Week 31 (July 29, 2012)
Just a few words about Emergency Sanitation. A few years ago we had an evening when we all put together toilets for our emergency supplies. If you didn’t get one or you weren’t here, I am going to post here the suggested contents that you will need to purchase and put together yourself. It’s easy and runs about $35.00 per toilet. It is suggested that you have two: one for solid waste and one for liquid waste.
Purchase: Water storage that you can take and run with if necessary. Even if you store water in ice chests that you could easily pick up, great! Large containers aren’t a possibility for obvious reasons. Think smaller quantities for this purpose. Hopefully you will have completed your 3-month water supply by Tuesday. Good job!
Supplies for Sanitation Kit: (recommendations)
- Two 5 or 6-gallon plastic buckets with tight-fitting lids
- Two toilet seats that attach to the buckets
- Toilet paper
- Pre-washed and dried flannel, cut into squares, to use if toilet paper is not available (wash in hot water, bleach and re-use.)
- Paper towels
- Hand wipes, hand sanitizer and hand soap
- 13-Gallon trash bags (to line toilets)
- 33-gallon trash bags (to dispose of small, used bags and other trash)
- Two (or three) spray bottles (for hydrogen peroxide & white vinegar, with the third for bleach)
- Hydrogen peroxide
- White vinegar (in a plastic bottle, if possible, to avoid broken glass)
- Borax and/or Bleach
- Essential oils and/or sprays for odor control
- Small funnel to fill bottles
- Super Sorb (found at Amazon.com)
- Shovel
- Heavy gloves (for cleaning)
- Disposable gloves (for cleaning)
- Face masks
- Copy of the instruction sheet, stored in a plastic sheet protector in your emergency binder
- Empty plastic jug (the kind you keep in the fridge) to hold water for hand washing
EMERGENCY TOILETS: (IN CASE THE PLUMBING IS NOT WORKING)
- Have 2 toilets--one for liquid waste and one for solid waste.
- Place plastic liners in each toilet. You should double-line the toilet for solid waste.
- When the toilet is not in use, be sure to place a tight lid on top of the toilet to control odor and disease.
- In the toilet for urine, sprinkle one tablespoon of Super Sorb. It will decrease odors and absorb two gallons of fluid, turning it into a gel for easy clean-up and disposal. Also use Super Sorb for blood or vomit clean-up.
- In the toilet for solid waste, sprinkle Borax, or use one part bleach to four parts water. These solutions will decrease odors, disinfect, and stop the spread of disease.
- Wash your hands after each use by using soap and water. Use disinfectant wipes or hand sanitizer in a pinch.
- Use 1/4 cup of bleach in a quart of water to disinfect surfaces; or for less toxic chemicals, use undiluted hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and undiluted white vinegar in a separate spray bottle. Spray one after the other on surfaces that need to be disinfected, then wipe off with a paper towel. Make sure you do not mix bleach and vinegar (only use them separately).
Disposal:
Check with your local health department for their plans regarding waste disposal BEFORE a disaster. The following instructions are given by the Southwest Utah Public Health Department but your area may require something different:
Bury garbage and human waste to avoid the spread of disease by rats and insects. Dig a pit two to three feet deep and at least fifty feet downhill or away from any well, spring, or water supply. After dumping waste in the hole, sprinkle lime and then soil over the top to protect from animals, hasten decomposition, and decrease odors. It is recommended that you use biodegradable waste bags to reduce the amount of garbage you are burying. Protect yourself by wearing gloves and a face mask.
There now... you are ready in case of an emergency!
