A story from the field: the phone that would not stop ringing

Sunisa has run a medical supply shop with a hospital bed and wheelchair rental service for almost ten years. Her business occupies a two-unit shophouse near a hospital in central Phitsanulok, not far from the Nan River. The ground floor is both the shop front and the warehouse. It holds manual and electric hospital beds, wheelchairs, air mattresses, walking frames and canes, along with boxes of consumables such as gauze, absorbent pads and gloves.

During the 2026 floods, the Nan River rose until water spilled into the soi and flowed into the shop at about half-knee height for three days. Sunisa and her staff managed to carry some stock upstairs, but several beds, a row of wheelchairs and boxes of goods on low pallets sat in muddy water the whole time.

As soon as the water went down, the shop phone started ringing and did not stop. Families of bedridden patients whose homes had also flooded needed replacement beds and wheelchairs straight away, because their own equipment had been damaged. Some were older people just back from evacuation shelters. Some were patients recovering from surgery, with weakened immune systems. Sunisa wanted to help every one of them, but she was worried. How could she send out equipment that had just been sitting in floodwater?

It is exactly the right question. The customers of a medical supply shop are among the most vulnerable people in a flood-hit community. This article sets out clearly what can be kept, what should be thrown away, who should check what, and where professional disinfection and ozone treatment fit into the recovery of the shop. It is written for owners and staff of medical supply shops, pharmacies with equipment rental corners and community organizations that lend beds and wheelchairs to families in need, all of whom carry a special responsibility after a flood because the people they serve cannot easily protect themselves.

Why medical supply shops must be extra careful

• The end users are vulnerable. Bedridden patients, older people, people recovering from surgery and people with pressure sores are at higher risk of infection than the general public.
• Floodwater carries germs. Water that has flowed through a community is usually contaminated with wastewater and sewage. It can carry bacteria such as E. coli and the bacteria that cause leptospirosis, which can enter the body through broken skin.
• Mold grows quickly in porous materials. Foam mattresses, wheelchair cushions and cardboard boxes can show mold within a few days in humid conditions.
• The shop's reputation rests on trust. Families choose a supplier they believe will deliver clean equipment. A bed that arrives smelling musty or showing mold marks can destroy that trust in a single delivery.

Sorting the stock: what to keep and what must go

Should be discarded:

• Medical consumables whose packaging got wet in floodwater, such as gauze, cotton wool, absorbent pads, gloves and any item labeled sterile. Their cleanliness can no longer be guaranteed. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and the guidance of the relevant authorities.
• Foam mattresses, pillows and cushions that absorbed floodwater into the material itself.
• Cardboard boxes and packaging that have gone soft or show mold.

Can often be kept after cleaning and disinfection (following the manufacturer's guidance):

• Metal frames of manual hospital beds, side rails and bed legs.
• Metal wheelchair frames, canes, walking frames and mobility aids with no absorbent parts.
• Mattresses with a fully sealed waterproof cover that is not torn, provided it is confirmed that no water got inside.

Must be checked by the manufacturer or a qualified specialist first:

• Electric hospital beds, their motors and hand controls.
• Air mattresses with electric pumps, oxygen concentrators, suction machines and any other powered medical device.
• Powered wheelchairs and their batteries.

Powered medical devices that have been submerged must not be plugged in or charged "just to test them". They must always be assessed by the manufacturer, an authorized service center or a qualified medical equipment technician. World Health Disinfection (WHD) does not repair, test or certify these devices. Our role is disinfection fogging and ozone treatment of the shop and warehouse space.

Why washing and sun-drying is not enough

• Washing frames without disinfecting. Water and detergent remove mud, but that alone is not enough for equipment going to patients with weakened immunity.
• Drying in the sun and putting everything back in the same warehouse. If the warehouse still smells musty and has mold on the walls, cleaned equipment can pick up odor and spores all over again.
• Using strong bleach on everything. It can corrode some metals, damage synthetic leather upholstery and leave a sharp smell that patients dislike.
• Spraying perfume to hide the smell. Families caring for patients are often very sensitive to smell, and fragrance can trigger reactions in some patients.

The aim is not to make recovery more complicated than it needs to be, but to make sure that the effort put into cleaning is not wasted by a contaminated storage space.

The hidden costs of an incomplete recovery

Money. If cleaned stock goes back into a warehouse that still has mold, it may grow mold again and have to be thrown away. A bed that is sent back because it smells musty costs two delivery trips and a lost rental.

Time. The weeks after the water goes down are when demand for beds and wheelchairs is highest. If the shop has to close again because of returning odor or mold, customers will simply go elsewhere.

Reputation. Families of patients recommend suppliers to each other by word of mouth and in carers' LINE groups. One bad experience can travel quickly through those networks.

