flooded home

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Safety tips for cleaning a flooded home

Published Thursday May 8th, 2008

Daily Gleaner - Fredericton,New Brunswick,Canada*

By KENNETH MAYBEE

New Brunswick Lung Association

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/290027

Now that the flood waters are starting to recede, people living

along the river are starting the difficult task of drying out and

cleaning up their property.

There are several health-related issues that are related to water-

damaged materials. The New Brunswick Lung Association wants everyone

to be aware of the risks of mould growth in homes, as well as the

risks to lung health that can arise if ruined materials are burned.

Here are some tips that can help protect your health as you go about

cleaning up your home or business after this devastating flood:

* Remove standing water with sump pumps or mops if the amount is

small.

* Dry out your building. This can take weeks. Dehumidifiers remove

moisture from the air. Beware of using extraction fans if the

weather outside is rainy or humid, as extraction fans draw air in

from outside.

* Remove wet materials. One guideline is to dispose of small

materials that you cannot get dry within 24-48 hours, because moulds

grow quickly. Building materials that are wet with clean water may

be able to be saved. Building materials wet with dirty water should

be removed.

* Floods can damage basement walls, septic systems or water supply

lines. Check these and repair as needed. Check with the local

authorities to see if it is safe to use your water, electricity and

natural gas lines.

You should also flood-proof your property to prevent future damage.

Things to be especially careful about include:

* Water-borne bacteria: Be sure the water you drink has been tested,

or use bottled water. Throw out any food exposed to flood waters.

* Electrocution: Turn off your power until all electrical

connections are dry.

* Fire hazards: Look for broken gas lines or any other open or

leaking flammable materials. Also check for flooded electrical

circuits. Get professional help to deal with these. Fire is the most

frequent hazard following a flood.

* Air-borne dust and toxins: Wear a mask when sweeping up dried

debris, or removing insulation or old painted wallboard.

* Carbon monoxide: Do not use gasoline-powered generators, camp

stoves, outdoor-styled wood stoves or barbecues indoors.

* Cleaning and disinfectant chemicals: Many products used to clean

and disinfect surfaces have strong odours and can be toxic at high

concentrations. People with respiratory illnesses should not breathe

the fumes from these products. Be careful about mixing these

products, as some mixtures can be poisonous or explosive. Read all

labels carefully.

* Disposing of debris: Any materials to be discarded after a flood,

including furniture, clothing, building materials, driftwood or

other material washed up with the flood waters, should be taken to a

landfill or other sanitary waste disposal system. These materials

should not be burned. Burning releases toxic materials into the air.

* Mouldy smells and visible mould: Moulds often smell musty, like a

wet-dog smell or old basement smell. Moulds can look black, green or

white, and appear either slimy or powdery. Many moulds are toxic if

you breathe them or eat them. They are known to cause asthma and to

make breathing difficult. Some rare moulds can make you very sick.

Moulds need moisture to grow. Long after a flood, moulds can make

your building uninhabitable, so it is essential to completely dry

your building and furnishings after a flood.

For more information, visit www.nb.lung.ca. An additional useful

publication is Repairing Your Flooded Home at

www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_570_,00.html.

Also see the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp.'s advice on flood

cleanup at http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/em/em_001.cfm.

Maybee is the president and CEO of the New Brunswick Lung

Association.