Learn How Best to Toilet in Remote Areas

When you “gotta go” on missions. When traveling to remote areas, outhouses are IN!  When an outhouse is not available, the next best option is your friendly, neighborhood bush!  When you need to GO, those bushes never looked so good!

I’m sharing these ‘insights’ with you based on my personal experience and preferences.  While I’ve had to ‘wing it’ over the years, it occurred to me that some, perhaps you, would appreciate some suggestions as you embark on this new elimination adventure yourself!  

Here we go……!!

The basic problems in remote areas are two fold: 1) the lack of clean running water and 2) everyone sharing one or two outhouses. Both issues lead to the potential spread of illnesses.  

Thus, the goal of this article is to review TIPS ON HOW TO:

1) Avoid Contamination

2) Adequately Sanitize

I’ll also include some helpful suggestions since I’ve learned the hard way! Hopefully knowing some of these pointers in advance will spare you unnecessary spills, accidents, and screams of ‘gross!!!!’

WHAT SUPPLIES TO TAKE –

Read the entire article and decide for yourself what works for you!

Avoiding Contamination Options:

1. Gloves
2. Hand sanitizers – liquid or spray
3. Antibacterial wipes
4. Zip lock bags – determine for yourself which size and style you prefer

Wiping Options:

1. Toilet paper roll
2. Kleenex packs
3. Handiwipes / baby wipes

Odor Reducing Options:

1. One Drop
2. The Drops
3. Sprays or deodorants – may consider carrying your own in its own pocket and using AFTER you are done sanitizing your hands.

TIPS USING YOUR SUPPLIES:

• Keep your supplies in a designated pocket so that you know where everything is every time. You can also efficiently restock as needed.
• The best is using ziplock bags quart size with the zipper = a smashed roll of TP (toilet paper) + gloves fits in most jackets (Jackets with zippered pockets are the best so that things don’t fall out).
• I prefer using TP since it’s easily flushable and is biodegradable.
• Start the morning with restocking your pants or jacket with supplies.
• If your weather is warm and you are not using a jacket to hold your TP roll, you may instead tear off 2 – 3 wads of TP (or a Kleenex packet) and keep these in your pants pocket that is more compact.
• Being prepared with your supplies allows you to head toward the outhouse when the urge comes so that you don’t have an ’emergency.’
• Baby wipes are not necessarily antibacterial so be sure you are aware of your products.

