Canterbury DHB Earthquake Update

Thursday, 10 March 2011, 9:52 am
Press Release: Canterbury District Health Board

Wednesday March 9, 2011. 6pm

EARTHQUAKE UPDATE 23 – CANTERBURY DISTRICT HEALTH BOARD

This link will take you to important health information.

http://www.cdhb.govt.nz/communications/earthquake/documents/Important%20Health%20Information.pdf

or go to our homepage www.cdhb.govt.nz to check previous Earthquake Updates or you can follow us on www.facebook.com

Christchurch residents need to continue to boil or treat drinking water, despite chlorination.
Despite actions being taken to repair Christchurch’s drinking water supply, Christchurch residents still need to boil or treat all water used for drinking, brushing teeth or in food preparation. The Christchurch City Council is working to make Christchurch’s water supply safe to drink, including repairing infrastructure and chlorinating supply to parts of the city where there is a high risk of contaminated water.

At the same time, Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is assisting the City Council to undertake an extensive water testing programme in order to deem the supply safe to drink. “All the actions being taken to repair our water supply and make it safe to drink take time to take effect,” Dr Ramon Pink, Medical Officer of Health says.

“For example, chlorine takes some time to diffuse through the system and get to a level where it has killed all the bugs. Just because you can smell it or taste it, doesn’t mean the water is safe to drink without boiling.”

At this stage, it is expected people will need to continue to boil or treat water for at least another two weeks. The City Council will advise residents when they no longer need to boil water.

The decision to remove the boil water notice will only be made once water test results show an adequate level of chlorine is present in water in areas that have been treated and there are no harmful bugs present in areas not treated.

“In short, we urge all residents to continue to boil or treat all water used for drinking, brushing teeth or in food preparation,” Dr Pink says. “This includes water sourced from taps, tankers, private artesian wells or aquifers.”

Christchurch’s water infrastructure is still delicate, so people should also continue to conserve water across the city by limiting showering, flushing toilets and other water use. Excess use of water could lead to more disruption to the supply, more damage to the network and therefore more risk of contamination.

For further information, please see below. To talk with Dr Ramon Pink, please contact: Daniel Herd 027 694 3574

How to boil or treat water

Bringing water to the boil is sufficient to kill bugs – water does not need to be boiled for a specific number of minutes. If you cannot boil water, treat it by adding 1 teaspoon of household bleach per 10 litres of water and leave for 30 minutes.

Water testing programme

Testing of Christchurch’s water supply for contamination or adequate levels of chlorine is a crucial step in ensuring tap water is safe for people to drink.

Water testers are visiting homes across the city to test water. These homes have been selected because they are in a good position to provide a sample representative of specific suburbs, or simply because an outside tap is easy to access.

Chosen homes are not being tested because there is a greater risk of contamination of their water supply. The purpose of the testing is to understand if there is any contamination in the community water supply, not to test individual homes.

Individual results will not be provided and people still need to boil or treat drinking water even after their supply has been tested.

Water supply in schools and early learning centres

Schools are required to ensure their staff and students have access to adequate supplies of safe drinking water before re-opening. Schools can supply bottled water sufficient to meet all drinking water needs of staff and students. Alternatively, they can ask staff and students to bring their own drinking water, but are still required to hold a back up supply on site.

There are a small number of schools in Christchurch that have their own wells to supply water. These need to be authorised as safe to drink by the City Council before schools are able to revert to using these for drinking water. Drinking water fountains must be disconnected or made inaccessible until the boil water notice has been lifted. Also, no food preparation or home economics classes can take place at schools until the boil water notice is lifted.

PHONE SURVEY TO ASSESS HEALTH NEEDS OF CHRISTCHURCH PEOPLE

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is undertaking a telephone survey of Christchurch residents to gather information on the prevalence of gastroenteritis, respiratory illness or other illnesses in Christchurch after the February 22 earthquake. CDHB is also using the survey to understand if residents have access to essential health services – such as a GP or pharmacy – and whether they are following advice to boil or treat their water.

Initially, the survey will be carried out each week for four weeks. Five hundred Christchurch residents from across the city, chosen at random, will be contacted each week to provide feedback on health issues and access to services. The survey will take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
Recovery Assistance Centres (RACs)

Two new Recovery Assistance Centres opened today – at the Mt Pleasant Yacht Club and at the Hagley Old Boys Cricket Club. Recovery Assistance Centres are one-stop-shops where people can access welfare information and services. They bring together central, local government and non government organisations. Each RAC has visiting or on-call health staff.

This includes a designated Partnership Community Worker (PCW) who can link those in need with relevant health and social services and ensure they are linked in to a General Practice team.  The PCW can also organise transport to help the patient get to a GP or a hospital appointment or to a social service agency. RACs will also be visited by a Health Protection Officer and public health nurse each day.

