[124th Haisai Disaster Prevention (Stockpiling)] The Importance of Emergency Toilets (100 uses!): The Crisis of "Excretion" Faced Before Water and Food
This is the Haisai Disaster Prevention editorial department.
When it comes to disaster stockpiling, people tend to focus on "water and food," but the "toilet problem" is something that inevitably arises within hours of a disaster. Especially in urban areas like Naha City, where there are many apartment buildings, and in Okinawa's environment, where water outages tend to be prolonged, having emergency toilets is the key to protecting your life.
In this issue, we will explain why the number "100 uses" is necessary, along with how to choose the right ones.
1. "You can survive for a few days without eating, but you cannot hold back excretion"
Humans go to the toilet an average of 5 to 7 times a day. If you try to flush forcibly during a water outage, it can lead to major accidents such as clogged pipes or sewage backing up into lower floors.
The pitfall of apartments: If the building's drainage pipes are damaged by an earthquake, the golden rule is "do not flush," even if water comes out.
Secondary damage caused by holding it in: If you restrict your fluid intake to avoid using the toilet, it can lead to economy class syndrome, cystitis, and dehydration, which in the worst case can cause "disaster-related deaths."
2. Why are "100 uses" necessary?
If one person goes to the toilet 5 times a day, a family of three will go 15 times. That becomes 105 uses in one week.
The "one week" until aid arrives: In Okinawa, if logistics stop, it takes time to recover. While waiting for relief supplies from the government or local authorities, to maintain hygiene on your own, a family of four needs at least 200 uses, and even for a single person, having one box of "100 uses (about 20 days' worth)" provides peace of mind.
Surprisingly compact: Many 100-use emergency toilet sets fit into a box about the size of an A4 sheet of paper, so they do not take up much storage space.
3. Okinawa's heat and measures against "odor and hygiene"
If power and water outages occur during the summer in Okinawa, garbage collection stops, and the odor of abandoned excrement and pests become major problems.
Use a set of "coagulant" and "deodorizing bags": Choose a type that includes strong deodorizing bags like BOS. In Okinawa's hot and humid environment, odors will leak from regular plastic bags, making evacuation life miserable.
Coagulants with deodorizing ingredients: Choosing a type that suppresses odors and inhibits bacterial growth is the trick to living hygienically in a small space.
4. Just set it up in your regular toilet
Emergency toilets are not just the cardboard assembly types.
Utilize your toilet seat: The "toilet bag type," which involves placing a bag over your existing Western-style toilet seat, is the easiest and most stable. To ensure you can "cover, use, solidify, and tie" the moment the water goes out, try simulating it with your family once.
"Water, food, and toilets" are the three sacred treasures of disaster prevention. With a 100-use supply, you can maintain your human dignity even during an uncomfortable evacuation life.