FAO: All those playing in flood water

[Ja1983]

While i see a lot of you have been making the most of bad weather, part of my concience says i should pipe up:

I work in landfill & sewage treatment, so i`m aware of the risks with contaminated standing, and flowing water, i`m also aware that a main problem when flooding occurs is disease, as so many things get stirred up, and are exposed.... sewage for example - mmm, nice!

theres a lot of bugs going around at the mo anyway, but water, especially when its contaminated with the likes of sewage, can conceal a lot of risks that may easily be overlooked. most are tummy bugs, but some can be severe, and even FATAL

Leptospirosis (Veils disease) - Veils disease can be passed on by rats through there urine, and water contaminated by urine (i think cows can also carry it?) This disease has killed in the past but usually makes you very sick. Typical symptoms are flu-like, and if it gets bad, tell your GP you could have been exposed to it. Lots of info here!

cholera, typhoid, malaria and dengue fever..... theres a big list, and i`m sure you all remeber the tsunami a few years back... while the risks arent quite as severe, (theres no festering bodies lying around!) its still wise to take care..

Prevention is better than cure, there are things you can do like keep your hands away from your mouth especially when you can see the water isnt  this may not be obvious, although drains, areas where rubbish accumilates etc are favourites. Note also that water and debris can be washed out from areas a good distance from where you are. Wash your hands before eating but not in the river or lake!
avoid personal contact with the suspect water. If you are unlucky enough to end up with a gobful (it does happen!) rinse your mouth with clean water asap!

always carry clean water - for drinking, rinsing, and in particular keeping cuts and abrasions clean, and avoid contact where possible.

have fun, but be careful ;)

[Silvery Thing]

Interesting post Ja1983 :)

But what you fail to appreciate is that 4x4 owners and especially those that go off-roading or laning are a tough breed that are more akin to super heros :dance: They cannot be hurt or harmed in anyway ;) Therer are no bugs that can live on them [-X

[bilge rat]

yourve seen me post on floods then. i know what you mean , the lad that was towing the corsa out was soaked, rarther him than me. i tried to stay dry as poss. am aware especialy of weils deseise , being a boat owner. and used to be  a canoeist, think waterways people and fishermen are also at risk. i have wondered when ive seen the hardened off roaders up to there waist in water and mud. alan......

[Evilgoat]

Tis a very good and often missed point.

Bear in mind many flodded roads away from waterways will have flodded because underlying drainage systems are full.

Latex gloves arent expensive and are bloody handy for other things (Just had a pint of lukewarm EP90 down my arm) and if you drag someone out of such a flood, may be worth using a mild detergent solution on your rope/strop (nothing aggressive).

[Mareng]

Which is why when recovering the motors the other day, I stayed nice and dry in side the motor..if they want towing out, they can attach the rope.  I'd already attached it to the rangie and it was hanging thorugh the top tail gate ready and waiting..

Might be a good idea to give the strop a good clean though...

[madmatt]

I'd agree with the top post, but I'd go a step further and say stay away from the floods full stop! I work for an organisation heavily involved in the flooding we are responding 24/7 to emergencies and are being hindered by people just out for a look or a play. Its no fun being stood at a road side carrying out your work when an idiot in a 4x4 comes driving past spraying water all over you! I saw an AA man soaked from head to tow yesterday.   water is starting to drop around here and the mess thats been made by 4x4's out playing is unbeliveable. All the verges are carved up and rutted. Flooded roads will also quite often carry a current, that is in some cases more than capable of washing a vehicle away.

Its probably because I'm involved in flood events and have seen just how it ruins a lot of peoples lives/homes/weekends etc but i really can't see the appeal of driving round in wheel deep water. It does your motors no good either. Its also an offence to drive past a road closed sign. If your not part of an organised rescue/recovery effort. Think about staying at home

[andyhubbard]

Good point well made Ja1983-nobody wants to get Veil's decease as it's really nasty if you get a good dose of it  ,I know i was that soldier.

[muddyjames]

Know all about veils disease from restoring the canals in the england. It is something I have to preech to my volunteers when I leed them.

It is easily curable by antibiotics if caught early enough. If not it can leed to liver damage and then eventually death. So I would recomend anyone coming down with a flu like bug in the next few weeks who has been near floods to go to thier doctor and get a test done. Some doctors actually say what is that? I have had that before when I took a mate to A&E with suspected viels disease. Had to go back to the van and get the paper work out we get in there.

(Reason we went to A&E was she had been near stagnent water 3 weks before hand and she was very fluey and no energy and ill. turned out is was only a bug luckily.)

[land-def-90]

it is wise to be careful in flood water, a mate of mine very nearly died after wading (on foot) into flood water to rescue items from his caravan ,some kind of  poisoning this were 7 years ago and he still aint 100% now

[skip]

Thanks Ja1983. I work in land drainage and deal with this kind of water everyday, a reminder certainly don't go amiss.

I have to carry a card around advising about Bovine Lepto Spirosis.

[Ja1983]

No worries, i think of it as "duty of care" :-k

Take care out there folks.... ;)

Also do a first aid course.. you learn allsorts of interesting other things!  :lol: