Flooding in Allen County and the surrounding areas has the potential to be a major health and safety hazard. The Allen County Health Department has issued the following information to help everyone stay safe and healthy. Please approach flooded areas carefully and remember that no appointment, day at work, or shopping trip is worth risking serious injury.

Consumer Safety When Flooding Occurs

Flooded indoor areas require immediate cleaning to avoid further damage from mold and mildew.  Gas powered pumps and generators should only be used in well ventilated areas.  Drying wet surfaces as quickly as possible is the key - open doors and windows to help. Using a fan or dehumidifier will speed the process.

Clean up

All flood waters should be considered potentially contaminated so wear protective clothing, such as boots and rubber gloves when cleaning up and cover any open sores or wounds.  Generally, carpet and padding, upholstered furniture, paper, and cardboard items should be discarded.  Hard surfaces should be cleaned, disinfected, and then dried to prevent mold growth.  To disinfect flooded surfaces add ¼ cup of household bleach to 1 gallon of cool, clean water.  Be sure to wash your skin thoroughly with soap and water if you come in contact with flood water.  Frequent handwashing reduces the chances of infection.  Proper handwashing means washing your hands in soapy water for 20 seconds.

Wells and Water Safety

If wells are located in flooded areas, they should be disinfected with unscented household bleach.  Well disinfection instructions are available on the Health Department website www.allencountyhealthdepartment.org.   Well water should be tested after disinfecting the well.  Call the Allen County Health Department to arrange for a water sample collection after you disinfect your well – 419-228-4457.

Food Safety

Do not eat any food that may have come in contact with flood water and discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water.  Food containers that are not waterproof include those with screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps.  Inspect canned foods and discard any food in swollen, leaky, punctured, rusted or crushed cans.  Root and garden vegetables that have come into contact with floodwater should be thrown away.  More information about saving undamaged canned foods is available at http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~tcjm/fsdisas.html

The enormous increase in brain injuries has gained a lot of attention recently. Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are experiencing head trauma at an alarming rate. Sports-related head injuries, particularly concussions, are also in the news. Locally, counties in our area have a new resource to deal with all types of brain injury - both acquired such as strokes and traumatic such as vehicle accidents.

Horner has an M.A. in Community Counseling and brings a wealth of social services experience to the role of Coordinator. She served previously as the Director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and as an intervention specialist for Lima City Schools. Horner can be reached at (419) 999-0251 or via email jhorner@biaoh.org .

Click here for a great article on sports-related concussions and how to prevent them:  Sports Concussions

There is an epidemic in our American workplaces. It's not cancer, or diabetes, or AIDS, or any of the other concerns that are prevalent and are thought to be sweeping through our places of business. These concerns, while very real, are way down the list to the real epidemic: depression. Almost 20 million Americans - working Americans - suffer from depressive disorders.

Sometimes it's hard, even for those of us who should know better, to understand or empathize with a depressed coworker. Unfortunately, the symptoms of depression often run counter to our American work ethic. People with depression may be perceived as lazy, unproductive, irritable, and hard to get along with. In reality, the person with depression is none of the above, but is struggling to maintain productivity despite symptoms that often seem insurmountable.

The following article describes what resources are available and what supports are needed to accommodate an employee diagnosed with depression. The article, a career support posting from monster.com, outlines the things that workers with depression – and their colleagues – should know.

Click the link to read the full text article.  Workplace Support for Adults with Depressive Disorders