Our process for medical supply shops and rental warehouses

1. Site survey. The team checks how high the water rose, the shop front, warehouse and toilets, and where mold or odor is strongest. We ask which stock has already been sorted and which powered devices are waiting for manufacturer checks.
2. Preparation advice. Mud and stock to be discarded are removed. Powered medical devices awaiting inspection are moved to a separate area. Oxygen cylinders are moved out of the space following the supplier's guidance.
3. ULV disinfection fogging. Our disinfection service applies CHEMGENE HLD4H as a fine mist over floors, lower walls, shelving, pallets and the exterior surfaces of bed frames and wheelchairs that have already been cleaned.
4. Ozone treatment. The space is closed and an ozone generator runs at a controlled dose matched to the room size, reducing mold spores and breaking down musty odors in the warehouse and shop. During treatment there must be no people, pets or plants in the space.
5. Protecting ozone-sensitive materials. Wheelchair tires, rubber cushions and some rubber components can age faster if exposed to high ozone levels for long periods. We therefore use a controlled dose and recommend covering or moving rubber stock and electronics before treatment.
6. Ventilation. Roller shutters are opened and fans are used until the ozone has broken down and there is no sharp smell, before staff return.
7. Re-check. The team checks odor and condition and advises on storing stock off the floor and away from walls, to reduce the risk if water returns.

Why fogging and ozone work as a pair

Fogging deals with surfaces. Floodwater leaves silt and bacteria on floors, shelves, pallets and equipment frames. A fine disinfectant mist reaches gaps that are hard to wipe, such as under shelving and behind pallets.

Ozone deals with air and porous materials. Musty odors and mold spores soak into walls, ceilings and any remaining boxes of stock. Because ozone is a gas, it reaches into those spaces and helps the whole warehouse smell and feel cleaner.

Neither replaces sorting the stock. Items that should be thrown away still need to go. Fogging and ozone treatment finish off the space once the sorting is done.

A checklist before sending a bed or wheelchair to a customer

• The item has been sorted and is not one of the items that should be discarded.
• Any powered device has been checked by the manufacturer or a qualified specialist, and the check is recorded.
• Mud has been cleaned from joints, wheels and hard-to-reach parts of the metal frame.
• Mattresses or cushions that absorbed water have been replaced with new ones.
• The item has been stored in a space that has been disinfected and ozone-treated, not against a damp wall or on a wet floor.
• The family has been advised to clean the area where the bed will stand before it is installed.

Keeping a simple record for each rental item, showing what was done and when, helps staff answer questions from families and gives customers confidence that the shop has taken care.

Helping families prepare the patient's room

Many of Sunisa's customers were themselves recovering from a flood. A clean bed placed in a room with wet walls and mold will not stay clean for long. When delivering equipment, it helps to give families a few simple suggestions.

• Clean and dry the floor and the area around where the bed will stand before delivery.
• Remove soaked mattresses, rugs and cardboard from the room.
• Open windows during the day to let the room air out, unless the patient's doctor advises otherwise.
• If the room smells musty or has visible mold, consider having it disinfected and ozone-treated before the patient moves back in, with the patient staying elsewhere during treatment and ventilation.
• Watch the patient for any new symptoms and contact their doctor if concerned.

These suggestions are general and practical, not medical advice. Families should always follow the guidance of the patient's doctor or nurse.

Rental equipment coming back from flooded homes

A rental business faces a problem that ordinary shops do not: equipment that was out on loan when the flood hit. Beds, wheelchairs and commodes that were in customers' homes may have stood in floodwater there, sometimes for longer than the stock in the shop. When these items come back, they need a clear process.

• Set up a separate "returns" area. Do not bring returned items straight into the cleaned warehouse. Keep them in a marked area, ideally near the entrance, until they have been assessed.
• Ask the family what happened. How high did the water reach, and for how long? Was the bed plugged in at the time? This helps decide whether it needs a manufacturer check.
• Apply the same sorting rules. Soaked mattresses and cushions are replaced, powered parts go for specialist checks, and metal frames are cleaned and disinfected before they rejoin rental stock.
• Record each item. A simple log of the return date, condition and actions taken protects both the shop and the next customer.

Our team can include the returns area in the disinfection plan and advise on how to lay it out so that returned items never cross paths with clean, ready-to-rent equipment.

Protecting your staff during the clean-up

Staff who carry wet stock, remove mud and wash equipment are exposed to floodwater contamination themselves. A few precautions help keep them healthy so the shop can keep serving customers.

• Wear waterproof boots and sturdy gloves when handling mud and soaked items.
• Cover any cuts or scratches with waterproof dressings, since leptospirosis bacteria can enter through broken skin.
• Wear a mask when removing moldy boxes and mattresses, which can release spores.
• Wash hands thoroughly before eating or drinking and at the end of each shift.
• Keep staff out of the shop during ozone treatment and until ventilation is complete.
• Anyone who develops fever, muscle pain or other symptoms after flood clean-up should see a doctor and mention the flood exposure.

Answering the questions families ask after a flood

After a flood, families renting equipment ask more questions than usual, and they deserve clear, honest answers. Preparing your staff with simple explanations makes every phone call and delivery smoother.

