Department of Health
The health risks that floods can leave behind include:
- bacterial infections
- loss of medicines
- mould
- contaminated floodwater
- contaminated food or water
- injuries
- animal bites from displaced animals
- mosquito-borne illnesses
- carbon monoxide poisoning from generators.
Protect your health
If you feel unwell or have been injured, seek medical care. If it's an emergency, call 000. Lacerations and open wounds contaminated with flood water can become infected. Severe trauma-related infections can be life-threatening.
There are steps you can take to protect your health:
- Don't leave your house until authorities advise it is safe.
- If you cannot keep refrigerated medicines cold in the fridge or in ice, safely discard them. If it is essential medicine, such as insulin, check with a doctor or pharmacist. Medicines Line
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