How Water Purification Bottles can Aid Disaster Relief Efforts

Natural disasters are indiscriminate and strike without warning. Sadly floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and other natural disasters claim thousands of lives every year. Unfortunately in most cases, only limited precautions such as early warning systems and earthquake-resistant buildings can be made against disaster striking again. There is however, another way in which the toll on human life can be reduced.

One of the biggest problems that disaster relief organisations face is providing uncontaminated drinking water in the wake of a disaster. Damage to infrastructure can contaminate drinking water supplies and make the spread of waterborne diseases a huge threat. If there is no alternative to drinking from these contaminated supplies, a second wave of deaths can occur, this time a tragedy that is fully preventable for all ages.

Water purification bottles such as those produced by LIFESAVER systems contain a sophisticated nano filtration system that removes bacteria, parasites, viruses, cysts and other pathogens from any water, making it safe to drink. Clean and sterile water saves lives and an emergency water purification system reduces or removes the need for bottled water to be shipped in, which can prove to be very expensive and logistically difficult. Shipping bottled water into a disaster is impossible and can create chaos further adding to the panic within an emergency situation.

The LIFESAVER bottle is the world’s first and only water purification bottle to remove all contaminants without using chemicals or power. The LIFESAVER bottles are portable, easy to use and contain a replaceable cartridge, which is suitable for filtering up to 6,000 litres of water. It can be used with just three simple steps – fill it, pump it and drink it.

The LIFESAVER bottles were developed in the wake of the December 2004 earthquake and subsequent tsunami, in which an estimated 300,000 people lost their lives. Since then the world has seen a number of large-scale natural disasters including the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. In each case, many lives were saved by the efforts of disaster relief agencies supplying potable drinking water.

If individuals and households invested in a survival water purification system, access to uncontaminated water in the event of a natural disaster would not be a problem. This would result in less reliance on resources provided by disaster relief agencies and more time and money could be spent on other aid such as providing food and shelter. In short, many more lives could be saved.

LIFESAVER jerrycans, LIFESAVER water bottles with filters and LIFESAVER Solo, Family and Ultimate survival packs can be purchased from the official website at www.lifesaversystems.com.

The UK’s Rapid Response Facility – Providing Humanitarian Aid in the Wake of a Disaster

In 2012, the British government set up a rapid response network with the mission of delivering life-saving emergency relief to developing countries in the hours following disasters such as earthquakes, floods and famines. The network is made up from a number of organisations that can provide specialist equipment and assistance following a disaster, with the aim of mobilizing aid within 72 hours following a disaster.

LIFESAVER systems is one of the private sector organisations involved in this initiative and provides survival water purification in the form of bottles and jerrycans. The LIFESAVER bottles utilize sophisticated filters that have the ability to sterilize contaminated water and make it safe for drinking and washing.

LIFESAVER jerrycans and LIFESAVER water bottles remove all viruses, bacteria, parasites, cysts, fungi and other microbiological pathogens, making any source of water safe to drink. One of the biggest risks to health in the hours and days following a natural disaster is limited access to potable water, so using emergency water purification systems such as those provided by LIFESAVER, really can save lives.

LIFESAVER survival water purification products were distributed to victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 2011 Thailand floods, and are part of an initiative in rural Malaysia to bring safe drinking water to villagers.

The members of the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) are ready to take immediate action and deliver aid, equipment and experts to the disaster zones within the crucial time period of 72 hours, in order to save as many lives as possible. The RRF is an initiative of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID).

Cholera and other waterborne diseases are a large risk after a natural disaster but they can be prevented easily with adequate sanitation and access to clean, sterile drinking water. By providing a long-term solution in the form of a water purification system, many lives have been saved already; LIFESAVER continue to provide water filtration systems to those hit by disasters globally, to ensure people can have access to clean, sterile water in an emergency situation.

Preparing for Disaster: What to Pack in an Emergency Preparedness Kit

Natural disasters can strike at any time and worryingly, many people make no provisions to help them cope in the event of an emergency. Disaster preparedness kits aren’t just for people living in earthquake zones or hurricane risk areas. The worldwide climate changes due to global warming are making natural disasters such as floods and storms increasingly common and the effects can be devastating.

