Safety Tips During Typhoon
Safety Tips – As the wet season is being experienced in the Philippines, typhoons and floods are expected to lure the whole archipelago.
The wet season is also the time of certain health conditions such as common colds, fever, dengue, and even leptospirosis. Not only that, the dirty water in floods can become a factor of infections and other skin problems.
There are a number of typhoons expected to enter the Philippines, 7 to 17 tropical cyclones as said by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). PAGASA recently announced the list of the typhoon names to be given this 2016.
One disaster happened in the Philippines in the mid of November 2013 as Super Typhoon Yolanda (Typhoon Haiyan) hits the country and took the lives of thousands.
Now, in order to at least eradicate that kind of disaster, being well-prepared for a typhoon would be really helpful.
The Philippine National Police had given safety tips on what to do during and after a typhoon as listed by Inquirer.
During a typhoon:
1. Do not panic, keep calm.
2. Pack foods that don’t need cooking (e.g. biscuits, canned sardines)
3. Keep flashlights, candles, and battery-powered radios within reach.
4. Examine your houses and repair unstable parts as much as possible (e.g. roofs)
5. Secure domesticated animals in a safe place.
6. Bring clothes, first-aid kit, candles/flashlights, battery-operated radios, food, etc. during an evacuation.
7. Stay inside the house and keep updates with the latest weather forecast.
8. If safe drinking water is NOT available, boil water for at least 20 minutes, then place it in a container with cover.
9. Keep an eye on lighted gas lamps. This may cause fire.
10. Do not go through flood waters as much as possible to avoid electrocution and water-borne diseases (e.g. leptospirosis).
11. Avoid going in low-lying beaches or other locations which may be swept away by tides or waves.
12. Check everything that may be blown away or turn loose like roofs. Flying objects are dangerous during typhoons.
13. Avoid using gas or electrical appliances that were submerged during flood.
14. Keep calm when going to an evacuation center. Close all windows and turn off the main power switch before leaving home. Place important appliances and belongings on a higher ground to avoid being submerged. Stay away from roads leading to a river or other bodies of water and to areas prone to landslide.
After the typhoon:
1. Make sure that the house/ building is safe and stable before you enter.
2. Beware of poisonous animals like snakes that might have entered your house. Try to check your house first.
3. Watch out for live wires or outlets immersed in water as it may cause electrocution. You can report damaged electrical cables and fallen electric posts to authorities.
It is really important to keep safe all the time. One can prepare ahead. Remember the famous saying that, “Prevention is better than cure.”
Keep safe.
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