Health Ministry Warns Against Flood Water Content Creation
Thailand's Public Health Ministry warns content creators against filming themselves in floodwaters, citing risks of drowning, accidents, and diseases like leptospirosis and skin infections that spread through contaminated water.
Thailand's Public Health Ministry has warned content creators against filming themselves wading, sitting, or lying in floodwaters. Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr. Wirawut Imsaranai noted that while such activities—like being towed in basins behind motorcycles through flooded streets or submerging in water—may seem entertaining during flood crises, they pose serious risks of accidents and disease.
Hazards include basins tipping over or colliding with hidden obstacles, falling into drainage pipes or sinkholes, vehicle collisions when people sit on roadsides or occupy roads, and drowning—incidents the ministry said occur frequently when children play in flooded areas near waterways. Floodwater immersion also risks multiple diseases: leptospirosis, diarrhea, gastrointestinal illness, skin diseases, fungal infections, bacterial infections, and conjunctivitis.
"During crisis situations, such content may help create humor or relieve stress, but safety must come first," Dr. Wirawut said, urging parents to closely supervise children and never allow them to play in floodwaters alone or on streets. He recommended five precautions: avoid wading if possible; wear protective gear like waterproof boots if necessary; keep feet and socks dry to prevent fungal infection; bathe immediately after exposure and dry thoroughly; and avoid drinking or using unclean water, instead consuming only freshly cooked food.
