ASOURCE Navi

The large earthquake that occurred in the Hokuriku region in January of this year caused the collapse of many houses and the disruption of lifelines, forcing many residents to live in evacuation centers. Life in an evacuation center can be harsher than you might imagine, so you need to be careful about your health, especially in winter and during disasters such as earthquakes. We have summarized the points you should keep in mind when living in a shelter during a winter disaster.

If you have to live in an evacuation center due to a disaster, etc., you need to be careful about infectious diseases. Evacuation centers are environments where infectious diseases can easily spread because many people live in a limited space. Especially during the winter, the risk of being infected by influenza, the new coronavirus, norovirus, etc. increases. To prevent such infections, basic measures such as washing hands, gargling, and wearing masks are essential. It is important to always wash your hands after using the toilet and before and after eating. If you cannot wash your hands under running water due to a water outage, etc., it is a good idea to use a hand sanitizer such as alcohol. Gargling has the effect of washing away bacteria and viruses before they invade through the mucous membranes, and preventing the throat from drying out.
If you have symptoms such as coughing or sneezing, please wear a mask even if your symptoms are mild to prevent the spread of colds and influenza within the evacuation center. Furthermore, be sure to ventilate and disinfect the evacuation center, and maintain social distancing as much as possible.

During disasters such as earthquakes and fires, large amounts of dust are thrown up from collapsed buildings. Inhaling this dust increases the risk of respiratory illness. Wearing a mask is strongly recommended during disasters, as it makes people especially susceptible to bronchitis and pneumonia. The main components of dust are building materials such as concrete, plasterboard, and asbestos. These are small particles that reach deep into the lungs and irritate the alveoli. Inhaling the dust can cause symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing, and fever, which can lead to serious illness. If you inhale dust for a long period of time, the dust accumulates in your lungs, making you more susceptible to a disease called pneumoconiosis. N95 masks are the most effective way to prevent these respiratory illnesses, but covering your nose and mouth with a surgical mask or wet wipes can also prevent dust from entering your respiratory system. If you do not have a mask, we recommend covering your mouth with your hand. In the event of a disaster, it is important to always carry a mask and wear it in dusty areas.

At evacuation centers, cold weather measures are required due to the drop in temperature. Care must be taken to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from heating equipment such as gas or oil stoves used at that time. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion in heating equipment. If heating equipment is used without adequate ventilation, carbon monoxide can accumulate and cause poisoning. Symptoms of poisoning include headache, dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness. If you experience any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, so if you are at an evacuation center, contact staff immediately. In severe cases, there is a risk of coma and death. As a precaution, be sure to ventilate the area when using stoves, etc. It is important to let in fresh air by opening windows and turning on ventilation fans.

When living in an evacuation zone, you should also be careful of economy class syndrome. Staying in the same position for long periods of time or not drinking enough water can lead to poor blood circulation and make your blood more likely to clot. As a result, blood clots can fly from the legs to the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism that can clog blood vessels. Symptoms include pain and swelling in the feet, a feeling of heat, and pain in the calves. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain may occur. Due to limited space in evacuation centers, people tend to stay in the same position for long periods of time, and they also tend to limit the amount of water they drink due to lack of toilets and poor sanitary conditions. People who sit in cramped seats in cars for long periods of time or who are forced to wake up in cramped spaces are also at high risk of developing the disease. In order to prevent it, it is important to increase opportunities for physical activity and to drink water frequently. Wearing compression stockings to improve blood flow can also be helpful. It is also important to get enough sleep to relieve stress.

When living in an evacuation center during a disaster, you need to be extremely careful about your health. To make your evacuation life as comfortable as possible, you should prepare and prepare in advance.