Tornado Damage Cleanup Safety

Half of tornado-related injuries occur during rescue attempts and cleanup.

Even after the weather clears, cleanup and other activities during the aftermath of tornadoes can pose safety hazards. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 percent of tornado-related injuries may occur during rescue attempts, cleanup, and other post-tornado activities. In one study, nearly a third of the injuries resulted from stepping on nails. Other common causes of injury included falling objects and heavy, rolling objects. Because tornadoes often damage power lines, gas lines, or electrical systems, there is a risk of fire, electrocution, or an explosion. Protecting yourself and your family requires promptly treating any injuries suffered during the storm and using extreme care to avoid further hazards.

Tetanus shots available

The Oklahoma City-County Health Department (OCCHD) will be offering tetanus shots today to residents in the damaged areas, rescue workers and volunteers. Tetanus shots are recommended for anyone who hasn't had a tetanus booster within the last ten years. OCCHD nurses will be providing the shots in through Red Cross Caring Vans stationed at the Emergency Operations Command Center at 7501 S. Anderson Road near I-240.

Tetanus, also known as "lockjaw," can develop when Clostridium tetani bacteria enter the body through breaks in the skin. The bacteria is often found in soil, dust, and manure, and people may become infected through deep puncture wounds or cuts, like those made by nails. But the bacteria may also cause an infection even when it enters the body through even a tiny pinprick or scratch.

Tetanus is a serious disease caused when the Clostridium tetani bacteria produce a poison that spreads throughout the body, causing painful muscle spasms in the neck, arms, legs, and stomach. These can be strong enough to break a child's bones. Children with tetanus might have to spend several weeks in the hospital under intensive care - but the infection can be prevented with a tetanus vaccination.

Tips for Food Safety during Power Outages

OCCHD is also reminding people in areas with power outages that food stored in refrigerators and freezers can become unsafe to eat if the temperature exceeds 40 degrees for more than two hours. Foodborne bacteria can quickly begin to multiply in perishable food such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, and mayonnaise. Appearance and odor are not reliable ways to tell whether the food is still safe to eat. People should never taste food to find out whether it's gone bad.

Generally, if the power is off for four hours or less, food in an unopened refrigerator will stay below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and should be fine to use. A full freezer will keep food at an acceptable temperature for about 48 hours if the freezer door remains closed. Food may also be transferred to ice chests to keep cool.

If the freezer isn't completely full, frozen food is usually safe to cook or refreeze if the power hasn't been off any longer than 24 hours. If you have an appliance thermometer in your freezer, check the temperature when the power comes back on - if it reads 40 degrees or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen. If you don't have an appliance thermometer, check each item individually. If the food still contains ice crystals it's safe to refreeze or cook. As always, it's important that each item is thoroughly cooked to the proper temperature to ensure that any foodborne bacteria are destroyed.

But remember, even thorough cooking may not destroy all the bacteria in perishable food that's been left warmer than 40 degrees for longer than two hours. If you take a chance and eat it, you may become seriously ill.

The FoodSafety.gov website provides additional information: http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/emergency/index.html

The United States Department of Agriculture also provides guidance for various types of food. The complete list can be found at:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/keeping_food_Safe_during_an_emergency/index.asp

Additional information is also available at the Oklahoma State Department of Health website: http://www.ok.gov/health/Coping_After_The_Storm.html