In 2012, a storm system battered New York, flooding subways and tunnels, leaving thousands without power for days.  Wild fires in Australia destroy homes and claim lives every year; while millions of people here in the UK live in flood risk areas and are affected by flooding every year.

Wherever you live in the world, you should take the time to prepare a disaster kit and store it in a safe place. In the event that disaster does strike, this LIFESAVER Solo Disaster Kit may just save your life.

What to put in a disaster supplies kit

Of all the supplies that you may need in an emergency, clean water is the most important. It is possible to live for weeks without food but most people will die within three to five days without water.

Drinking or even washing in contaminated water puts you at risk of contracting waterborne diseases such as dysentery and typhoid. This is why a water purification system such as the LIFESAVER bottles and LIFESAVER jerrycans should be a part of everyone’s disaster kit.

By investing in a survival water purification system, you are ensuring that you have access to clean water for months, which could make a huge difference to your survival. Clean water saves lives and a LIFESAVER water filter bottle could certainly save your life one day.

Hi, my name is Stephen Whittaker and I want to support LIFESAVER and win The Best Job in the World competition with the Australian Tourist Board

About me!

I am a full time Carer and nature lover who has made it to the final 25 out of 100,000 contestants across the globe in The Best Job In The World Competition, more information can be found here http://www.australia.com/best-jobs.aspx. The particular category I am featured in, is the Queensland Park Ranger position. When I win I will be working in the Australian Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef on behalf of Tourism Australia.

How does this connect with LIFESAVER?

I first came across the LIFESAVER technology in 2009, where I saw the captivating TED talk by Michael Pritchard, Inventor Founder. My initial reaction was one of awe and I thought ‘why give a starving person a fish, when you can give them a fishing rod!’ This is the same concept when applied to LIFESAVER – using technology to allow people to find and use their local water source, but filter it into sterile drinking water without needing bottled water or to wait for costly infrastructure that wouldn’t happen. 

 How I need your support

The top 3 contestants will be announced on the 15^th May 2013, and I need all the help and support I can get. I want to win the chance to have the ‘best job in the world’ and also support LIFESAVER by giving the gift of water. So, how can you help me? Well ‘sharing is caring’ so share this blog on your social media sites, tweet, post and tell the world about my pledge to give the gift of water and have the best job in the world – an amazing achievement I think you will agree.

You can also use the hashtag #ivoteforste on social media sites, so please use this to help spread my pledge to help LIFESAVER when I win the best job in the world in Australia!

My promise to LIFESAVER

When I win, I would like to donate 1000AUD (approx £650) of my salary to LIFESAVER, to purchase LIFESAVER jerrycans to send out to The Paskay Charity in Peru.  LIFESAVER systems have agreed to allow me to double my purchase of LIFESAVER jerrycans for the same amount of money, so I can now send out 40,000L of clean water rather than 20,000L! A great and generous amount of support to give me and those really in need; and a big thank you to LIFESAVER.. You can find out more about the charity here:- http://www.paskay.org

My Video Entry

You can find my entry here:- https://bestjobs.australia.com/?fb=false&state=qld

My Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/Whatcanisayimste

My Twitter Page

@ste_whittaker

When we think of children, we think of innocence; Clean, fun, excited, innocent children. Do you have children? How would you describe them? I’m sure, as a fellow parent, you would agree, the bath time routine in the evening is fun to say the least. Full of bubbles, giggles, toys and laughter, and out pops a squeaky clean bundle of joy, for a few hours at least any way. And just before bed time, a cup, beaker, bottle, glass of clean juice or water on the bed side table, in case of thirst in the night.

But what if this wasn’t possible. Look, just look now at the picture. This beautiful little boy filling up his bottle with his drinking water; Yes, that is drinking water. The brown, yellow sludge in that bottle is what this beautiful little boy will drink when he is thirsty. He is filthy, covered in sweat and dirt soaked clothes, far from the bubble bath we all long to give him. Does that sit well with you? For me, as a mother, its heart breaking. Children should be full of energy, happy and excited. They should not be thirsty, dying and riddled with bacterial infections due to drinking brown sludge from the local river. They should not be covered in sweat and mud from weeks worth of not washing.

So look again, at the beautiful little boy, and feel that surge of overwhelming protection wanting to hand him clean, sterile drinking water. You can do that, today. Help us give the gift of water, and ensure that with just three simple steps of fill, pump, drink, that children can have access to safe drinking water globally.

