Saturday, December 6, 2008

Planning for Pandemic Influenza: DHHS Advice

Provident Principles and Practices
© David Edwards, 2008


PRINCIPLES: http://www.providentliving.org/ links to the Web page http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html, a U.S. Department of Health & Human Services resource for pandemic influenza planning. Excerpts from this resource are copied here.
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PRACTICES:
Social Disruption May Be Widespread. Plan for the possibility that usual services may be disrupted. These could include services provided by hospitals and other health care facilities, banks, stores, restaurants, government offices, and post offices. . . . Consider how to care for people with special needs in case the services they rely on are not available.

Being Able to Work May Be Difficult or Impossible. . . . Plan for the possible reduction or loss of income if you are unable to work or your place of employment is closed. . . .

Schools May Be Closed for an Extended Period of Time. Help schools plan for pandemic influenza. . . . Plan home learning activities and exercises. Have materials, such as books, on hand. Also plan recreational activities that your children can do at home. Consider childcare needs.

Transportation Services May Be Disrupted. . . . store food and other essential supplies . . . Prepare backup plans for taking care of loved ones who are far away. Consider other ways to get to work, or, if you can, work at home.

People Will Need Advice and Help at Work and Home. Think about what information the people in your workplace will need . . . Find support systems – people who are thinking about the same issues you are thinking about. . . .

Be Prepared. Stock a supply of water and food. During a pandemic you may not be able to get to a store. Even if you can get to a store, it may be out of supplies. Public waterworks services may also be interrupted. Stocking supplies can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters. Store foods that are nonperishable (will keep for a long time) and don't require refrigeration, are easy to prepare in case you are unable to cook, require little or no water, so you can conserve water for drinking. See a checklist of items to have on hand for an extended stay at home.

Stay Healthy. Take common-sense steps to limit the spread of germs. Make good hygiene a habit. Wash hands frequently with soap and water. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put used tissues in a waste basket. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue. Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner. Stay at home if you are sick. . . .

Get Informed. Knowing the facts is the best preparation. Identify sources you can count on for reliable information. If a pandemic occurs, having accurate and reliable information will be critical. . . .”

Text excerpted from Department of Health & Human Services Web site www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html (no copyright).
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Photo Credits:
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Bank closures: www.fdic.gov/bank/analytical/firstfifty/newspapers.jpg

Out of work: www.archives.gov/research/american-cities/images/american-cities-082.jpg

Books: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Science/Image/books.gif

Bicycling: www.nps.gov/heho/planyourvisit/images/RAGBRAI_2006_415w.jpg

Caring for others: www.cdc.gov/about/images/careers/nurse1.jpg

Stored foods: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/learn/features/immig/images/canshelf.jpg

Sneeze: www.fnal.gov/pub/today/safety/sneeze.jpg

Pandemic preparedness: www.fcc.gov/pshs/images/events/Pandemic_summit_poster.jpg