SHELLEY IDAHO SOUTH STAKE

PREPAREDNESS ROUNDUP
From Your Stake Personal Preparedness & Provident Living Specialists
Dave & Peggy Balmforth
Volume 1, Issue 4 October 2009
Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6:46
will be too sick to even want to eat, much less be able to digest

Emergency any nutrients.

Sanitation
and other emergencies can strike at any time; often, they come
when it is least convenient and when people feel the least
prepared. And while experts can predict the path of, say, a
hurricane, they cannot know for certain where it will go and
how strong it will be once it gets there. Or in the case of
earthquakes: scientists can warn people that an earthquake is
“In reviewing the Lord’s imminent, but they can’t say exactly when, or exactly how
counsel to us on the severe.
importance of preparedness,
I am impressed with the Besides, the greatest damage is never done right when the
plainness of the message. disaster occurs — it is in the aftermath of these natural
The Savior made it clear that disasters that the true emergencies lie. Injury, illness,
we cannot place sufficient oil infection, and other risky behaviors all contribute more to
in our preparedness lamps
by simply avoiding evil. We
the casualty toll than the actual storm. And all of these
must also be anxiously things happen because in one way or another, people are not
engaged in a positive program prepared.
of preparation.” This all paints a very grim picture of the natural disasters to
“The Lord will not translate come; but there is a solution, and it is easy to come by. People
one’s good hopes and desires just need to face the dangers that they and their area face, and
and intentions into works. prepare for every possibility. This is especially true when it
Each of us must do that for comes to emergency sanitation and hygiene. It’s actually very
himself” While many people are
familiar with emergency food easy to get the supplies for a disaster when it comes to this
Spencer W. Kimball
and water storage, and may aspect of emergency preparedness; all people have to do is put a
The Miracle of Forgiveness
even understand the little thought into it.
importance of having At all times and under all conditions, human beings must have
alternative lighting and heat, considerably less people want to sufficient water, adequate food, and proper sanitation in order to
think about a more unsavory topic: hygiene and sanitation
during an emergency. However, besides having food and water stay alive and healthy. When people are living under
staples, knowing the basics of emergency hygiene is possibly emergency conditions — even for a week or two — water and
the most important part of anyone’s emergency preparations. food may be scarce and it may be difficult to maintain normal
sanitary conditions. Water and food supplies may have to be
What will you do if your toilet stops flushing and you can’t “managed” — that is, taken care of, kept clean,
get anyone to take your garbage away? If an emergency and rationed to each person. Sanitation also may
causes your toilets of garbage service to stop working you have to be managed and controlled, perhaps by
MUST find a way to SAFELY DISPOSE of the human waste setting up emergency toilets and rules to insure
(sewage) and garbage yourself. If you don’t, you will soon be that they are used properly.
spending most of your time and energy treating sick people,
including yourself. One of the most important aspects of sanitation is waste, which
is the predominant cause of disease after an emergency. The
Sanitation can be a problem during an emergency if advanced three most important things to do are:
preparations have not been made. You need to plan for and
1. Bury or store all garbage and human waste at least 100
prepare an alternate (and portable) method of sanitation. Big
feet away from water wells or open water.
changes in normal routines can cause upsets to body systems
that often result in gastro-intestinal problems, which compound 2. Keep flies, roaches and animals out of the sewage and
the problems of sanitation. garbage;
Without hygiene and sanitation, it won’t matter how prepared 3. Wash or clean your hands whenever you handle something
one’s shelter is, or how comprehensive their emergency dirty and BEFORE you handle anything that you will be
communications are; it won’t matter because if people are sick, putting into your mouth or someone else’s mouth.
they won’t be able to make good use out of these items anyway.
Food storage, similarly, becomes almost useless in the face of
disease and infection. If people get dysentery or malaria, they
 Food Sanitation  toothpaste and toothbrushes
 deodorant
It is especially important to be sanitary in the storing,  feminine supplies
handling, and eating of food to avoid digestive upsets or other  shaving supplies
more serious illnesses such as typhoid, dysentery, and
diarrhea, and to avoid attracting vermin. Be sure to: Disposal of Garbage and Rubbish
 Keep all food in covered containers. Garbage may sour or decompose, rubbish (trash) will not, but
 Keep cooking and eating utensils clean. Diarrhea may offers disposal problems in an emergency. Garbage, or any
result from dish soap that is not thoroughly rinsed from mixed refuse containing garbage, must be carefully
dishes. stored and handle if odor and insect nuisances are to
be prevented. Since rubbish alone is fairly easy to
 Keep all garbage in a closed container or dispose of it dispose of, garbage should be kept separate from it
outside the home when it is safe to go out. If possible, and not mixed. The following suggestions will make it
bury it. Avoid letting garbage or trash accumulate inside easier for you to take care of the refuse problem.
the shelter, both for fire and sanitation reasons.
