Chapter 21 · Hygiene and sanitation
21.14 Preventing illness in a crowded home or a shelter
With several people in a closed-up home (plus relatives who may arrive) or in a public shelter, infections pass from one person to another quickly.
| Illness | How it spreads | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Diarrhea and vomiting (norovirus, bacteria) | Hands, surfaces, food, vomit | Soap and water (hand sanitizer works poorly against norovirus). Disinfect with concentrated bleach: the CDC says 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water for surfaces contaminated with vomit or diarrhea. The sick person does not prepare food for others. Rehydration: chapter 7. |
| Flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses | Droplets and air in closed spaces | Ventilate; mask or N95 for the sick person and whoever cares for them; separate beds; cough into your elbow. |
| Skin infections | Dirty wounds, shared towels, floodwater | Keep wounds clean and covered; do not share towels, razors, or nail clippers. |
| Lice and scabies | Close contact, shared bedding | Each person gets their own bedding and comb; tell the shelter staff. |
| Foodborne illness | Food left unrefrigerated, dirty hands | Rules in chapters 6 and 22; when in doubt, throw it out. |
If someone gets sick at home
- Assign a room and, if possible, a bathroom or a bucket for that person only.
- Only one person provides care, wearing gloves and a mask, and washes their hands when leaving.
- Their own plate, cup, and towel, marked.
- Disinfect every day doorknobs, light switches, the toilet seat, and faucet handles.
- Watch for warning signs (dehydration, high fever, confusion, blood in the stool) and seek medical care: chapter 7.
