Southwest Public Health District Environmental Health Director Dewayne Tanner sent out a message for residents facing the task of cleaning up damaged homes after recent severe weather who might be wondering whether power outages ruined their food.
“When in doubt,” Tanner said, “throw it out.”
Once power is off, refrigerators keep food at safely cold temperatures for four hours, while food in freezers remains safe for approximately 48 hours.
“If your power was off longer, your food is not safe to eat,” Tanner said. “I understand that nobody wants to be wasteful, but it is not worth the risk of getting sick from eating bad food.”
Public Health officials also said anything with screw-caps, snap lids, flip-tops and soda bottle-style crimped caps that may have come in contact with storm water needs to be discarded.
“Do not consume anything that storm water may have touched. Storm water may carry disease-causing organisms,” Tanner said.
The health director added that home-canned foods touched by storm water should also be discarded.
“Don’t eat food packaged or wrapped in plastic, cardboard, cloth or similar materials or containers that may have been in contact with storm water,” he said.
In times of bad weather, standing water has a tendency to increase mosquito activity. Public Health officials said there have been no reports of increased mosquito activity, noting the insects usually do not thrive in colder temperatures.
If mosquitoes are a concern, use EPA-approved repellent containing at least 20 percent DEET, wear long sleeves and long pants, avoid being outside at dawn and dusk, empty containers holding standing water, repair torn screens, use mosquito netting outside a climate-controlled environment, and use larvicides in ditches and other areas where water is standing and cannot be emptied.
In the aftermath of the violent weather, county health departments are providing free tetanus shots to residents, volunteers and workers helping with recovery who have not been vaccinated within the past 10 years. Insurance carriers will be billed, but vaccinated individuals will not be required to pay for the vaccine, Public Health officials said.
Health officials also said those who receive injuries and have not had a tetanus vaccination within five years are at particular risk. Those at risk are being urged to get vaccinated within 72 hours of receiving the injury. Tetanus bacteria are widespread in the environment and can infiltrate the body through puncture wounds, lacerations, minor abrasions and splinters, officials said.
“Tetanus is a major concern after a disaster. It is a severe, often fatal disease,” said Dr. Charles Ruis, director of the Southwest Public Health District. “The best ‘treatment’ is prevention through immunization.
“We recommend anyone living or working in the area affected by the tornadoes and wind events who have not had a tetanus vaccination within the past 10 years come to us and get vaccinated. The shots are free. Also, if you are injured while involved in recovery efforts, and it has been more than five years since your last tetanus vaccination, you should get a tetanus shot within three days. Don’t put it off any longer than that.”
Tetanus attacks the central nervous system within three to 21 days after exposure, depending on the location of the wound. Its first symptom is commonly spasm of the jaw muscles, which is why the disease is also referred to as lockjaw.
As the condition progresses, victims are typically unable to use their chest muscles to breathe.
Those seeking additional health tips related to the recent storms are encouraged to contact their county health department or health care provider.
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