UAB Offers Tips, Experts on Dealing with Aftermath of Hurricane Dennis

TIPS FOR PREVENTING FLOOD-RELATED ILLNESS, INJURY During widespread flooding and power outages, personal health and safety is a primary concern. The UAB School of Public Health offers the following tips for preventing disease and injury:

TIPS FOR PREVENTING FLOOD-RELATED ILLNESS, INJURY

During widespread flooding and power outages, personal health and safety is a primary concern. The UAB School of Public Health offers the following tips for preventing disease and injury:

  • In severe flooding, water systems may become contaminated. To prevent waterborne illnesses, avoid swallowing, swimming or wading in floodwater. If exposure is unavoidable, wear protective clothing, footwear and gloves.
  • Refrigerated food is generally safe if the power has not been off for more than two to three hours. Most freezers will keep food safe without power for 36-to-48 hours if left closed.
  • Mildew, mold and fungi will grow in flooded buildings that do not dry out quickly. Wet carpet, walls, mattresses and furniture are breeding grounds for mold and mildew that can present health problems such as allergies and asthma. Remove and discard carpet and other materials saturated with floodwater and scrub hard surfaces with warm soapy water using laundry detergent. Wash all clothing items in hot soapy water.
  • Flooding can result in excessive breeding of mosquitoes, resulting in the possibility of diseases being carried by the insects. As soon as possible, remove excess water from birdbaths, flowerpots, tires, buckets and other containers to minimize the breeding of mosquitoes.
  • Snakes and other wild animals displaced from their homes are prone to enter abandoned homes, vehicles, furniture and equipment. Before reentering homes or vehicles, or placing furniture back in the home, check for snakes and other animals. Small dead animals found around the home may be placed in dumpsters or buried. Do not handle with bare hands. If large livestock are found, contact a local cooperative extension agent to determine the appropriate disposal method.

 

ENGINEERING HURRICANE PROTECTION

UAB engineers are working to develop new building materials to protect people and property from storms as powerful as Category 5 hurricanes. “Improved windstorm and related hazard-reduction measures have the potential during the next 10 years to reduce life and property losses, which will only increase if steps are not taken to help coastal communities reduce their vulnerability,” says UAB damage mitigation expert Nasim Uddin, Ph.D. One material Uddin and his team are working on is externally bonded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites, which are stronger than concrete and can withstand hurricane-force winds, bullets and even explosions. Uddin is organizing an NSF-funded international workshop on disaster mitigation construction in Bangladesh, currently the world’s foremost natural disaster-prone country, in December 2005.

TALKING TO CHILDREN ABOUT DENNIS

Jerry Aldridge, Ed.D., is a professor of early childhood education and the author and co-author of more than 100 journal articles and eight books, including “Children’s Fears of War and Terrorism: A Resource for Teachers and Parents,” (2003), which provides adults with advice on how to help children deal with fears resulting from war at home or abroad. Aldridge is former president of the United States National Committee for the World Organization for Early Childhood Education. He teaches in the UAB School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Most people survive disasters without developing significant psychological problems. It is particularly important to listen to children, accept their fears and speak with them.

  • Reassure your child that everything possible is being done to ensure he/she is safe from harm and being protected.
  • Reassure them that the state and federal governments, the police, doctors and hospitals are doing everything possible to help people who are hurt or displaced.
  • Let them know that in time our state will recover from this tragedy.
  • If you are frightened, tell your child. Don’t minimize the danger, but also talk about your ability to cope with your anxiety and continue with your life.

    TIPS FOR DEALING WITH STRESS AFTER DENNIS

    UAB psychologist Joshua Klapow, Ph.D., offers the following tips for dealing with stress after Dennis:

  • Open communication is key for dealing with stress. Express how you are feeling through prayer or talking with friends and family.
  • As much as possible, try to get back to your daily routine as much as you can and as quickly as you can.
  • Pay attention to your physical health. Try to eat properly and get as much rest as possible. People will be running on adrenaline over the next few days, but afterward, they may experience fatigue.
  • Most importantly, band together with friends and family. Support is critical during this time.
  • Take control of what you can. Stay out of heavily damaged areas.
  • Avoid overexposure to news rebroadcasts of the events.
  • Keep informed about new information and developments.