Authors studied flooded healthcare facilities in the United States and Thailand to develop suggestions for healthcare facilities to reduce the risk of infection after a flood. The authors discussed five key actions to take when reopening a facility following extensive flooding, according to the SHEA release:
• Remove flood waters and perform a site inspection.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and materials.
• Evaluate and remediate mold growth in impacted area, including the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
• Restore air flow.
• Conduct post-flood surveillance of water and air samples for outbreaks of flood-related infectious diseases.
More Articles on Hospitals and Flooding:
Weathering the Storm: How to Prepare for Severe Weather Emergencies
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Hurricane Sandy May Dent Finances at NYU Langone Medical Center
