Disaster Survival: Is Water Really That Important ?
Nothing makes clearer the importance of water than a large
disaster; clean, fresh water becomes more valuable than gold.
It's easy to forget that without water, we just can't survive.
60 percent of our bodies are water, in fact for infants, water
makes up about 80 percent of their body, so it is even more
vital they have access to clean drinking water.
Unfortunately, following large-scale disasters, it's not unusual
that water supplies may be cut off temporarily or be rendered
unfit for consumption. Everyone should know the following tips
about safe drinking water in emergency situations.
Preparedness is Everything: The advice comes over and over, but
most people still are not ready when disaster hits. You must
maintain a supply of clean drinking water someplace safe in your
home. You can survive a week without food, if necessary, but
even one or two days without water can be fatal.
In terms of how much water is needed to be stored, you need to
drink at least two quarts a day of water. Enough water for all
the members of your family for at least a few days is a good
idea. You can store water yourself in your own containers;
anything glass, and clean, thoroughly washed plastic containers
with caps work well. Seal water tightly in their containers and
store them in someplace cool and dark in your home. Make sure to
change new water regularly; once every six months.
Finding Safe Drinking Water: If you do run out of water during
an emergency, or are trapped somewhere without ready access to
clean drinking water, you'll need to know what's safe to drink,
and what isn't.
After a disaster, possible sources of safe drinking water in
your home include the water from your hot water tank, the water
from your toilet tank (not the bowl, but the water from your
tank, but if it is
chemical-free), and water trapped in your
water pipes. Melt any ice cubes that you may have stored.
Avoid using water from waterbeds as drinking water, since they
are treated with chemicals unsafe for drinking. You can use
waterbed water for washing, though. Outside your home try to
locate streams, rivers, lakes, or other sources of fresh water.
Never drink floodwater; it is usually contaminated with bacteria
and chemicals. Do save rainwater that may fall for drinking.
Purifying Water in an Emergency: If you cannot locating safe
drinking water during an emergency, then any water you find that
does not look clear, or which you believe may be contaminated,
should be purified before drinking.
The best and easiest way to purify water is by boiling.
Disease-bearing microorganisms cannot survive in high
temperatures. Boil the water for about one minute. For improved
taste, pour the water back and forth from one clean container to
another.
If you're unable to boil your water, treat it chemically before
drinking. Household chlorine bleach can be used to treat your
water. Use an eyedropper, to drop eight drops of bleach into
each gallon of water to be treated. Make sure the chlorine you
use lists hypochlorite as its only active ingredient; any extra
chemicals or fragrances will only further contaminate the water.
Stir the water and allow it to stand at least 30 minutes. When
the water appears clear, it is likely safe to drink. If it is
still murky or clouded, put in eight more drops and let stand
another 30 minutes.
About the author:
Carlo Morelli writes for OnlineTips.Org, where you can read tips
on home
alarm monitoring, and home
security services and products
Written by: Carlo Morelli
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