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Date: 16/01/2019

Source: MoPH

Moph: Prevention Guidance following the Storm Repercussions

The Information office of the Ministry of Public Health issued the following statement:

In anticipation of the upcoming storms that will hit Lebanon, and in the light of its awareness-raising tasks, the Ministry of Public Health issued the following guidelines to ensure the safety of the citizens.

Follow the safety standards while using heating appliances, in particular at night to prevent any gas leak or fire.
Equip your houses with fire extinguishers.
Avoid moving between cold and hot areas and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
People with heart diseases, asthma or obstructive pulmonary are advised not to leave home to avoid exposure to cold air that might cause health problems.
Store sufficient quantities of medicines for all the period of the storm.

For more information on the protection from accidents caused by heating appliances, read the following guidelines on children protection.

Heating:

When using an electric heater, check the electric cables to avoid any electrical fire
When using a gas heater, check the gas hose for any gas leak
When using coal – wood – diesel heaters, the following should be considered:

Don’t allow children to contact or play with the flame to prevent burns, accidents and suffocation
Equip your houses with fire extinguishers, fire blanket and a smoke detector (if possible)
Keep the heater far from diesel tanks
Ensure flammable items are kept away from the heating appliances (curtains, blankets…)
Don’t keep the clothes close to heating appliances to dry them

Personal prevention tips:

Avoid exposing your back and neck to cold air and wear suitable clothes
Avoid moving between cold and hot areas
Drink plenty of water and fluids to prevent dehydration
Turn off your home’s electricity in the event of flooded home

People with chronic diseases:

People with asthma or obstructive pulmonary are advised not to leave home during the storm
People with heart diseases are advised to stay home since cold air can cause vessels/ coronary arteries to narrow, which can lead to a pain in the chest
Store sufficient quantities of medicines for all the period of the storm.

Tips for children

Clothing:

Dress your infants and children in warm clothes, in particular when going outside. Don’t forget winter accessories such as gloves and hat. Dress babies and young children in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
blankets, quilts, pillows can cause Sudden Infant death syndrome
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a drop in body temperature caused by exposure to cold temperatures. It usually occurs when children play outside in extremely cold weather without wearing appropriate clothes or when clothes are wet.
Symptoms are shivering, mumbling, very low energy and even loss of consciousness. In such a case, bring the child indoors, remove any wet clothes, wrap with blanket or warm clothes and contact the doctor if need be.

Frostbite
Frostbite occurs when cold causes extremities to freeze, such as fingers, feet, ears and nose which may become white or blue, or may itch or burn.

In case of frostbite, the child should be brought indoors and his injured parts should be put in warn water. Warm towels can also be applied to nose, ears and lips. Do not to rub the frozen area surfaces. A few minutes later, give the child warm fluids to drink. If numbness persisted more than a couple of minutes, contact your doctor.