Big Medicine

Cork Ireland--The HSE South has advised people to take the following precautions regarding the consumption and usage of water in their homes and businesses during the current period of flooding and subsequent interruption of water supply.

Members of public should stay tuned to local radio for further updates.

Hand washing

People should ensure that they wash their hands frequently; if no tap water is available, then use the water supply from water tankers in designated areas, bottled water, hand wipes, sanitizers, etc.

Emergency water supply

Emergency water supplies are provided in affected areas. In accordance with the local authorities advice, it is advisable to boil water before use for drinking and food preparation purposes. People are being asked to bring their own containers for water collection. It is important to ensure your water container is clean before it is filled. If you are unsure of the cleanliness of your water container, please boil the water before use, this applies to drinking water and water used for food preparation. All water for these purposes should be brought to the boil and then allowed to cool before using. Please remember that boiling water can carry a risk of scalding accidents. It is advisable to use a kettle rather than pots and pans. If you must use open containers such as pots and pans, then special care should be taken around young children or vulnerable people. Keep panhandles turned inwards where children / other vulnerable people cannot reach them.

Water use

Boiled water (subsequently cooled) or bottled water may be used for brushing teeth, washing food, cooking and making ice.

Bottle feeding for babies

In preparing formula feeds for infants / babies, it is advisable to use water from one of the water tankers in the designated areas, or bottled water brought to a 'rolling' boil and left covered to cool for no more than half an hour. Then follow the manufacturer's instructions on making up the feed.

Use cooled boiled water or bottled water for cooling the feed once it has been made up. Ready-to-feed liquid formula may be used instead.

All bottled water should comply with all drinking water standards and will be safe to use in preparing baby feed. If you are using bottled water for preparing baby food, be aware that some natural mineral water may have high sodium content. Look at the label for sodium or `Na' and check its level is not higher than 200mg per litre. If the content is higher, then it is advisable to use a different type of bottled water. If no other water is available, then use this water for as short a time as possible. It is important to keep babies hydrated.

Toilet flushing

The public are advised to conserve water where possible. It is not necessary to flush the toilet after urination. If there is no water for flushing toilets, it is important that all other water used eg. for washing, bathing, and from cooking (i.e. water from boiled vegetables) or washing up is saved in buckets to be used for flushing. Other sources of recycled water can also be used for flushing, for example, rain water.

Bathing

If tap water is not available for bathing infants, boiled and cooled tanker water or bottled water are safe alternatives. Another safe alternative to bathing is to use baby wipes for hand cleansing and washing infants.

Similar advice applies to children and adults

Contact lenses

Tap water or tanker water should never be used for cleaning or storing contact lenses since this could cause a rare, but serious, eye infection.

Schools

Most schools in affected areas who do not have water for drinking, washing or sanitation have confirmed their closure for the duration of the emergency.

Private water supplies

If your water is sourced from a private supply such as a well, then check that it has not been affected by the flood water. If the private well has been covered by flood water, if the water changes colour, taste or smell, or, if you believe the supply has been affected by the flood, assume the water is unsafe to drink unless boiled or sourced elsewhere.

Additional information in relation to the flooding is available from Cork City Council at: www.corkcity.ie

Cork City Council also has a telephone information line available from 8.00am - 6.00pm on Saturday November 21st and Sunday 22nd November '09.

Contact numbers:

021-4924178
021-4924228
021-4924255
021-4924679