While flood waters may destroy a property and its contents, they can also be highly hazardous to your health. Flood damage is classified into three types: fresh water, grey water or sullage, and sewage water. If you do flood cleanup without adequate protection, you risk becoming seriously ill.

Furthermore, flooding can transport sharp items and substances that are not visible below the surface. Despite these serious risks, it is critical to be aware so that you and your family or employees are adequately prepared if it occurs. Keep an eye out for these dangers associated with flood cleanup and water damage to your health.

Dangers to One's Health and Safety When Dealing with Flood Cleanup

While deeper waters offer more dangers than those as shallow as a few inches, any amount of water is hazardous and can cause catastrophic injury to you and your loved ones.

Sharp Object Injuries

While you might not see any sharp objects at first, walking in murky water is highly perilous. If your basement has been flooded and you are doing flood cleanup, any nails, screws, shattered glass, or other small metal particles might cause serious damage or infection.

When doing flood cleanup, wear long clothes and thick shoes if you must go through water for your own protection. Otherwise, it is best to avoid it.

Safety Risks from Structural Damage

Because water is heavy, it may exert tremendous pressure on a property structure, especially if it contains porous materials, making it vulnerable to collapse at any time. As a result, it is strongly advised when doing flood cleanup to avoid residences and structures with significant structural damage.

Even if the structure is built of cement and does not appear to have suffered substantial damage, it should not be considered safe. If the electricity is still on, any unsecured wire might cause significant injury; thus, any electrical damage that is not evident from the exterior does not provide the green light to enter the home. Wait until a team of reconstruction professionals has determined that it is safe to re-enter.

Safety Risks from Electrical Damage

When doing flood cleanup, even if you are not inside a structure, any downed power lines offer a significant danger of electric shock. While many have been submerged beneath, visibility will be exceedingly difficult due to thick water.

If you come across any power lines that have fallen into the water, notify your local power provider and keep away from them. If you must enter the water for whatever reason, ensure that all electricity in your vicinity has been turned off.

Open Wounds Allowing for Diseases

If you are treading through water and you are cut with any sharp object, get out immediately. Any open cuts or wounds will be exposed to millions of harmful bacteria in the water, discounting any harsh chemicals that can irritate the injury.

If you have any healing sores or injuries, try to avoid doing flood cleanup, or at least ensure the injuries are properly protected before entering.

Infectious Substances and Harmful Chemicals

Even if you have no open wounds, anybody who does flood cleanup is at risk of serious illnesses and diseases caused by a range of hazardous chemicals. These might be any of the following:

• Sewage waste
• Gas
• Oil
• Organic waste
• Animal feces
• Blood
• Pathogens

If any of these are ingested, you are likely to suffer from a variety of unpleasant health consequences, including vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and gastroenteritis. Stay as far away from the water as possible if you see any of the above-mentioned chemicals.

Insects and Animals Pose Health and Safety Risks

Water, as you are undoubtedly aware, attracts a large number of pests, primarily mosquitoes. If some of these insects carry dangerous illnesses and bite through the skin, there is a significant risk of severe itching, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and a range of other health consequences.

Furthermore, any creatures brought in by the floodwaters, such as snakes, alligators, or raccoons, will pose a serious hazard to personal safety. This is why it is critical to remain where you are and wait for a team of flood cleanup specialists to assist you.

Emergency Help After Experiencing a Flood

Floods, without a doubt, may destroy properties and infrastructures, but the dangers they pose to humans can worsen the issue. Because the flood waters include different levels of sharp items, chemicals, pathogens, animals, loose wires, and insects, it is critical to prevent as much contact as possible.

Instead of treading water, it is preferable to wait for a rescue crew to arrive. There will also be flood cleanup experts in the area to assist with the repair and restoration of houses and buildings that have suffered major structural damage. They will work diligently to restore your property to its previous state since they understand how it feels to lose a house and possessions. Please contact us as soon as you detect the damage.

A Flood Cleanup Company Serving Utah

Few cleanup companies in Utah can match the work and service quality that Swift Restoration and Remodeling provides. Treat your property to the best service.

Call Swift Restoration and Remodeling at (385) 412-8633 today for 24 hour water damage restoration, flood cleanup, or mold remediation along with any of our other services, or get an instant quote from our website. Our flood cleanup company will get to your Utah home or business in 30 to 60 minutes.