RACs are open week days 8.30am to 5.00pm & weekends 9.00am to 4.00pm and are located at:

Linwood Community Link - 154 Aldwins Road
Linwood Wainoni Aranui Recreation Centre - 31 Hampshire Street
Wainoni Parklands Baptist Church - 180 Queenspark Drive
Parklands St Faiths Hall - 46 Hawke Street
New Brighton Nga Hau e Wha Marae - 250 Pages Road
Aranui Shirley Rugby Club - Burwood Park, New Brighton Road, Shirley/Dallington
Lyttelton Recreation Centre - 25 Winchester Street, Lyttelton
Sydenham Community Centre - 23-25 Hutcheson Street, Sydenham
Hagley Old Boys Cricket Club - Hagley Oval, Riccarton Avenue.
Mt Pleasant Yacht Club - 21 Main Road Mt Pleasant (by the Ferrymead Bridge)

More information on RACs and location maps - http://www.msd.govt.nz/emergency/recovery-assistance-centres.html

Water

All water should continue to be boiled, until the council gives the all clear. Details of locations are of water collection available at http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/water-tanker-timetable-for-deliveries/. Residents must take their own containers and remember to boil all water before use.

You can also collect hand sanitiser, health information and facemasks from the tankers.

Earthquake Stress

The CDHB Anxiety Disorders Unit has put together some practical tips about coping with earthquake stress

We have now experienced two major earthquakes and are continuing to experience ongoing aftershocks, which have had significant consequences for many people. Following such immensely upsetting events, people understandably feel distressed.

It is important to understand:

This distress can last days or weeks.

Allowing enough time to heal physically and mentally is important to recovery.
Support from friends and family helps with recovery.

Some people find it helpful to talk about what has happened to them, whereas others prefer not to discuss it.

Either strategy is fine, provided you feel able to choose what you do.

The full document is available at http://www.healthinfo.org.nz/

Important public health information

Boil or treat all water from taps and tankers before drinking, brushing teeth or using in food preparation. Bringing water to the boil is sufficient to kill bugs. Water needs to be boiled even if the smell or taste of chlorine is present. If you cannot boil water, treat it by adding 1 teaspoon of household bleach per 10 litres of water and leave for 30 minutes.

Waterways are contaminated with sewage. Avoid contact with rivers, sea water, ponds, puddles or other surface water. Do not swim, paddle, fish, or gather shellfish or any other food from oceans and rivers.
In many parts of the city sewerage pipes have broken and sewage has mixed with liquefaction silt.

People should avoid silt if they can, particularly if they don’t have running water to wash after contact. If people have to work with silt they should wear water-proof gloves, gumboots and a dust mask; shower or wash immediately afterwards; and wash clothes separately.

Take care when disposing of human waste (faeces, poo, vomit etc). Bury it in your garden or wrap it well in paper or plastic. Add some sawdust or kitty litter and put it in your red bin for collection. Wash your hands immediately after dealing with any human waste.

Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser after toileting and before and after eating or preparing food. Free hand sanitiser is available from official water tanker sites.

If you don’t have running water, make a plan to move in with a friend or relative who has running water if you get sick. When you are sick, running water (for hand washing and toileting) is much more important.

If you are sick, try to limit contact with other people, do not go to work and do not prepare food for anyone.

Take extreme care with food – particularly with food that should be refrigerated. Dispose of smelly, slimy, mouldy or discoloured food immediately. Do not refreeze food once power returns.

Burwood / Christchurch Hospital Shuttle Bus

Monday to Sunday Service There is a 43 seat shuttle coach for patients and staff operating between Burwood and Christchurch Hospitals:

Burwood departures from beside Beacon House at entrance B2 leave at: 6.15am  -  8.00am  -  2.00pm  -  4.00pm  - 10.00pm

Parking at Burwood is signposted and staff must park on the grassed area as indicated.

Christchurch departures leave from the Traffic Lights on Oxford Terrace below the Emergency Department at: 7.15am  -  3.30pm  -  5.00pm  -  11.15pm

The Princess Margaret Hospital (TPMH) /Christchurch Hospital St John’s Shuttle (Hillmorton/ TPMH)
Monday to Friday Service

The normal St John’s shuttle timetable is operating between TPMH and Christchurch IS NOT calling at Burwood. Departure points are at the main entrance for TPMH and the Riverside entrance for Christchurch. Pick up at Hillmorton is the Avon Building

Hillmorton/Christchurch - CDHB Minibus Shuttle

Monday to Friday Service CDHB Minibuses are operating continuously from 8.30am to 5.00pm between Hillmorton and Christchurch Hospitals starting at 8.30am from Hillmorton. These are available for staff and patients. Parking is located on the playing filed at Hillmorton and is signposted from the main Annex Road entrance. Drop off and pick up is from the lower ground floor entrance of Christchurch Women’s Hospital.