1. Garbage should be drained before being placed in storage
 Wash hands and utensils frequently. containers. If liquids are strained away, garbage may be
stored for a longer period of time without developing an
 Prepare only as much food as will be eaten at each meal. unpleasant odor. After straining, wrap the garbage in several
 Paper cups and plates, are handy things to have if the water thicknesses of old newspapers before putting it into your
supply is cut off, because they need not be washed and container. This will absorb any remaining moisture. A
can be burned with the rubbish. Paper towels and napkins tight-fitting lid is important to keep out flies and other
are good, too, when laundry needs cannot be met. insects.

 Refrigerators and home freezer units should be kept closed 2 You should keep one or more 20-gallon cans on hand for
as much as possible once the services they depend on are emergency use, if possible. If you live in an apartment
cut off. The food they contain will keep longer if you building, get the largest kitchen garbage container for which
plan your meals well in advance so that you won't have to you have space.
open the doors any more than necessary. If the gas or Final disposal of all stored garbage and refuse can be
electric service is not restored within 12 hours, eat or accomplished in the following manner, provided there is no
cook the most perishable items in your refrigerator before danger from radioactive fallout:
they spoil. If foods show signs of decomposition, discard
them before they contaminate other foods that keep better. 1. All stored garbage should be buried if collection service
is not restored and if unpaved yard areas are available —
 Food will keep in home freezer units after they are shut off keep a shovel handy for this purpose. Do not dump garbage
for varying periods depending on the amount and kind of on the ground, because it will attract rats, skunks and other
food, the temperature at which it was kept, and the scavengers. Dig a hole deep enough to cover it with at least
construction of the freezer. Frozen meats and other 18-24 inches of dirt, which will prevent insect breeding and
frozen foods can be preserved for later use by cooking discourage animals from digging it up.
them soon after they have thawed or by quick re-freezing
before they have completely thawed. 2. Do not establish a community dump without permission
from the proper authorities. Garbage dumps quickly become
Official instructions regarding food will be issued locally in the infested with rats capable of carrying disease germs over a
event of an emergency. These instructions will tell you the type wide area. If necessary, local authorities will pick sites
of disaster and its effect upon milk and other foods. where refuse may be left for supervised burning or burial as
soon as conditions permit.
Laundry and Cleaning Supplies
3. Other rubbish may be burned in open yard areas (if
During times of emergency it is critical that sanitation be strictly permission is granted by authorities under existing
observed in the cleaning of clothing, bedding materials, and all conditions) or left at dumps established by local authorities.
kitchen and food preparation utensils. Suggested laundry and Cans should be flattened to reduce their bulk. Do not
cleaning storage items are: deposit ashes or rubbish in streets or alley ways without
permission. Such material may interfere with the movement
 deodorizer tablets and air fresheners and operation of fire-fighting and other emergency
 Lysol-type disinfectant equipment.
 laundry detergent
 liquid chlorine bleach Emergency Sewage Disposal
 clothes pins
 parachute cord for emergency clothes line Proper management of toilet facilities during times of
 dish detergent emergency may have greater affect on your health than any
 bar soap other single element of sanitation.
 shampoo and conditioner
Unsanitary toilet conditions can be lethal, yet with proper STORING CHLORINATED LIME in your garage is a good
planning and precautions it is very easy to insure good health. idea for use with any of these temporary toilets. You need to be
concerned with bacteria and disease during a time like this.
 Water flush toilets cannot be used
when water service is interrupted.
The water remaining in the fixture Toilets – #1 - If the toilet bowl and seat in your home are still
is not sufficient to flush the wastes usable (not wrecked)) scrub the bowl clean using one part of
down the sewer. Clogging may laundry bleach to ten parts of water (10:1). When clean, drain
result and your living conditions the bowl and dry it. Line the bowl with a plastic or paper bag.
then become just that much more uncomfortable. Line the insidee of the first bag with a sturdy plastic bag and lay
the toilet seat on it to keep it open. Use the toilet as you
 Even if the water is on, if the electricity is off there is no normally do. After every use, sprinkle the waste with the
way for sewage to be pumped through the lines and the bleach/water solution mentioned above or cover it with a layer
sewage will back up overflowing your toilet. of sawdust, wood shavings,
avings, lime, dry dirt, grass clippings, etc.
