How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It - James Wesley Rawles [61]
Death
The most difficult area of sanitation we may have to deal with is death. Although many organisms in the body of the deceased are not likely to infect a healthy person, handling the blood, bodily fluids, and tissues of those who have been infected increases that risk. Many fluids leak from a dead body, including contents of the stomach and intestines. The level of decomposition depends on how long the person has been deceased, the temperature of the environment, the damage to the body, and the bacteria present. There are some basic precautions to take in handling the deceased:
• Wear disposable gloves when handling anything associated with the body, and cover all cuts or abrasions with waterproof bandages or tape.
• Wear a mask or face shield, goggles, or some other kind of protection for the mouth, nose, and eyes. Decomposing bodies can sometimes burst and spray fluids and tissues due to the buildup of gases.
• Wear aprons or gowns that can be destroyed.
• Wrap the body in a body bag or several layers of garbage sacks or plastic sheeting. The more quickly this takes place after death, the less chance of leaking bodily fluids.
Cremation requires large amounts of fuel and may not be feasible. Graves should be dug at least one hundred feet away from all open water sources and deep enough that animals won’t dig them up. Thoroughly wash yourself afterward and dip your hands in a bleach solution even if no apparent contact was made. Disinfect all equipment, surfaces, floors, and so forth with a bleach solution. Don’t forget to make notes on the deceased and the circumstances surrounding the death and burial. Take pictures if you can. Consider anything that you think is of importance, in case the authorities come back and question it sometime. This may be the most difficult part of a societal collapse. But the quicker it is dealt with, the better for everyone involved.
Wound Care: An Emergency Room Doctor’s Perspective
As you are cutting wood and swinging gardening tools, you are at risk for wounds. Even a minor wound can be a major problem if not treated effectively. E.C.W., M.D., provided the following essay:
Arguably the most important factor in wound healing is the potential for infection.
Bleeding is nature’s way of cleaning a wound, but a little goes a long way. Remember that as long as the wound is “downstream” from the heart, bleeding will be under pressure, so don’t forget to elevate a bleeding extremity above the level of the heart to get control of bleeding. Scalp wounds especially bleed profusely and may be frightening to the uninitiated. Use multiple layers of absorbent material—sterile gauze or a clean towel (or the cleanest cloth you have available)—and maintain direct pressure until bleeding ceases or is at least reduced to a slow ooze. A patient who is taking aspirin will have a prolonged bleeding time, so you will have to maintain pressure for a longer period of time.
Plain soap and tap water have been shown to be just as good for washing the wound as an antiseptic soap and sterile water. I would recommend a liquid soap to avoid the bacterial culture waiting to launch itself from the bar on the counter, but would avoid the widely available antibacterial soap (which contains triclosan); it has been shown to increase bacterial resistance. In a perfect world I would prefer Hibiclens, but would certainly use a “no-tears” baby shampoo (neutral solution), or even diluted Dawn dishwashing liquid in a pinch. Apply soap to a clean washcloth wet from the tap and use it to gently scrub the wound.
The sterile water solutions that are available bottled are fine, as long as they have not been opened previously (they are contaminated once opened), but nonsterile bottled water is not preferable to tap water. Tap water is sufficient for cleansing of