If you are a student of history, you are likely aware that until fairly recently, most wartime casualties were caused by dysentery due to poor hygiene and waste management. The same issues will show up after a major disaster if infrastructure is not timely restored. The recent sewage spill in D.C. is just an example of what could happen if infrastructure were destroyed due to a disaster or war. The D.C. area was fortunate that this occurred during an extreme cold snap because the ice on the Potomac River slowed the spread of the spill. It would have been a much different situation in summer.
In "Sanitation: The Often Overlooked Necessity" from The Prepper Journal, the author explains:
... Without proper sanitation, a person who has food, water and a secure shelter can still perish.
There
are a number of aspects for proper sanitation that any prepper needs to
consider. The simplest items for something like a Bug Out Bag can
include hand sanitizing liquid, bleach wipes, water purification pills
and an instant use purifier like a LifeStraw.
Benzalconium
wipes that aren’t expired are guaranteed to kill many severe viruses
that average household disinfectants can’t touch, so having a supply of
those for cuts is going to give you an edge that alcohol swabs can’t
provide. A roll of toilet paper is also a must and for ladies, a supply
of feminine hygiene products, in case that time coincides with the end
times.
But the article goes beyond bugging out:
A
simple bucket can become your best friend in a survival scenario. Using
a toilet without being able to flush can lead to serious health
concerns, especially if multiple people are using it. As it fills, the
amount of germs becoming airborne increases. This is not safe at all.
Having a plan can change that.
Using a bucket
gives you the opportunity to throw your waste in an area outside of your
shelter. Rather than using the bucket itself, it is far better to keep a
box of garbage bags available to line the bucket. It will make disposal
easier and prevent accidental spills. A bucket filled with garbage
bags, soap and toilet paper rolls is easy to tuck away in a closet and
it will make a drastic difference in your ability to maintain sanitary
conditions.
There's more, so be sure to read the whole thing.
Search "reliance luggable loo". 5 gal bucket with toilet seat, lid, and starter supply of bags.
ReplyDeleteWhen sanitation becomes a problem, diarrhea becomes likely. An anti-diarrhea medicine such as loperamide (Imodium A-D) can be a lifesaver. Loperamide is dirt cheap, and has a shelf life far longer than the expiration date an the package.
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