 Even if water is available, local authorities may ask you Limiting the liquids that go into the bowl will make it easier to
not to use flush toilets, wash basins, and other fixtures change the bags. When the bag is full or you can’t stand the
connected with soil pipes. The sewer mains may be smell anymore, carefully tie the top of the bag tightly closed,
broken or clogged, which would make it impossible to remove it, and replace
place with another bag. Dispose of the waste
carry off such waste; or water may bee needed for fire using the instructions below.
fighting or other emergencies. It is necessary for every Disinfectant: When using bleach use ¼ cup bleach to 1 quart
family to know emergency methods of waste disposal in water.
case such conditions arise.
Other chemicals that can be used in place of liquid chlorine
 Failure to properly dispose of human wastes can lead to bleach are: HTH (calcium
calcium hypochlorite),
hypochlorite which is available at
epidemics of such diseases as typhoid, dy
dysentery, and swimming pool supply stores and is intended to be used in
diarrhea. At the same time, sewage must be disposed solution. Following the directions on the package it can be
of in ways that will prevent contamination of water mixed and stored.
supplies used for drinking, cooking, bathing,
laundering, and other domestic purposes
purposes. Here are Caution: Do not use calcium hypochlorite to disinfect drinking
simple steps that any family can take to prevent such water as it kills all the beneficial bacteria
bacteri in the intestinal tract
dangers and discomforts. and thus causes mild diarrhea. Portable toilet chemicals, both
liquid and dry, are available at recreational vehicle (RV) supply
If the water lines are damaged or if damage is suspected, do not stores. These chemicals are designed especially for toilets
flush the toilet. Avoid digging holes in the ground and using which are not connected to sewer lines. Use according to
these. Untreated raw sewage can pollute fresh ground water package directions. Powdered, chlorinated lime is available at
supplies. It also attracts flies
ies and promotes the spread of building supply stores. It can be used dry. Be sure to get
diseases. chlorinated lime, not quick lime which is highly alkaline and
corrosive.
Emergency Toilets Disposal
Caution: Chlorinated products which are
a intended to be mixed
Toilet - It takes many gallons of water to flush a
with water for use can be dangerous if used dry. You may also
toilet. You must choose if you want to use your
use powdered laundry detergent, Lysol®,
Lysol Pinesol®, ammonia,
water for flushing or for drinking. You may want
or other household cleaning and disinfecting products such as
to use an alternative type of toilet to save your
chlorine bleach, baking soda, alcohol, or creosol
creoso or an
water. Or just flush once a day!
insecticide to keep down odors and germs.
germs
Outhouse - When making an outhouse you must
dig deep - to prevent animals from digging the Supplies for Disinfecting and Odor Control:
area. After each use, sprinkle chlorinated lime Baking Soda: will help to control odor; it stops mold, fungus or
over the waste to control bacterial and disease
disease. mildew, and is a natural Whitener. Baking soda relieves
Bucket - A plastic bag lined bucket works for a heartburn, indigestion and it neutralizes acids in a sour stomach
make shift toilet. If you put a toilet seat or associated with diarrhea. Use 1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed
portable seat on the bucket it makes it more with 1 cup of water and drinks it down. Baking soda plus a little
comfortable salt will help clean your teeth.

Plastic bags - If a bucket is going to be planned 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (Put Put in a small spray bottle, no water
for your emergency toilet, make sure you also added)) Hydrogen Peroxide is an antiseptic, and a cleaning agent
store extra plastic garbage bags so that you still for minor cuts and abrasions. It can be used as an oral rinse and
have some bags for trash. gargle. To disinfect toilet seat
at just spray it on and wipe off.

A tightly closed trash can, can be used for storage of waste. White Distilled Vinegar: Put in a small spray bottle, no water
added. Studies show that vinegar kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of
mold, and 80% of germs (viruses).
). To disinfect toilet seat just
spray it on and wipe off.
 Combining Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide: Emergency Chemical Toilet
Spraying solutions of vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, one
after the other, in any order, kills virtually all Salmonella,
Shigella or E. coli bacteria on heavily contaminated surfaces.