The LIFESAVER technology is the worlds first and only to remove all bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites, fungi and all other microbiological waterborne pathogens from water without the aid of chemicals like iodine or chlorine, the need for any power or UV light. It allows water to be produced instantly, with a fast flow rate and the water can be stored and filtered when you need it.

The f-diagram is used by many NGOs to help promote behaviour change surrounding hygiene.

The famous f-diagram, demonstrates the major transmission routes of faecal-oral diseases. It illustrates the different routes that the microbes of diarrhoea take from faeces, through the environment, to a new person. For example; microbes in faeces on the ground by a well can get into the water system and be drunk by a child, hands that have not been washed after going to the toilet can carry microbes onto foods, which are then eaten, infecting another child, who gets diarrhoea and spreads more microbes...[1]

Photo courtesy of water1st.org

 What is the faecal-oral route?

The faecal–oral route is a route of transmission of a disease, when pathogens in faecal particles pass from one host and are introduced into the oral cavity of another host.

The most common steps are:

• water that has come into contact with faeces and is then inadequately treated before   drinking;
• food that has been handled with faeces present;
• poor sewage treatment along with disease vectors like houseflies;
• poor or absent cleaning after handling faeces or anything that has been in contact with it[2]

Why do we need to worry about Faeces?

In simple terms, the average faeces can contain 10,000,000 viruses and 1,000,000 bacteria.[3]

What diseases can you get via the fecal-oral route?

• Cholera
• Poliomyelitis
• Typhoid Fever
• Hepatitis A and E
• Shigellosis

Key practices designed to prevent diarrhoeal infection and break the transmission route:

Safe disposal of Faeces

Faeces in the public and domestic environment are the primary source of diarrhoeal pathogens. Safe disposal of stools is the best way to prevent infection. Ideally adult and child stools should be disposed of in toilets or
latrines. In places where this is not possible, stools should
be buried.[4]

Hand washing

Hands readily become contaminated with faecal material after going to the toilet or cleaning children’s bottoms. Rinsing fingers with water alone is not enough. Hands need to be well washed after contact with faeces; either rubbed with an abrasive such as ash or mud, or with a detergent such as soap.[5]

Photo courtesy of guardian.co.uk

Keeping water clean

A plentiful and accessible water supply makes hand washing and cleaning easier, which helps to keep the environment free of pathogens. Ensuring that faecal material does not get into water supplies at the source is probably far more effective than boiling, filtering, and covering water jars. [6]

Fly control

Though flies can carry microbes from faeces to food, fly control is difficult to achieve. If stools are disposed of in toilets or latrines and these latrines have covers, then fly-based disease transmission will be minimised.[7]

Food hygiene

Poor food handling practices contribute to diarrhoeal infection largely because they offer bacterial pathogens the opportunity to multiply. This way people can consume much greater doses of microbes. Diarrhoeas often peak in warm, humid seasons in the tropics, when conditions are favourable to the multiplication of bacteria on food.

Feeding bottles are especially dangerous because they are hard to sterilise and bacteria grow quickly in warm milk.[8]

Key facts on Diarrhoea

(Courtesy of WHO)

1. Diarrhoeal disease is the second leading cause of death in children under five years old. It is both preventable and treatable.
2. Each year diarrhoea kills around 760 000 children under five.
3. A significant proportion of diarrhoeal disease can be prevented through safe drinking-water and adequate sanitation and hygiene.
4. Globally, there are nearly 1.7 billion cases of diarrhoeal disease every year.
5. Diarrhoea is a leading cause of malnutrition in children under five years old.

Photo courtesy of topnews.ae

Diarrhoea can last several days, and can leave the body without the water and salts that are necessary for survival. Most people who die from diarrhoea actually die from severe dehydration and fluid loss. Children who are malnourished or have impaired immunity as well as people living with HIV are most at risk of life-threatening diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of an infection in the intestinal tract, which can be caused by a variety of bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms. Infection is spread through contaminated food or drinking-water, or from person-to-person as a result of poor hygiene.[9]

A 2009 UNICEF study found hand washing with soap to be among the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent diarrhoeal diseases and pneumonia, which together account for 3.5 million child deaths annually.[10]

In addition, improved sanitation will contribute to reducing malnutrition in children, improve[ing] the quality of life and dignity of girls and women, protect[ing] the environment, and generat[ing] economic benefits for communities and nations.[11]

LIFESAVER and the f-diagram

LIFESAVER technology can support the introduction of hygiene promotion programmes by providing clean safe drinking water at the hand washing and food preparation stage as well as reducing numbers of children being diagnosed with diarrhoea. LIFESAVER technology can dramatically weaken several of the transmission routes shown in the f-diagram above, and can be used in partnership with pit latrines/toilets and health awareness programmes to reduce the transmission of diseases via the faecal-oral route.

