Health and Home Advice
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Department of Health – Health Advice Kimberley – Kriol Translation
Department of Health – Health Advice Kimberley – English
Mosquitos
- Mosquito activity is expected to increase. As mosquitoes can carry a range of illnesses, you should protect yourself by using mosquito repellent and cover with long, loose-fitting clothing.
Health dangers of floodwaters
- Do not enter floodwaters as you risk drowning or being seriously injured.
- To prevent illness, avoid contact with floodwater – it is dirty and can be mixed with sewage from overflowing toilets and toilet systems.
- Assume anything touched by floodwater is dirty.
- Wear closed shoes, especially outdoors, if possible.
- Wash your hands and affected areas of the body thoroughly with clean warm water and soap or use hand sanitiser, especially before eating.
- Wash any wounds that come into contact with floodwater as soon as possible with clean water.
- Cover cuts and abrasions, preferably with waterproof dressings.
- Remove clothes that are dirty from the floodwater.
- If possible, wash and dry feet (and footwear) if you have walked in floodwater.
Returning home
- Remember wildlife may have been washed into your home during or sought high ground.
- If the house looks badly damaged and unsafe do not enter.
- When returning home please be mindful everything that has been in contact with flood water is dirty.
For more information:
Flood Clean up information
Australian Red Cross information
Drinking water
Using mains (tap) water:
- If you are in a flood affected area, your water provider will let you know if the tap water is unsafe to use and will issue a Boil Water notice.
Food and Medicine
- Throw out any food or medicine that has come into contact with floodwater and might be dirty.
- If the power goes out, refrigerated food can be used for up to four hours; after this it will have to be thrown out. Frozen foods last for up to 24 hours after the power goes out.
- If the power goes out for more than four hours contact your medical clinic for advice about any medicines that need to be stored in the fridge.