How to prepare for Super El Nino: Hydration, water & hygiene
Hi, it's me, the one who posted Basic Preparations for Inflation and Power Outages last March.
2 weeks after my post went up, a National Energy Emergency was announced. 2 months later, rotational brownouts affected several areas in our country, including where I live.
Hindi ko na uulitin ang prepping advice na nakasulat in my previous post. But I will add more advice about prepping for Super El Nino.
BEWARE OF MONETIZED FEARMONGERING
Una sa lahat, be discerning. May mga tao na pineperahan ang paparating na Super El Nino.
May mga Facebook groups na nagkukunwaring "preppers" pero mapapansin mo sa posts na puro sila affiliate links at bentahan ng produkto.
Instead of sharing useful information to prepare for emergencies, role-playing preppers are taking advantage of people's anxieties to increase their sales.
Hindi kailangan gumastos nang malaki para mag-prepare. Paunti-unting ginagawa ang preparations ayon sa budget at circumstances.
And once you start preparing, you have to use, replenish, and maintain your supplies.
Prepping is a lifestyle. Hindi ito pagba-bulk buy lang tuwing may emergency and then masasayang ang mga pinamili.
Preppers are resourceful. Hindi kailangan bumili ng P1k+ rain collecting barrel kung pwede naman i-modify ang murang drum na nasa bahay.
WHAT COULD GO WRONG DURING SUPER EL NINO?
These are just possibilities. Some are more likely to happen and others are less likely to happen, depending on your circumstances. Ikaw na ang bahala kung ano ang dapat i-prioritize during your preparations.
Heat-related illnesses tulad ng dehydration, heat exhaustion at heatstroke.
Water shortage because of below-normal rainfall for prolonged periods.
Food shortage because of crop and livestock losses, which will drive up prices.
Power outages because of overloaded power grids.
Fires because of overloaded electrical outlets or faulty electrical connections. There could also be wildfires in rural areas.
Water-borne illnesses because of contaminated water. It's also possible to get dengue from mosquitoes because of improper water storage.
WHO ARE AT RISK DURING SUPER EL NINO?
Babies, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, people who are immunocompromised, outdoor workers.
Some people are at higher risk of dehydration, or heat makes their health condition worse, or they need sterile water every day, or they use medical devices that run on electricity.
Please consult a doctor for medical advice if you or your family member will be at risk during Super El Nino.
Last May, there were news reports about an 80-year-old father in Laguna who died after failing to undergo nebulization during a rotational brownout.
I hope that everyone will be safe and there will be no similar incidents in the months ahead.
HOW TO AVOID DEHYDRATION
We drink water everyday, but how much water do we usually drink? You can track your average daily water consumption to calculate how much drinking water you need in your supply.
Medical articles say that an adult needs 2-3 liters of drinking water per day.
So a 20 liter water container lasts 1 week (more or less) for 1 adult. If you want to have a rotating water supply good for 4 weeks, you'll need at least 4 of those containers.
Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) replace fluids and electrolytes lost when your body is getting dehydrated. ORS are often sold in 4.1 gram sachets.
Mix 1 sachet of ORS to 1 cup of water which is around 200 ml of water. Check the instructions on the sachet to be sure. I drink ORS kapag sumasakit ang ulo ko sa sobrang init at parang hindi sapat uminom ng tubig.
You can also make an oral rehydration solution by mixing 1 liter of water, 6 teaspoons of sugar, and one-half teaspoon of salt (recipe from Medical News Today).
Sports drinks are similar to ORS but contain more sugar and less sodium. They're good if you want to avoid dehydration while doing exercise or intense physical activity.
Avoid alcoholic drinks which make your body lose more water or fluids.
Signs of dehydration: Dark urine, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, fatigue.
When to seek medical care: Confusion, fainting, no urine for 8+ hours, persistent vomiting, bloody stool, or fever with heat exposure.
HOW TO MAKE DRINKING WATER
In case you need drinking water but you only have tap water, what can you do?
Boil clear water, and keep it boiling for at least 1 minute.
Use a water filter. There are many types of filter systems. Some are connected to a water supply, others need water poured into them. Some use electricity, others use gravity. Their filtration systems also vary. Up to you to choose.
Water purification tablets. There are different types of water purification tablets. Check the instructions on how use them. For some types, 1 tablet can purify 1 liter of clear water. For others, 1 tablet can purify 10 liters of clear water. Wait for at least 30 minutes before drinking the water.
I usually find water purification tablets through online sellers. I hope that local drug stores will stock them para sigurado na authentic ang tablets.
HOW TO COLLECT, TREAT & STORE WATER
The water that we use can be divided into 3 groups: potable water, household water and gray water.
Potable water is safe for drinking and cooking. Household water is used for cleaning and hygiene. Gray water is used for flushing the toilet.
We can buy potable water or make it by filtering and purifying clear water, as discussed earlier. Use food grade containers to store potable water.
We can get household water from the tap. In some areas, water trucks distribute water during prolonged shortage. We can also collect rain.
Rain can be collected in barrels covered with fine mesh. Disinfect it by adding 2 drops (0.1 ml) of plain unscented bleach per liter of water. If you have 120 liters of water, it'll need 12 ml of bleach.
Keep water, especially potable water, away from direct heat and sunlight which break down plastic and speed up the growth of algae and bacteria.
Make sure that water containers are well covered. Replace the water every 6 months or as soon as it gets cloudy or smelly.
If you keep untreated tap water stored for a long time, things grow in them, and the water texture gets weird. Hindi ko alam kung paano idescribe ang texture. But it was disgusting.
So ROTATE your water supply and clean the containers regularly. If you're going to store a lot of water, make sure you have the time and energy to maintain them.
Gray water used for flushing the toilet can be gathered from reused water. It can be water from bathing or washing vegetables. Never reuse water that has lots of grease or has touched raw meat because it's contaminated.
Try spending a day without running water. Chances are you'll find gaps in your preps, like things needed for handling and transferring water.
Basins, extra tabo, water dispensers, siphon pipes and a sturdy trolley are very useful.
HYGIENE AND CLEANING
For personal hygiene: sponge/towel bath, dry shampoo, wet/alcohol wipes, hand sanitizer.
Drifit clothes are very convenient because they are breathable, easy to wash and quick to dry.
For cleaning: Disposable tableware can be used or food grade plastic can be put over plates so there's no need to wash dishes afterwards. Disposable gloves and trash bags.
Once again, there's no need to buy everything or buy a lot. Prioritize the most important preps and then build up your supplies over time.
That's all I have to add for Super El Nino specific preps. Please share your tips for more advice to everyone. Stay safe and remember to wear sunblock!