References

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecal–oral_route 
• UNICEF, 1999. A Manual on hygiene promotion [pdf] Available at: http://www.unicef.org/wash/files/hman.pdf 
• UNICEF, 2009. Soap, Toilets and Taps [pdf] Available at: http://www.unicef.org/wash/files/26351FINALLayoutEn1.pdf 
• WHO, 2013. Diarrhoeal Disease Fact sheet [online] Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs330/en/index.html

Green Recycling logo courtesy of greenrecycling.co.uk

What we do

Green Recycling Ltd provides a wide range of tailor-made waste management and recycling solutions to businesses and local authorities throughout the South East of England. With 30 years’ experience the Company is at the forefront of Waste and Recycling technology, investing in state of the art equipment to help provide high levels of service to its client base. The family run company has grown steadily over the years to provide workable waste solutions to a wide range of clients.

Based in Maldon, Essex Green Recycling provides Waste Disposal and Recycling services that work in partnership, bringing its customers’ environmental benefits as well as removing waste, thus enhancing quality of life for all.

 How We Recycle Waste

• Waste collected from site in various forms
• Materials/waste weighed at customer’s site
• Materials/waste weighed into Green Recyclings’ fully licensed MRF (Materials Recovery Facility)
• Materials tipped into MRF ready for sorting
• Materials separated by hand or picking line or site machines and stored for bailing/re-use.
• Bales are produced and stored ready for transporting out.
• All suppliers are audited to ensure compliance with Environment Agency Legislation.

Photo courtesy of blog6.east-hunburgprimary.net

Why It Is So Important to Recycle

Robert Smith, Managing Director of Green Recycling said “It is all about continuity. Instead of destroying our already depleted natural resources, we are proud to be assisting in the preservation of the world and future generations by reusing everything that comes into our plant. Our vision is to continue growing our business and making people more aware of what we do and how important recycling is, after all what preservations we make now secures our future, as well as the future of our children.”

 Why Recycling Is Important to LIFESAVER

 As a small innovative technology business that provides portable water filtration systems, LIFESAVER centres its ethos on recycling water found in lakes, rivers and stream. By caring for the environment around us, LIFESAVER believes it is important to continue this approach in its working environment and is proud that we can state that everything we use and throw in the bin on site is then collected by Green Recycling and recycled. 

Some of you may have noticed a row of 'smileys' on recent emails you have received from us, and if you haven't you will be seeing them soon. So what are they?

They are our way of knowing whether what we are sending out is helpful to you. We all lead busy lives, and as a result communication can suffer. But with one click on a smiley face, and another to confirm your choice, we can measure, on a day-by-day basis, how our communications to you are improving, or whether we have a problem we need to fix. Feedback is simple, anonymous and takes only a couple of seconds. You can even add a comment if you wish to. Try it out by clicking one of the faces above to rate this blog!

The system, known as Tag-Check, was developed by Mike Clargo with the intention of improving communications and relationships between people and organisations; for example, more efficient meetings and emailing. Mike has spent 25 years consulting to organisations and is convinced that many of them could be a lot more effective (and enjoyable) if they were better able to engage the interest of enthusiasm of their people. He created Tag-Check to help them to achieve this.

If you would like to understand a bit more about Tag-Check, or even open a free account yourself, visit www.Tag-Check.com, where you can see short videos of Mike explaining his idea.

The Customer Service team at LIFESAVER systems wants to ensure we answer your queries and questions effectively and to a high standard. So, next time you contact us, look out for the little ‘smileys’ on the email, and rate our communication levels with you. We will let you know how we are getting on through the next couple of months, so don’t forget to sign up to our newsletters on the contact us page as well.

Image from http://www.medicalecology.org/water/trachoma/elizabeth_gilbert_6.JPG

Trachoma is an infectious disease caused by the Chlamydia trachomatic bacterium.

