Hygiene in a disaster.

During a disaster, like an earthquake or flood, it is very important to keep up your hygiene. Hygiene gives you a psychological advantage because it lets you control at least one aspect of the situation. Obviously you cant take a 45 minute long shower, however, so what can you do? Here are some pointers:

Clean your hands and face: Obviously your hands and face will get dirty afterwards (If not, your probably not doing your part) but clean them in the morning or evening. This is a big psychological boost, and in a survival situation, you need all that you can get. Something as simple as a clean face can help greatly in keeping a positive attitude.

Shave: Again, psychological boost. The only time I'd say not to shave would be places with many insects such as a rain forest. This could bring disease on you which you do not want. However, anywhere else, shave. A shaved face is something you can control. 


Change Cloths: This one could be more difficult depending on your resources. If you can change cloths often, however, a huge psychological boost will come, as well as less disease. If you can not change your cloths, at least change your socks. This will keep your feat from getting blisters, which, in a survival environment, could be deadly.

Keep human waste contained: This is extremely crucial as human waste brings deadly disease. In a survival situation, you and the other survivors are going to be in a heard like environment. This gives comfort, but also breads disease very well. Setting aside an area for waste keeps everyone healthy. The area should be far away from camp, and should be in a hole at least 10 ft down. This keeps wind from carrying it. Make sure it is at a lower elevation than the camp. Human waste could seep through the ground to the camp below which would be counter productive.


Sterilize medical instruments: Save the alcohol for cleaning the patients skin. Use fire for the metal instruments. Fire is very effective in sterilization. It kills germs almost instantly. Fire is also easily attained, and very versatile. Before the situation, you should learn to make fire, quickly and effectively. It is probably your most important tool to survival.