All Canterbury District Health Board buildings – safety

All hospital buildings have been checked by independent structural engineers. Other than those closed off or with restricted entry (clearly marked by tape, cones etc), the buildings have been assessed as safe to occupy.  ‘Green stickers’ are being placed on the buildings.

Christchurch Hospital services

Detailed information on the availability of hospital services in Christchurch can be found on the Canterbury DHB website.

http://www.cdhb.govt.nz/communications/earthquake/documents/Important%20Health%20Information.pdf

Elective surgery – Although limited elective surgery resumed today, there are some patients who will need to have their surgery performed at other hospitals. Patients will be contacted regarding arrangements.

Media are not to access Christchurch Hospital or staff without permission – ALL media queries must be directed to the Canterbury DHB Strategic Communications Team. Please phone (03) 337 7390, or 027 502 7523/ 027 531 4796.

Gastroenteritis

Plans are in place in case of an outbreak of gastroenteritis. Anyone with symptoms (vomiting and/or diarrhoea) should phone their GP or pharmacy for advice.
Do not swim in rivers and beaches where raw sewage may be present. Locations include all beaches between the Waimakariri River and Lyttelton Harbour.

Free Urgent Medical Treatment

If you are unwell, visit your General Practice team. If your health issue is earthquake related, your visit may be free. This arrangement is in place until the end of Sunday, March 13. This is being funded by the South Island DHBs.

The urgent medical care offer is also being generously matched by major North Island general practice networks  Procare in Auckland, Wellington's Compass and the Midlands Health Network (covering Taranaki, Waikato, some of Lakes and Tairawhiti). Christchurch evacuees in the North Island should ring first to check the initiative is being offered at their nearest practice.

In recognition of GPs support, DHBs are waiving the usual deduction on Canterbury practices when their patients are treated elsewhere until March 13.
General Practices and Pharmacies
Despite ongoing difficulties with infrastructure, most General Practice Teams and pharmacies are now open. Rural GPs remain very busy. You can phone your General Practice 24 hours a day. When your practice is closed at night, you will be put through to a telephone triage service. If your general practice phone number is not working or you do not have a usual general practice, ring 365 7777. For emergencies and life threatening conditions always call 111.
Looking after ourselves

It’s normal to be feeling very stressed at the moment. Everyone is affected in different ways. Some of us may feel very anxious or low in spirits, or cry easily. Some of us may feel it’s hard to function. Don’t just try to ‘tough it out’. If you are concerned about yourself or a family member, please talk to someone in your general practice team. They can call on a wide range of mental health and counselling services, and more counsellors are being brought in to help.

Helplines

ACC – People wanting to know what their entitlements are 0800 101 996
Healthline – Health advice 24-hours a day, seven days a week 0800 611 116 
Red Cross – 0800 733 276. People who have relocated outside of Christchurch are urged to contact the Red Cross.
Urgent mental health advice – Psychiatric Emergency Service on 03 3640 482 or 0800 920 092
Urgent Dental Care – If you can’t contact your own dentist 335 4260. After hours 027 683 0679
Meals on wheels – 337 7797
Vulnerable older people – that urgently require assistance because of health or disability needs should contact Older Persons Health on 337 7765 for assessment and advice.
Relocated older people – if you are unable to contact their usual aged residential care provider to confirm their location, please phone 337 8937 for information.
Dialysis – helpline 0800 881919
Ambulance – 111
Pegasus 24-hour medical centre in Bealey Avenue – 365 7777
Water collection locations – http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/water-tanker-timetable-for-deliveries/
Coping strategies - stress and anxiety – The Ministry of Health has created a series of fact sheets with advice and coping strategies for people experiencing stress or anxiety in the wake of this week's tragedy.  These can be found on the Ministry's website - www.moh.govt.nz - under the banner headline ‘Christchurch Earthquake’
Mental Health Nurses – are available to provide support in the community. Please phone your GP Team for information.
Other useful websites include – www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz www.civildefence.co.nz
ENDS

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Canterbury DHB

CDHB

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is a Christchurch, New Zealand based hospital and healthcare provider for the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Our region extends from Kekerengu in the North, to Rangitata in the South and Arthurs Pass in the West and comprises the six Territorial Local Authorities of Kaikoura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Christchurch City, Selwyn and Ashburton.

We collaborate with other health and disability organisations, stakeholders and our community to decide what health and disability services are needed and how to best use the funding we receive from Government to improve, promote and protect the health, wellbeing and independence of our population.

At the Canterbury DHB, our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Canterbury.

Contact Canterbury DHB

• Website - www.cdhb.govt.nz
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