How to stay safe during a flood

Staying safe at home

• Call 999 if life is at risk.
• Listen to advice given on local radio (BBC Radio Gloucestershire 104.7, 95.0, 95.8FM, 1413AM and access BBC Radio Gloucestershire online)
• Avoid electric shocks – keep extension cables out of water and wear wellington boots. Don’t use damp electrical items get them checked by a professional.
• Flood water may be contaminated by silt, sewage, oil or chemicals. Try to avoid coming into contact with it.
• Don’t eat any foods that may have been contaminated with flood water.
• Only use crockery, cutlery and work surfaces that have been disinfected.
• Wear protective gear (e.g. gloves, face mask) and wash your hands after any contact with flood water. Cover cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters.
• Only pump out water when flood levels outside your property start to be lower than inside. This reduces the risk of structural damage.
• Beware of carbon monoxide fumes from petrol or diesel generators or gas heaters - they can kill. Do not use indoors. Electric pumps should only run through a circuit breaker.
• Seek medical advice if diarrhoea, fever or abdominal pain affects anyone.
• Mould can be a health hazard for babies, people with allergies, asthmatics, and the elderly. They should stay away during the clean-up.
• Gas and electricity supplies should remain switched off until a qualified professional has checked the systems thoroughly.

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