No matter who you are, when you gotta go you gotta go and . . .
The lack of sanitation facilities following a major disaster can quickly create secondary problems unless basic guidelines are followed:
Water flush toilets cannot be used when water service is interrupted because the water remaining in the fixture is not sufficient to flush the wastes down. Clogging may result and your living conditions become just that much more uncomfortable.
If the toilet is NOT able to be flushed, it can still be used. This is less stressful for most people than using some other container. Remove all the bowl water. Line it with a heavy-duty plastic bag. When finished, add a small amount of deodorant or disinfectant,
securely tie the bag, and dispose of it in a large trash can with a tight fitting lid. This large trash can should also be lined with a sturdy trash bag.
Sewage must be disposed of in ways that will prevent contamination of water supplies. Digging holes in the ground to bury raw sewage should be avoided because doing so can pollute fresh ground water supplies.
Failure to properly dispose of human wastes attracts flies and can lead quickly to epidemics of such diseases as typhoid, dysentery and diarrhea.
Almost any covered metal or plastic container will do. You can use a covered pail, a 5-gallon bucket, or a small lidded kitchen garbage container for an emergency toilet. Anything that has a cover and will hold the contents until you can dispose of them will serve for sanitary purposes at first.
The following are simple things that should not be dismissed or . . . poo-poo-ed! They utilize things you most likely already have on hand. They cost nothing and require minimum storage space, while having the potential for maximum usage in time of need.
Begin Today: Gather some plastic grocery bags and empty cottage cheese, sour cream and/or similar containers
If you are like me you already know how handy these items are for everyday use. Imagine how indispensable they will be in an emergency ---as containers for disposing of whatever needs to be disposed of; adding an additional "layer" of secure containment.
Continue:
As you can, accumulate a supply of heavy-duty plastic bags, twist ties, disinfectant and toilet paper.
Note: a good disinfectant that is cheap and easy to use is a solution of 1 part liquid bleach to 10 parts water. Dry bleach is caustic and not safe for this type of use.
For more on keeping safe and clean just in case we find ourselves in the thick of it, click on the link below to go to my previous post What if there was suddenly no means of disposing of human waste?
http://thecreativecheapskate.blogspot.com/2011/08/what-if-there-was-suddenly-no-means-of.html
And,
To learn how we compactly store plastic bags for everyday use and for emergencies, click on the link below to go to my previous post Quickly capture kitchen clutter . . . in stuff you usually throw out
http://thecreativecheapskate.blogspot.com/2013/05/quickly-capture-kitchen-clutter-in.html
Watch Your Progress:
Each step, not matter how small, is a step towards peace of mind insurance! How great does that feel?
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