OUTHOUSE HARDWARE & TECHNICAL USAGE

• Prior to stepping foot into the outhouse, peer inside to check if there’s adequate water in the bucket for you to rinse the toilet. If not, you can always refill the bucket and rinse the toilet later. I prefer to be set ahead of time rather than scramble at the end, especially if someone is waiting to go after you.
• Nearly all outhouses have a latch which is undoubtedly contaminated – wearing gloves prior to approaching the door is my preference; however, you may also use a paper or a leaf to open, close and latch the door.
• Once you’ve successfully shut the door behind you, you will soon realize that you can barely see a thing! Nearly all outhouses are dim or dark! This is especially true at sundown or early morning, just when your body’s nature calls!  Thus, you need to have a light source handy!
• Light source recommendations vary with the outhouse architecture. Personally, I have found using a light with a clip most useful as most outhouse architectural designs lack hooks or shelves! It is easiest to hook the light to my clothes.  Another handy option is using a headlamp — But be sure that it is tight enough around your head to avoid it flying off into the you know where as you’re bending over the you know what! Yet another option is to hang the headlamp around your neck! If none of these options work you may find a ‘clean’ brick or corner upon which to lay your light!
• The toilet is usually a ceramic white rectangle that’s submerged in a cement platform. It has grooves to stand upon so that you don’t slip off while doing your important function!
• Squat down as far as your knees and ankles allow!
• To avoid allowing your pants from absorbing the unknown contents in the wet surface in the outhouse, pull up or roll up your pant legs before squatting.
• Remember that once you squat down, you’ll need to get up! You may use your NON wiping hand to brace yourself by touching the floor and also push yourself up to standing position. While no one likes to touch the floor with their hands, this is better than literally falling flat on your buttocks on the toilet or cement! Not to mention having to roll on the floor in order to get up! (This is where the scream in silence comes, ‘GROSSSS!’) Believe me, prevention and preparation is the best!  
• If you have difficulty squatting all the way down, using gloves on both hands would be most advantageous for you.  Stabilize your non wiping hand on the wall or ground & then push off the floor to stand up.
• Those who do not have gloves, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after your outhouse excursion – every time! Not washing thoroughly can be the cause of your own infection and also the spreading of gastroenteritis /illness to your team!
• Once you’ve successfully made your outhouse contribution, in your excitement, do not escape yet!  Your next step is to flush it down! If your contribution is solid, then your goal is to use a larger volume of fluid to rigorously ‘throw’ the fluid down the hole in order to ‘flush’ the toilet. You may have to do this twice. If your contribution is liquid, then one rinse should suffice.
• If the water source is plentiful in your area, then in consideration of the next person, please also rinse off the ceramic portion which usually appears dirty. If the water source is scarce, save what you have for the flushing and skip the beautification ideals. Well maintained outhouses usually do not smell terribly unless it’s not being flushed adequately.  
• Flushing also applies to men who sometimes forget to flush! In their haste to enter and exit, it appears that some men think that any fluid contribution is a form of flushing!  Not so! Always follow the yellow fluid with the hopefully clear fluid!
• Always conclude with wiping your hands with antibacterial wipes or using a hand sanitizer. I have found it best to place a hand sanitizing wipe sticking a little out of my pocket so that I do not contaminate any part of my clothes. If the architect who designed your outhouse designed it with a shelf, then consider yourself blessed! On the shelf, place your light and antibacterial wipe. Or you may lay your hand sanitizer wipe on the outhouse floor in the packet and then when your toilet contribution is complete, you may then use it to disinfect!
• Sanitize your hands first before picking up your light and other supplies.
• Use the wipe or wipe packet to open the latch to ‘escape’ and don’t forget your light!  
• Breathe some fresh air of odor free relief! And thank God for an uneventful contribution this time!

DISPOSAL OF YOUR MATERIALS

• Determine what is biodegradable – for example, tissue may be thrown into the brush or buried.
• Do NOT throw gloves or other plastics or wraps into the brushes — dispose of these in the garbage. Show that you care about their land, even if rubbish is scattered in abundance. Be the example of environmental awareness and respect.  
• Women having their menses – tampons are biodegradable but some applicators are plastic. I would highly advise you to take with you ONLY paper tampons so that you can dispose of them in the bushes or in the trash.  
• You may want to place your sanitary materials into zip lock snack bags and then dispose of them in the team garbage. Keep in mind that all sanitary napkins have a plastic lining and so these should not be thrown into the bushes.  

ELIMINATING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

Sometimes you may have no choice but to void in the ‘woods’. Some things to be aware of:

• The same guidelines would apply regarding the Disposal of your Materials (above).
• Ask your local team members/leaders if there are creatures to be aware of (eg: leaches, snakes, etc.)
• Choose an area among bushes that is flat and is about waist high, if possible. We have had experiences where a team member has slid down the hill!
• The easiest wiping materials to use are paper products so that you can leave it to degrade in the bushes. Do not leave plastics behind.
• Have your hand disinfectant ready in your pocket before you pull your pants down – sticking out a little so that you don’t have to touch your clothes
• Sometimes there is no other choice but to relieve yourself on the side of the road and without bushes to hide behind! I have had this experience where our truck was having some engine problems and had to stop on the side of the road. The road was on a cliff and so it was a steep mountain on one side, the road, and then a few bushes prior steep cliffs!  We resorted to holding up our jackets to block the vision of the oncoming vehicles. I was surprised that it worked out well and wasn’t embarrassing as I thought it would be because of the teamwork!  
• In remote areas, everyone has to ‘go’ sometime, and so it is not an embarrassing thing for locals. Think of it as simply adding some fluid or fertilizer to the local foliage! Again, bury the paper products you use so that it helps in the biodegrading process.  

Well, you’re now well prepared and are INs with the OUTS!   

One last prayer and blessing before I end… May you never have to yell out in silence, ‘GROSS!!!’ If you do, please share with me your story and how you think you could have prevented it so that this article can be even more helpful to the next medical missions traveler to remote areas!