"Was this bed in the flood?" Be honest. If it was, explain what was done: the frame was cleaned and disinfected, the mattress was replaced, any electrical parts were checked by the manufacturer's technician, and the item was stored in a treated warehouse. Families usually appreciate transparency far more than a vague reassurance.

"Is it safe for someone with a weak immune system?" Explain the steps taken and suggest that the family also follows any advice from the patient's doctor or nurse about cleaning the bed area at home. Avoid making medical claims; your role is to supply clean, properly checked equipment.

"Why does it cost the same if it was in the flood?" Some shops choose to offer reconditioned equipment at a different rate, while others treat all properly checked equipment equally. Whatever you decide, being clear about it avoids disputes later.

"Can you help with our home too?" Many families ask whether the shop can recommend someone for the patient's room. Having our contact details ready means you can point them to disinfection and ozone treatment for their home, so the clean bed goes into a clean room.

Working closely with local hospital discharge teams and home-care nurses is also worthwhile. When they know your shop has recovered properly and can explain its process, they are more comfortable recommending you to families leaving hospital.

Do not forget delivery vehicles and the shop front

The pickup truck or van that delivers beds may also have driven through floodwater, and its cargo area can carry mud and odor straight into customers' homes. Clean and disinfect the cargo area before loading clean equipment, and use covers or plastic wrapping for beds and wheelchairs during delivery. At the shop front, the display area and customer seating are the first things families see. A fresh, clean-smelling shop front tells customers immediately that the business has recovered properly. It is worth including the display area, the customer waiting chairs, the toilet and the staff rest area in the treatment plan, because these are the places where visitors and staff spend the most time and where a lingering musty smell is most easily noticed.

Getting ready in case the water returns

• Store stock on shelves or pallets raised off the floor, with a small gap from the walls for air circulation.
• Keep medical consumables on upper floors or in sealed plastic boxes.
• Keep a list of powered devices with serial numbers, so they can be sent for checks quickly if it happens again.
• Prepare a plan to move electric beds and oxygen concentrators to higher ground when flood warnings are issued.
• Open the warehouse regularly to air it during the rainy season.

10 reasons Phitsanulok medical supply shops choose WHD

1. We understand that your customers are vulnerable patients, so every step is done with care.
2. ULV disinfection fogging reaches shelving, pallet gaps and warehouse corners that are hard to wipe.
3. Ozone treatment breaks down musty odors in warehouses that were sealed during the flood.
4. We use CHEMGENE HLD4H for surface disinfection.
5. A clear division of work: powered medical devices go to the manufacturer or a qualified specialist, and WHD handles the space.
6. Controlled ozone doses, with advice on covering or moving rubber stock and electronics.
7. Scheduling outside opening hours, so customers waiting for equipment are not turned away.
8. Practical advice on storage to reduce damage if the water comes back.
9. CHEMGENE HLD4H 750 ml spray available for wiping down shop surfaces during the day.
10. Easy to reach by phone and LINE, covering Mueang Phitsanulok and nearby districts.

Before and after recovery

Customer voice (example scenario)

"At first I just wanted to wash everything and send it out. The team helped me put things in the right order: throw out the wet consumables, send the electric beds to the manufacturer's technician, then disinfect and ozone the warehouse. When we delivered beds, I could explain every step to the families, and they felt reassured."

— Sunisa, medical supply and bed rental shop, Mueang Phitsanulok (example scenario)

Frequently asked questions

Q: Can an electric hospital bed that was flooded be used once it has dried?
A: No. The manufacturer, an authorized service center or a qualified medical equipment technician must check the electrical system and motor before it is used.

Q: Does WHD disinfect medical equipment?
A: WHD disinfects the shop and warehouse space, including the exterior surfaces of bed frames and wheelchairs that have been cleaned. We do not repair, test or certify powered medical devices.

Q: The boxes of gauze and pads only got a little wet. Can I still sell them?
A: We do not recommend it. Medical consumables whose packaging touched floodwater should be removed from sale, following the manufacturer's instructions and the guidance of the relevant authorities.

Q: Will ozone damage wheelchair tires?
A: Some rubber is sensitive to high ozone levels over long periods. We use a controlled dose and recommend covering or moving rubber stock before treatment.

Q: What about oxygen cylinders in the shop?
A: They should be moved out before ozone treatment, and cylinders and valves that were underwater should be checked by the supplier according to the supplier's guidance.

Q: Do you serve shops in other districts of Phitsanulok?
A: Yes. Contact us on LINE @whd268 to arrange a survey.

Make your shop a place patients' families can rely on again

Book a survey of your medical supply shop and warehouse in Mueang Phitsanulok and nearby areas.

See Disinfection Service - Click Here

Book Ozone Treatment - Click Here

Call 065-556-6294 · LINE @whd268 · Email worldhealthdisinfection@gmail.com

Related links

• CHEMGENE HLD4H disinfectant
• Ozone odor and chemical residue removal
• Master Ozone Generator
• All articles

Health reference: World Health Organization (WHO): Floods · Department of Disease Control, Thailand