Bayou water here picks up sewage, lawn chemicals, and whatever leaked from a garage. Kids and dogs put it in their mouths. Adults get it in a cut and then pour bleach on the cut.
Poison Control is the live medical line for swallow, splash, and chemical mix-ups. 911 is if they cannot breathe or stay awake.
Do not wait for a rash to ‘declare itself’ if a toddler drank ditch water.
Do this now
- Rinse skin and eyes with clean water if you have a safe tap or bottled water.
- Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for swallows, eye exposures, or cleaner mix-ups.
- Call 911 if the person is struggling to breathe, seizing, or unconscious.
- Save the cleaner bottle if the problem is a mix. Take it to the phone with you.
What floodwater does that people shrug off
A mouthful while wading. A splash in the eye while pumping a garage. A cut from a fence under chocolate water. Those are medical events, not badges.
Houstonians often report stomach illness two days after they ‘only got a little in the mouth.’ Hydrate, watch fever, and call a clinician or Poison Control if you are unsure.
Do not induce vomiting because a forum said to. That is how you make it worse.
Cleaners on top of flood gunk
Bleach plus ammonia is a gas emergency. Bleach plus some vinegar and toilet cleaners can also punch you in the lungs in a closed, still-hot Houston house.
If the air goes sharp and your chest tightens, get everyone out and call 911. Then you can talk to Poison Control about what was in the buckets.
Keep kids and pets out of the work zone. A shop-vac mist is not a scent. It is aerosolized sewage.
Do this next
- 911 vs non-emergency vs 311 after a Houston flood
- Coast Guard / swift-water rescue: when to dial
- Shelters & evacuation hub
More in Who to call right now.