Health Services During Curfew
During curfew hours, emergency health services can be accessed at the Emergency Room of the Sint Maarten Medical Center. Please remember that this is only for emergency. For routine, non-emergency issues, please see your general practitioner or family physician, and for ambulance assistance call 919.
Water Hygiene
Avoid getting sick! Make your water safe before drinking. Drinking unsafe water can cause disease, mainly vomiting and diarrhea. It is best to use bottled water for drinking. All other water (from the tap, cistern or wells) should be boiled first, or treated with chlorine for 30 minutes before drinking. If the water looks dirty or smells bad: Do not drink it at all!
Water from the tap or from cisterns should be brought to a boil and then keep boiling for at least one minute! If you cannot boil the water disinfect it with chlorine. Use household Clorox, for example, take two teaspoons of Clorox for every gallon of water mix it and let stand for 30 minutes before drinking.
Food Hygiene
Eating spoiled food can make you sick!
In general, if the food looks bad and or it smells bad: do not eat it! Discard spoiled food appropriately and remember to always cook all your food thoroughly, especially meats, poultry, and fish. Always wash your hands thoroughly with clean water and soap before touching your face, eyes and or mouth.
Mosquitoes
Eliminating mosquito breeding
Mosquitoes can carry viruses that make us ill. There is a lot of debris and stagnant water presently creating breeding sites for mosquitoes, it is important for all of us to keep around our homes and yards clean. How can this be achieved: Get rid of stagnant water, Get rid of tires in your yard or put them under a cover or recycle them. Anything that holds water in and around the yard should be turned upside down, or removed or discarded. Check your water spout, gutters and unclog them. Keep water drums and barrels tightly covered.
Breastfeeding Your Infant
Breastfeeding your infant is always the preferred way to feed your child
Why?
Because: it is nutritionally perfect, it is readily available without dependence on supplies, it is protective against diseases, especially diarrhea and respiratory infections, it is also the right temperature. Hormones released during breastfeeding helps relieve maternal stress and anxiety. After a disaster, it is especially important to breastfeed and it is far more preferable than formula. Please continue to breastfeed! It is important for you and your baby.
