Health department cautions about dangers of flood waters
PASCO COUNTY – The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County urges residents to be aware of the health risks associated with flooding.
Skin contact with flood waters does not, by itself, pose a serious health risk. However, health hazards are a concern when waters are or become contaminated with bacteria or contain dangerous debris.
DOH-Pasco recommends the following to prevent illness or injury from flood waters:
- Basic hygiene is critical. If you are under a boil water notice, use commercially bottled water for mixing baby formula. Wash your hands with soap and either disinfected or boiled and cooled water, especially before preparing or eating food, after toilet use, after handling a soiled diaper, after participating in flood cleanup activities, and after handling objects contaminated with flood water or sewage.
- Avoid eating or drinking anything that has been contaminated with flood waters.
- Avoid contact with flood waters, especially if you have open cuts or sores.
- If you have any open cuts or sores and come in contact with flood waters, wash the area well with soap to prevent infection. If a wound develops redness, swelling, or drainage, seek immediate medical attention.
- Residents who sustain lacerations and/or puncture wounds are encouraged to contact their primary health care provider to make sure they are current on their tetanus vaccine and possibly get a booster.
If on a septic system and your plumbing is functioning slowly:
- Converse water as much as possible; the less water used, the less sewage the septic tank must process. Minimize use of your washing machine.
- Do not have the septic tank pumped. Exceptionally high-water tables might crush a septic tank that was pumped dry. If the basic problem is high ground water, pumping the tank does nothing to solve that problem.
If your well is flooded:
- Heavy rainfall may have made your well water unsafe to drink. If you are unsure about the impact of flooding on your well water, use bottled water or boil water for drinking, making ice, teeth brushing, and washing any areas of the skin that have been cut or injured.
- If your well is affected by flood waters, there may be disease-causing organisms in your water making it unsafe to drink.
Call DOH-Pasco Environmental Public Health at 727-841-4425 option 3 for additional questions regarding well water testing.
Cooperative Extension provides resources for grandparents
DADE CITY – UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension invites the community to join its monthly support group for grandparents navigating the journey of raising grandchildren – GRAND Group.
The group meets from 10 a.m. to noon on the first Monday of each month at One Stop Shop, 15029 14th St., Dade City. Meetings allow participants to support each other, share resources and learn from guest speakers.
Call 352-521-1254 for more information about Grand Group and the One Stop Shop.
TRICARE expands temporary prescription refill waivers
FALLS CHURCH, Virginia – The Defense Health Agency announced that TRICARE beneficiaries in several Florida counties, including Hillsborough and Pasco, may now receive emergency prescription refills through Oct. 3 due to Tropical Storm Helene.
To receive an emergency refill of prescription medications, TRICARE beneficiaries should take their prescription bottle to any TRICARE retail network pharmacy. If the bottle is unavailable or the label is damaged or missing, beneficiaries should contact Express Scripts Inc., or their retail network pharmacy for assistance.
Beneficiaries may call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303, or search the network pharmacy locator to find a network pharmacy.
