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Let’s work through some examples to review all the concepts covered in this section. This is a chance for you to practice what you’ve just learned — your answers will not be tracked. Enjoy.

Check Your Understanding

Your county is experiencing severe flooding. You work in environmental health and your team develops the following key messages:

  • The water supply is contaminated with bacteria from sewage and other sources.
  • Use bottled water or boil water for one minute before using it for food preparation, drinking, or brushing your teeth.
  • Never drink flood water and avoid contact with flood water.

Instructions: A reporter calls you about the water supply. Write in your responses to the questions they ask. Practice is paramount to being able to successfully respond to reporters. This exercise allows you to try to write the messages yourself before you click “Compare answer” to see examples of what the experts wrote.

First, the water supply is contaminated with bacteria from sewage and other sources. Secondly, everyone should use bottled water or boil water for one minute before using it for food preparation, drinking, or brushing your teeth. Third, never drink flood water.

I don’t want to speculate since I don’t have that information. But what’s important is that everyone take steps to make sure they don’t get sick by boiling water for at least a minute before drinking or cooking with it.

The safest thing that everyone can do is to drink bottled water or boil the water for at least one minute.

It’s important to remember to only drink bottled water or boil your water for a least a minute before you drink, cook, or brush your teeth with it.