Trachoma is the leading cause of infectious blindness in the world that produces a roughening of the inner surface of the eyelids. Globally, about 40 million people have an active infection and as many as 8 million people are visually impaired as a result of this disease. It is one of the 17 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

What causes trachoma and how does it spread?

Infection can occur if an individual comes into direct contact with the discharge produced from the eyes or nose of an infected person, or by contact with contaminated objects, such as towels and clothes. Flies can also transfer the bacteria from the discharge. In the developing world, flies are one of the main ways trachoma is spread.

As a disease, trachoma mainly affects the most vulnerable members of neglected communities – women and children. Women are more at risk than men simply because women generally spend greater amounts of time in close contact with small children, who are the main source of infection. 

A simple infection can heal without medical intervention. However, repeated infection leads to progressive scarring of the inside of the eyelid that can turn the eyelid inwards so that the lashes constantly rub on the eyeball, injuring and scarring the cornea.

What do you know about Malaria?

Today is World Malaria Day, which is celebrated annually on 25 April. Over the last decade, the world has made major progress in the fight against malaria. 

Since 2000, malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25%, and 50 of the 99 countries with on-going transmission are now on track to meet the 2015 World Health Assembly target of reducing incidence rates by more than 75%. 

World Malaria Day was instituted by WHO Member States during the World Health Assembly of 2007. It is an occasion to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention and control. 

History of Malaria

The Greeks were the first to write about malaria. Earlier on, the Egyptians made numerous references to it in their hieroglyphs. However, it wasn’t until late in the 18th century that its aetiology was better understood. 

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a disease of the blood that is caused by the Plasmodium parasite, which is transmitted from person to person by a particular type of mosquito.

 Photo courtesy of nrp.org

The Anopheles Mosquito

The female Anopheles mosquito is the only mosquito that transmits malaria. These mosquitoes are called “malaria vectors”. 

She primarily bites between the hours of 9pm and 5am, which is why sleeping under a mosquito net at night is such an important method of prevention.

The Malaria Parasite

There are more than 100 species of malaria parasite. The most deadly – and most common in Africa - is known as Plasmodium falciparum. Once the parasite enters the human body, it lodges itself in the liver where it multiplies approximately 10,000 times. Two weeks after entering the body, the parasite bursts into the blood stream where it begins infecting red blood cells.

Malaria Transmission Cycle

Photo courtesy of crick.ac.uk

Malaria Symptoms

Symptoms begin 10 days to 4 weeks after infection, although a person may feel ill as early as 7 days later. Symptoms include fever, headache and vomiting.

How it kills

If drugs are not available or if the parasites are resistant to them, malaria infection can develop to anaemia, hypoglycaemia or cerebral malaria, in which capillaries carrying blood to the brain are blocked.

Cerebral malaria can cause coma, life-long-learning disabilities, and death.

Infographic courtesy of gbchealth.org

Who is most affected?

- A child dies every minute from malaria

- Malaria claims 660,000 lives per year—90% of those in Africa. More than 1400 kids lose their lives to a mosquito bite every day.

- There were an estimated 219 million malaria cases worldwide in 2010, mostly pregnant women and children.

- Those who have HIV and become infected are at greater risk of dying.   

Travellers and Malaria

If travelling to a malaria-risk country, consult your health-care provider on appropriate malaria prevention, like antimalarial drugs.

Travellers that become ill with flu-like symptoms, either while travelling in a malaria-risk area or after returning home, should seek immediate medical attention.

What can be done to avoid catching Malaria? 

Mosquito nets (or LLINs) are the surest way to prevent malaria. Some NGOs have invested in rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin-based combination treatments to reduce malaria deaths in women and children. 

Improving surface water management at relief camps, and in areas where water drainage is an issue, will reduce breeding grounds for mosquitoes. 

Indoor residual spraying (IRS) have been shown to be highly effective vector control interventions in preventing malaria morbidity and mortality. IRS is the practice of spraying insecticides on the interior walls of homes in malaria-affected areas. For individual protection, the most effective chemical insect repellents to reduce human-mosquito contact are those based on DEET. Malaria No More have introduced a mobile platform to deliver health education to ensure families sleep under nets and seek testing and treatment. 

Information courtesy of who.int, malarianomore.org and wikipedia