Borax: This is used to cut down the stench. (1 teaspoon every
time you do your duty)
Lyme: This is used to break down the waste. (1 teaspoon every
time you do your duty) Store this in its original paper bag and
off the floor 5 or 6-gallon plastic bucket (with tight fitting lid) (6 gal. is
#2 – If your toilet bowl is not usable, use a five or six gallon higher & easier to use & stores most of the following items)
bucket, wooden box or some other container sturdy enough to  2 large boxes of garbage can liners (30 gallon size)
sit on. Sit the seat from your toilet on the bucket or make one  2 boxes trash can liners (8-10 gallon size)
from layers of heavy cardboard glued together, two boards laid  4 pairs of rubber gloves
across the top with a gap between them or cut a seat from  1 gallon liquid chlorine bleach or other chemical
plywood. Line with bags as outlined in #1 above. Dispose of  ½ gallon white distilled vinegar
the full bags using the instructions below.
 2 boxes baking soda
#3 – If the emergency will only last for a day or two, you can  Pinesol® or Lysol®
use “cat holes” outside. These are small, onetime personal use  Ammonia – as an aid in disinfecting
holes you dig in the ground and squat over. The hole should be  1 large bottle of hand sanitizer
deep enough to cover your waste at least 18 inches deep when
 6-8 rolls toilet paper
filled. Do not do this any closer than 100 feet from open water
or water wells or the germs in the sewage will get into the water.  1 roll of paper towels
 1 large package of baby wipes
#4 – If the emergency will last more than a week and your toilet
 2 – 1 liter bottles of water
or bucket commode no longer will do the job you need to make
a latrine. Use a shovel or posthole diggers to dig a pit four to  3 – spray bottles
six feet deep and about one foot wide. Place a bucket, box,  folding camp shovel with serrated cutting edge – for
barrel, or anything with a hole in it that you can sit on over the digging latrines and disposing of wastes.
pit. Whatever you use must cover the pit tightly so that flies  feminine sanitary supplies
cannot get in while no one is using it. The seat and box must be
To use this toilet simply
cleaned regularly with the bleach water solution mentioned
remove the contents
above and kept tightly covered when not in use. When the pit
from the bucket, insert a
fills to within eighteen inches of the top, fill the hole in with
large plastic garbage
clean dirt and mound it over. Cover the mound to keep animals
can liner into the bucket
from digging it up.
and fold the edges over
Where radioactive fallout does not present a hazard, a temporary the rim of the bucket.
pit privy may be constructed in the yard for use by several Mix one cup of liquid chlorine bleach to one-half gallon of
families. This offers a good method of waste disposal over water (one to ten ratio — do not use dry or powdered bleach as
extended periods of time. it is caustic and not safe for this type of use) and pour this
solution into the bucket. This will kill germs and insure
The structure need not be elaborate, so long as it provides
adequate coverage. Though the bucket may be somewhat
reasonable privacy and shelter. The pit should be made fly-
uncomfortable to sit upon, it certainly beats the alternative. For
proof by means of a tight-fitting riser, seat, and cover. A greater comfort you can remove the seat from the toilet and
low mound of earth should be tamped around the base of the secure it to the top of the bucket.
privy to divert surface drainage and help keep the pit dry.
Accumulated waste should be covered with not less than 18
After each usage replace the lid securely upon the bucket to
inches of earth when the privy is moved or abandoned.
keep insects out and to keep the smell contained. When the
NEVER deposit human waste or garbage on the open bucket is one-third to one-half full, tie the garbage bag liner shut
ground. If you have no other alternative for disposal, it is safe and dispose of it appropriately (i.e., burying it, placing it inside
to bury waste in trenches 24-30 inches in depth. a large covered metal garbage can for later disposal, or placing
it in an approved disposal location). Put another liner inside the
bucket and continue as above.
 Controlling Odors and Insects Be sure to wash your own hands regularly when working with
infants (especially after each diaper change). Typhoid fever,
Insecticides and deodorants should be used when necessary to amoebic dysentery, diarrhea, infectious hepatitis,
control odors and insects breeding in containers that cannot be salmonella, and giardiasis are diseases that spread rapidly in
emptied immediately. At least 2 pints of household bleach times of emergency and threaten all, yet are all diseases that
solution should be kept on hand for disinfecting purposes. can easily be controlled by simply following the rules of good
sanitation.
