Life-saving bleach
MANILA, Philippines - In the wake of increasingly frequent typhoon occurrences in the past few years, the Department of Health (DOH) has issued guidelines to Filipinos about the emergency use of bleach products in disinfecting available water. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently circulated an advisory detailing such procedures.
Collected rainwater is suggested as the best emergency source of water. Two drops of bleach is recommended for every liter of water to be disinfected. Stir the mixture and set it aside for at least 30 minutes before consuming. For larger volumes of water to be disinfected, the mixture is best left standing overnight to ensure better disinfection.
If available water is cloudy or turbid, visible particles can be filtered through a clean cloth or sieve. It can be boiled further before undertaking the bleach disinfecting process. Floodwater or dirty water should never be consumed or used for the disinfecting process.
Most importantly, some household bleach products may contain insufficient levels of chlorine for effective disinfecting. Consumers should use only trusted and legitimate bleach products, especially those registered with the FDA. Information is available in the FDA website at www.fda.gov.ph.
Given such an important role that bleach potentially plays in helping the operations of aid groups, the Clorox Company has donated $150,000 to the American Red Cross Pacific Typhoon Fund intended for the victims of the recent typhoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) that struck the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. Bleach products will also be distributed in various households and hospitals through the Philippine National Red Cross, DOH, and the American Chamber of Commerce. Clorox employees worldwide have also participated by donating to the fund.
“We are extremely glad to be able to contribute in a practical and meaningful way, to help rebuild lives and communities in the affected areas of typhoon Yolanda,†says Marites Dagdag, Clorox Philippines president.
