There is a serious need for Harm Reduction in the wake of these devastating floods.

[Guest guest]

is right on that one. Who can afford to stay in hotels for weeks or

months while their house is gutted and rebuilt?

A similar situation faced us a few years ago and we could not afford it..

Staying in hotels for a long time is not an option for most people,

especially if they live in a city, They don't have the money. It adds up

quickly.

Also,

Micheal, I know you have connections with some of these Homeland Security

types. I know this sounds like a lot for them to swallow without context

but another public health disaster like Katrina is in the making in the

Midwest. We are going to see literally millions of sick people there very

soon if we don't figure out harm reduction rapidly and do it well. That

means strategies for dilution, filtration, and also medical detoxification.

I.E. cholestyramine..

Cholestyramine works, its not harmful.. (except for constipation) and it

could prevent the kind of really serious illnesses that come with continuous

exposure and the resultant toxin buildup. Most of us understand that, right?

CSM works.. its got a track record.. its the frontline treatment that

prevents the extreme buildup issues - already sensitized people may and

often do still get sick, but it probably would do a LOT to prevent NEW

sensitizations -

There is the certainty that it would help.. and the lack of a downside..

except that we would need to admit that this is going to be a problem IF WE

DON'T ACT.

So, again, I am asking, whoever, lets put the politics aside and try to get

help to people. Would there be any chance that there would be some

progressive elements within the government who might accept that this is one

area where the community of people who have fought the mold monster - people

like Dr. Shoemaker, should be consulted and perhaps a new harm reduction

protocol developed for post-flood situations based on testing for

inflammatory biomarkers and cholestyramine?

Sort of like they stockpile iodine tablets to give people after nuclear

accidents...

Medical teams should go in there to help the people in the flood zones and

they should offer medical support, including cholestyramine in bulk

packaging and advice in cleanup.

On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 1:10 PM, Geyer <mgeyer@...> wrote:

> While I don't disagree with the premise of the message, the mere fact

> that officials state: " officials suggest homeowners wear masks

> and stay in their homes for only short amounts of time " is totally

> without conscious. It is shortsighted. And just where are homeowners

> suppose to go if they should only stay in their homes for short periods of

> time? The mall? A tent? Their car? This recommendation is without

> thought as to the consequences.

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