Infirmary on Site:
- Primarily caring for pre-existing conditions such as hypertension
and diabetes
- No one currently in infirmary with acute illnesses, including
diarrhea or acute respiratory infection
- A nurse on site has reviewed all of the intake sheets since the shelter
opened and noted two cases of diarrhea, both in infants
- Report that all supplies are in abundance
Drinking Water:
- Provided in cans and bottles to both residents
and volunteers
- Placed in coolers throughout shelter area
- Supplies reported to be adequate
- Water needs are primarily being met with bottled water, even though no boil water orders currently exist in this area
Sanitation:
- Toilets for infirmary separate from those for
main shelter
- Conditions meet Sphere standards for emergency sanitation
- Toilets separated for women and men
- Four toilets total suggests ratio of 1 toilet : 13 persons (Sphere
mandates minimum 1:20)
- Hand hygiene facility available in each bathroom
Hygiene:
- Bathing
- Outdoor and temporary covered showers available
- Stocked with body soap and shampoo
- Hand washing
- Signs placed in infirmary and shelter emphasizing importance of
hand hygiene
- Liquid soap observed in infirmary bathrooms and women’s
bathroom in shelter
- Bar soap observed in men’s bathroom in shelter
- Waterless hand sanitizer (Purell and other brands) in abundant
supply in infirmary, infirmary bathrooms, and women’s bathroom
in shelter; only small amount found in men’s
bathroom in shelter
- Waterless hand sanitizer placed on sink, next to faucet
and near liquid/bar soap
- One child reported using both waterless hand sanitizer and soap
to wash hands
- May benefit from improved signage, as well as placement of waterless
hand sanitizer in areas of shelter where soap and water are not available
Indoor Air Quality:
The facility used a solution of one part bleach and nine parts water in the air conditioning unit for disinfection. The primary beverages were bottled/canned water and juices. When shelter residents left for home, staff did not ascertain whether they had access to treated drinking water at home.
Submitted by Pavani Ram and James Jensen
October 17, 2005
