5 Things To Do If You Accidentally Touch Sewage

When sewage spills in your home, it can introduce many harmful bacteria, viruses, and protozoa into your property. Whether you are attempting to clean up the sewage yourself or are simply exposed to it, you could be at risk of serious health problems.

ICE Cleaning is a specialist cleaning company that offers emergency response sewage cleaning services. Its technicians can quickly and thoroughly decontaminate, clear, clean, and sanitize the affected property to make your home safe again.

Read on to find out what you should do when you touch sewage.

The Dangers of Sewage

Sewage contains many harmful microorganisms, including salmonella, E. coli, listeria, and norovirus. When you touch it, you might touch your mouth and ingest it. Hand-to-mouth contact is one of the most common ways for bacteria to enter your body. This can lead to a range of illnesses, including:

– Gastroenteritis

– Hepatitis A

– Leptospirosis

– Salmonellosis

– Giardiasis

Coming in contact with surfaces contaminated by sewage can also put people at risk of contracting these illnesses. Thorough cleanup and decontamination of the property following a spill is essential to protect the health of residents and visitors.

What to do if you Touch Sewage

1. Don’t Touch your Face, Mouth, Eyes, Nose, and Wounds

To minimize the likelihood of hand-to-mouth contact or cuts being infected, try not to touch any part of your body, particularly your face, until you have washed your hands thoroughly.

2. Wash Hands Immediately After

Wash hands with soap and water after touching sewage to kill the microorganisms. You should also wash your hands before eating or drinking and before and after using the toilet.

3. Remove Contaminated Clothes

Take off and wash soiled or contaminated clothes as soon as possible to get rid of any microorganisms.

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4. Seek Medical Advice if you Become ill

Sewage exposure can cause very serious illnesses, which may be fatal. Should you eat anything contaminated by sewage or are suffering from vomiting or diarrhea, contact a doctor.  

5. Contact Professional Cleaners

You must not attempt to clean up sewage yourself, or you will be at high risk of touching it. Sewage cleaning specialists will have the personal protective equipment (PPE) and training to safely clear up the spill and can ensure you don’t touch it again.

You may also not clean up the sewage spill correctly and could leave behind harmful microorganisms, which will put people’s health in danger. Cleaners, like ICE Cleaning’s technicians, can give you peace of mind that the affected area is safe.

They have been fully trained in how to deal with biohazards and have the specialist equipment and tools to thoroughly clean up a sewage spill. ICE Cleaning operates nationwide, day and night, 365 days a year. In an emergency, its technicians can be on-site in a matter of hours.

You can learn more about ICE Cleaning and its professional cleaning services on its website.