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Experts advise that the water of the river Ahr is heavily contaminated with pollutants since the recent flood disaster. Bullard GmbH from Remagen is now providing the Ahrweiler District Fire Brigade Association e.V. with two pallets of 43,000 special disinfectant wipes. The wipes are intended to help improve operational hygiene during clean-up work, thus preventing the spread of waterborne diseases and the outbreak of an epidemic.
Avoid contact with water of the Ahr as much as possible
The flood of the century occurred on the night of 15 July, destroying heating oil tanks in the cellars of residential buildings in addition to petrol stations and company production facilities in the Ahrweiler region. However, it isn’t just diesel and other fuels, as well as chemicals, polluting the water of the Ahr, but also garbage waste and animal carcasses. Since sewage treatment plants have been destroyed, wastewater must currently be disposed of untreated. The water of the Ahr should therefore never be used for washing or cleaning equipment.
To prevent stomach and intestinal diseases, infections with coliform bacteria as well as cholera and hepatitis A, skin contact with contaminated water and mud should be avoided at all costs, and gloves should be worn during clean-up work. “The emergency services on site are working under very dangerous circumstances these days. The removal of debris, sludge and garbage is associated with considerable risks for health,” says Hans Alfter, Managing Director of Bullard Deutschland GmbH.
Bullard organizes donation of disinfectant wipes
Bullard GmbH, which specializes in the production of fire brigade protective equipment, together with its UK partner company De-Wipe are now supporting the Ahrweiler District Fire Brigade Association e.V. with two pallets of disinfectant wipes. “The topic of operational hygiene has traditionally been of great importance to us; we have already launched the ‘Better After Fire’ wipe, a product specifically for firefighters proven to remove carcinogenic substances released in fire smoke from the skin,” says Alfter. In contrast, the disinfectant wipes that Bullard and De-Wipe are now making available to the Ahrweiler District Fire Brigade Association for passing on to clean-up workers and residents of the region have been specially developed for the effective control of waterborne pathogens. The wipes have been proven to eliminate 99.99% of all known pathogens in seconds. In contrast to comparable products, these wipes are completely alcohol free, therefore supporting the natural protective layer of the skin; this means that they’re suitable for cleaning sensitive areas of the hands and face as well as disinfecting surfaces.
Various aid measures organized at short notice
In response to Bullard’s request for a donation in kind, the company De-Wipe reacted immediately and unbureaucratically, according to Alfter:
“As a partner of the fire brigade, together with our business partners we know that those who help quickly, help twice.”
Shortly after the flood, Bullard provided fire brigades in the region with free replacements for protective equipment that had been lost or rendered unusable by the flood. In addition, the company quickly released employees for use on site and provided space for the interim storage of relief supplies. At the beginning of the month, the district fire brigade association Ahrweiler and Bullard also launched their own aid fund, which serves the rapid reconstruction of weirs in the region that have been affected or even completely destroyed by the flood.
