A shelter must be kept clean and sanitary or the occupants can risk a serious illness. Water must be disinfected by boiling it for ten minutes before drinking. You can also treat it with iodine or chlorine.
If you are storing water in bags in a pit then it is also a good idea to add 1 scant teaspoon of ordinary household bleach for each ten gallons. Always siphon the water out instead of using ladles or cups to prevent contamination.
It can be quite difficult to store food in shelters. Many shelters are damp which can cause storage containers to break. Be vigilante and keep paper containers dry. You also have to watch out for ants, roaches and weevils that can cut through paper and plastic to reach food inside. One way to avoid bugs is to suspend bags from the ceiling near the entrance to the shelter. You can stop crawlers by smearing grease on the suspending string or wire. Keep in mind that strong plastic containers and metal containers protect food best.
To prevent food poisoning it is a good idea to serve all food in a shelter within a half an hour of it being cooked. Canned foods should be eaten right after the can is opened. Bowls and plates should be cleaned immediately to prevent insects and animals from being attracted to the shelter.
You may not be able to use dishes in your shelter so instead you can serve the food on squares of plastic. You can use plastic spoons and forks that are disinfected with chlorine bleach solution (one tablespoon of Clorox bleach to a quart of water.)
If bugs are a problem do not use insect sprays. They can be quite toxic and cause real problems with breathing. It is best to use mosquito netting to cover the ventilation openings of a shelter. This is especially important after a nuclear attack as the fly population usually explodes.
Ants have been known to chase survivor’s right out of their shelters. When building one be sure not to locate it near an ant’s nest.
Each person should have their own personal cup, bowl and spoon to prevent the transmission of germs.
Skin diseases are especially prevalent during hot weather. Fungus infections and rashes can be a problem. It is important to wash off sweat and dead skin. How often you do this might be dependent on the availability of your water but one cup of water and a small cloth should be able to give several cleanings a day.