LYSOL® Offers Tips on Best Clean-Up Practices in the Aftermath of Hurricane Irene

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- According to recent news reports, Hurricane Irene has left 4.2 million people without power(1) and has caused devastation up and down the East Coast. While the storm has passed, the effects of the hurricane will continue with record flooding predicted throughout the Northeast and with the disaster still unfolding, it is important to be aware of proper clean-up practices to help protect and maintain the health of your family.  Complete disaster relief guidelines and clean-up safety can be found on the CDC's website: http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/cleanup/facts.asp.

When returning to your home after a hurricane, flood, or other natural disaster protect yourself and your family by following these tips.

Returning Home:

• Do not return to your house until you are told it is safe to do so. Stay away from damaged buildings or structures until they have been examined and certified as safe by a building inspector or other government authority.
• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
• If there has been a backflow of sewage into your house, wear rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles during cleanup of the affected area.

Carbon Monoxide Exposure:

• Never use generators, pressure washers, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside your home, basement, garage, or camper. Keep these items at least 20 feet from any open window, door, or vent when you use them.

Mold and Clean-up:

• First, remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected. Also remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
• Second, surface cleaning and disinfection are critical. Use of proper techniques and products will control bacteria deposited from overflowing septics, sewers and other sources of polluted water. Mold and mildew are controlled by an appropriate cleaning/disinfecting process. To help clean up, use products like LYSOL® Mold and Mildew Remover. For extra control of mold and mildew, apply LYSOL® Disinfectant Spray.
• Always follow directions for use when using any cleaner.

Hygiene and Infectious Disease Issues:

• Wash with soap and water every time you stop work. The LYSOL No Touch Hand Soap System kills 99.9% of bacteria and dispenses automatically to help avoid further spreading germs. Only use clean water for washing hands and if there is a boil-water advisory in effect, use water that has been boiled for one minute (allow the water to cool before washing).
• If you have any open cuts or sores that were exposed to floodwater, wash them with soap and water and apply an antibiotic ointment to discourage infection.

Additional information about clean-up after a disaster is available at www.emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/cleanup/. To learn more about LYSOL products visit www.lysol.com.

About LYSOL® / Reckitt Benckiser

Reckitt Benckiser (RB) is a world leader in household, health and personal care. It is a FTSE top 25 company and since 2000, net revenues have doubled and the market cap has quadrupled.  Today it is the global No 1 or No 2 in the majority of its fast-growing categories, driven by an exceptional rate of innovation – typically about 35 percent of net revenue comes from innovations launched in the prior three years. It has a strong portfolio led by 19 global powerbrands which are: Finish, Lysol, Dettol, Vanish, Woolite, Durex, Calgon, Airwick, Harpic, Bang, Mortein, Veet, Nurofen, Clearasil, Strepsils Gaviscon, Mucinex, Scholl and French's, and they account for 70% of net revenue. RB people are at the heart of the company's success. They have an intense drive for progress and action and a desire to outperform wherever they focus, including in CSR where the company has the most ambitious corporate responsibility program in the industry through its Carbon 20 initiative.  Headquartered in the United Kingdom, the company employs about 25,000 people worldwide, with operations in over 60 countries and sales in almost 200 countries.  For more information, please visit www.RB.com.

(1) Reuters: Factbox: Irene power outages swell to nearly 4.2 million, 8/29/2011

Contact: Christina Petroni
Porter Novelli
(212) 601-8164
[email protected]

SOURCE LYSOL