Here’s what health risks to be mindful of during major flooding

Here’s what kind of health risks people should be mindful of during flooding

Updated: 5:19 PM EDT Sep 12, 2023

JESSICA. ALL RIGHT, KELLY ANN THANK YOU. AND YOU KNOW, WE’VE BEEN TALKING EXTENSIVELY ABOUT THE FLOODING IN HOMES AND LEMONSTER AND OTHER COMMUNITIES, AND THAT CAN POSE SOME HEALTH CONCERNS. HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS DR. TODD ELLERIN, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE AT SOUTH SHORE HEALTH. GOOD TO SEE YOU, DR. GOOD TO SEE YOU, JESSICA. YOU KNOW, DR. ELLERIN, WHEN YOU HAVE FLOODING, WHAT KINDS OF HEALTH RISKS SHOULD WE BE MINDFUL OF? BE WORRIED ABOUT? YEAH. MEAN MOTHER NATURE IS THROWING AT US THINGS THAT WE CAN’T HANDLE RIGHT NOW. AND WITH FLOODS, THERE’S DEFINITELY PHYSICAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH. THERE’S THE INITIAL, IMMEDIATE, INTERMEDIATE AND LONG TERM INITIAL SHIRLEY YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DROWNING, RIGHT? THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT. OTHER THINGS, INJURIES, OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE FALL, THEY HAVE FRACTURES, THINGS LIKE THAT. DON’T FORGET ABOUT ELECTROCUTION. IF THERE’S LIVE WIRES, YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE CAREFUL. THEN THERE’S THE INTERMEDIATE HEALTH RISKS. A LOT OF WATERBORNE THINGS YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE WATERBORNE BACTERIA LIKE E COLI WE’VE HEARD ABOUT VIBRIO RECENTLY, IF THERE’S COASTAL WATERS NEAR, WHENEVER YOU HAVE FLOODS AND SEWAGE TOGETHER, THAT’S A BAD THING. THE OTHER THING IS, REMEMBER, MOSQUITOES LOVE STANDING WATERS. MUSKY VETOES CAN COME AND YOU CAN GET MOSQUITO BORNE INFECTIONS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE’S THE LONGER TERM ISSUES THAT WE DEAL WITH. ONE OF THEM IS MENTAL HEALTH. I’M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT HAVING SOME WATER IN YOUR BASEMENT, BUT WHAT LEMONSTER IS GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO REALLY BE PREPARED. PAIRED WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS, THIS IS A REAL CATASTROPHE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THERE’S RESPIRATORY ISSUES. ABSOLUTELY. AND I’M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS SEE IN INSTANCES LIKE THIS SOMEONE OR PEOPLE WADING THROUGH THE WATER, NEVER SAFE TO DO. BUT ONCE THE WATER IS GONE, I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS. OF COURSE, THERE’S THE RISK OF MOLD AS WELL. WHAT DO PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT? RIGHT. AND I DIDN’T MENTION THAT. I’M GLAD YOU DID. SO MOLD WHEN IT’S STANDING CAN REALLY HAVE RESPIRATOR ISSUES. IT CAN EXACERBATE ALLERGIES. IT CAN CAUSE ASTHMA. IT CAN SOMETIMES LEAD TO PNEUMONIA, ESPECIALLY IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PEOPLE. WHAT DO WE DO TO TRY TO DECREASE MOLD, GET THE WATER OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY IF STANDING WATER IS THERE FOR 48 HOURS OR MORE. MOLD CAN CAN OCCUR. YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT BESIDES JUST GETTING THE WATER OUT HOWEVER YOU CAN. IT’S ALSO DEHUMIDIFIERS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE MOLD DOESN’T REALLY GROW IF IF THERE’S LESS THAN 70% HUMIDITY. WE TRY TO GET THAT HUMIDITY LESS. THE LESS THAN 50% REALLY DRY THE AREA AS WELL. STERILIZE YOU CAN USE BLEACH AND WATER A CUP OF BLEACH, A GALLON OF WATER TO OPEN WINDOWS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU VENTILATE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS TO PREVENT TO PREVENT MOLD FROM HAPPENING. GOOD ADVICE AND ALWAYS WE

Here’s what kind of health risks people should be mindful of during flooding

Updated: 5:19 PM EDT Sep 12, 2023

Dr. Todd Ellerin breaks down the immediate, intermediate and long-term risks associated with the flash flooding in Massachusetts.

WEYMOUTH, Mass. —

Dr. Todd Ellerin breaks down the immediate, intermediate and long-term risks associated with the flash flooding in Massachusetts.

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