Other Supplies
Keep on hand an extra supply of toilet Tips for Staying Clean in an Emergency
tissue, plus a supply of sanitary napkins. If As much as possible, continue regular hygiene habits such as
there is illness in the house that requires rubber brushing your teeth, washing your face, combing your hair and
sheeting or other special sanitary equipment, even washing your body with a wet washcloth. This will help
make sure that adequate supplies are available. At least a prevent the spread of disease and irritation as well as help
week's accumulation of daily newspapers will come in handy relieve stress.
for insulating bedding from floors, and lining clothes against
cold, as well as for the sanitary uses already mentioned. Other  Keep your fingers out of your mouth. Avoid handling food
possible items include a plastic bedpan, laundry detergent and with your hands.
bleach – another plastic bucket could be used as a washing  Purify your drinking water. Use chlorine bleach,
container, clothes pins – to hang up wet clothing, Cotton dish purification tablets (check bottle for expiration dates), or by
towels or bath towels, paper towels, sponges and scouring pads boiling for 10 minutes.
for cleaning, bar soap, liquid soap or disinfecting disposable
cloths, baby wipes, etc. for cleaning hands, etc., Vaseline  Sterilize your eating utensils by heat. You can also rinse
Petroleum Jelly, Cornstarch, rat, mouse & insect traps — if you dishes in purified water that has additional chlorine bleach
think that you don’t have a rodent and insect problem now — added to it. (Use 2 1/2 teaspoons bleach per gallon of
YOU WILL!!! purified water.)

Solutions for Apartment Dwellers  Keep your clothing as clean and dry as possible, especially
under-clothing and socks.
Persons in city apartments, office buildings, or homes without
yards should keep a supply of waterproof paper containers on There are dozens of other small things that people can do to
keep themselves and their families safe and disease free during
hand for emergency waste disposal. Where flush toilets cannot an emergency. One of the most important and least-thought
be used and open ground is not available for the construction of about things is constant hand-washing. This is important
privies, such disposable containers offer a practical method of during regular circumstances, but during a disaster, it
emergency waste collection and disposal. Building managers should become a top priority. You should sing the kids
should plan for the collection of such containers and for their alphabet song clear through TWICE while washing to
final disposal. Before collection, the used containers may be thoroughly kill all germs.
stored in tightly covered garbage cans or other water tight Wash and disinfect hands before preparing or eating food,
containers fitted with lids. Homemade soil bags for this purpose after going to the bathroom, after changing diapers or
can be prepared very easily by putting one large grocery bag caring for someone who is sick, after handling anything that
inside another, and a layer of shredded newspaper or other could be infected or germ-ridden, and before treating any
absorbent material between. You should have sufficient grocery cuts or wounds, no matter how minor. When hands are
visibly dirty, they should be washed with soap, even if people
bags on hand for possible emergencies. A supply of old are diligent about using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. If soap or
newspapers will come in handy for other sanitary uses also, such water isn’t available, keep using the sanitizer consistently.
as wrapping garbage and lining larger containers.
Although sanitation and hygiene are sometimes unpleasant
Babies topics to dwell on, people must think about them if they want to
get through a disaster disease-free. If they follow the above
If you have a baby in your home, you may find diaper instructions, as well as following their regular sanitation routine
laundering a problem under emergency conditions. It is best to (i.e. face-washing, tooth-brushing, and bathing regularly) as
keep an ample supply of disposable diapers on hand for much as possible, then they shouldn’t have any trouble staying
emergency use. Or, any moisture resistant material can be cut clean during an emergency.
and folded to diaper size and lined with absorbent material. If Other Helpful Preparedness sites:
these are not available, emergency diaper needs can be met by http://www.preparedness.com/
lining rubber pants with cleansing tissue, toilet paper, scraps of
cloth, or other absorbent materials. http://www.iwillprepare.com/index_files/Cooking_Without_Ele
ctricity_Main.htm
To help insure proper sanitation it is imperative that you store a
http://pgward.org/ep/
sufficient supply of disposable diapers, disposable wipes, and
plastic garbage can liners. Change infants and toddlers
regularly and keep them clean. Dispose of the soiled diapers in Next month’s Newsletter will feature Medical Provisions to have on
the plastic garbage can liners and keep them tightly sealed when hand in your home. We will be including some information on
not in use to help prevent the spread of disease. Homeopathic remedies Essential Oils, Herbs, and other helpful
natural measures.