Guarding Your Family’s Health

Guarding Your Family’s Health

Animals and diseases germs

Diseases germs may enter your home in many ways. They may be carried in on the feet and bodies of domestic animals. Mice and rats sometimes spread dangerous germs, including those that cause plague and typhus. Flies are particularly dangerous, for they carry the germs of typhoid, dysentery, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal complaints. Even birds that migrate from one part of the country to another may carry germs and viruses that cause serious epidemics.

Germs are a real menace to the human race. Whenever a major emergency arises, such as an earthquake or other disaster, the first thing the public health authorities are concerned about is the preservation of a good water-supply and the proper disposal of sewage and other refuse. This is imperative if the community is to be kept free from the epidemic diseases. The same concerns affect our ordinary ways of life. We are responsible for our own health.

Disposing of waste materials

Proper disposal of body wastes is one of the first laws of health. Today many people are fortunate to have running water in their homes. Flush toilets are now replacing the more primitive types even in some rural areas. But to our dismay, in rural areas open sanitation is still a common scene. But under these circumstances what happens to the waste materials?

Some people merely run the waste water off into some nearby stream, thinking that running water purifies itself. This is only partly true. Often whole communities are ill because of drinking water that has been contaminated by other peoples farther upstream. It is not wise to use water that flows from some other town or village. Nor should a person run waste water into a nearby stream and forget about it. Someone miles away from you may suffer through your neglect. If in doubt, be sure to boil all the water you or your family drinks.

Every family living in rural areas should have a suitable way of disposing of waste materials, such as septic tank. This method was actually used in India many centuries ago. Modern engineers have made improvements, but the septic tank of today still working on the same principles as did those of ancient times.

Other methods of sewage disposal

If you have no running water facility at your home, you must use some other method of disposing of body wastes. Modern chemical toilets are excellent, but rather expensive. Many families, especially in rural areas, still depend on bore-well latrines or pit privies. This arrangement usually consists of a small shed that stands over a pit or hole in the ground. The pit should e at least six feet deep, located at least 75 feet away from any wells or sources of drinking water. The privy or outhouse should be well ventilated and carefully screened so as to prevent the entrance of files. The squat place over the pit should have a removable cover to keep out flies. Every few days the waste materials should be covered with chloride or lime to keep down odours and reduce the number of flies. Never permit peoples or animals to contaminate the ground around your home.

Importance of clean living

Clean living is the first and most important step in the prevention of disease. When this principle is followed, the health and vitality of the family and of the nation improves. Each family must protect itself against disease. We should see to it that our neighbours also understand the importance of clean living, so that all our homes will be safe and happy places.