Hygiene & Safety During a Prolonged Outage

Hygiene without running water

Priorities: hands > dishes > body > laundry. NEVER waste drinking water on cleaning.

Hands: a supply of hand sanitiser (at least 60 % alcohol) saves water. Alternatively: 2 bowls (wash/rinse), reuse water several times
Sponge bath: 1–2 L is enough — washcloth, order face → body → intimate area. Wet wipes as a reserve
Dishes: wipe with paper before washing (saves a lot of water); cover plates with cling film = no washing up
Teeth: brush normally, use a cup instead of running water

Toilet without flushing

Flush with grey water (bathtub reserve, rainwater) — pour a bucket straight into the bowl
With no water at all: emergency toilet = bucket + bin bag + cat litter/sawdust/soil after each use. Tie the bags, collect them outside (bucket with lid)
A supply of bin bags is worth its weight in gold in a blackout (also for rubbish in general — collection may stop)

Rubbish

Keep organic waste separate and tightly packed (smell, vermin), store it cool/outside if possible. Compress general waste.

Fire safety (higher risk in a blackout: candles, stoves!)

[ ] Smoke alarms in every bedroom + hallway (test the battery — now!)
[ ] Fire extinguisher (6 kg foam/ABC powder) or at least an extinguisher spray + fire blanket (kitchen)
Candles: stable holders, never unattended, 50 cm from anything flammable, out of reach of children/pets
NEVER put out a fat fire with water → lid/fire blanket/smother it
Keep escape routes clear, torch by the bed

Home security

During longer blackouts the risk of burglary rises (alarm systems dead, streets dark): - Always lock the door, even when leaving briefly - Show that someone is home (candlelight visible) - Organise the neighbourhood: look out for each other, check on older neighbours (doorbells often fail without power → knock!) - Keep valuables out of sight; give no information about your supplies at the door

Beware of scams during crises

Fake "utility company staff" or "disaster relief workers" at the door: ask for ID, do not let strangers in — genuine emergency services rarely turn up alone and unannounced.

Mental health & family

Create structure: fixed times for meals, radio and sleep
Involve children (give them jobs — battery monitor, candle monitor)
Things to do without electricity: books, card/board games, crafts — pack a "blackout games box" now
Information discipline: radio at fixed times instead of constantly — reduces stress