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Public/Individuals/Family Pandemic Planning |
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Overview Community
strategies that delay or reduce the impact of a pandemic (also
called non-pharmaceutical interventions) may help reduce the spread
of disease until a vaccine is available. As you plan, it is
important to think about the challenges that you might face,
particularly if a pandemic is severe. It may take time to find the
answers to these challenges. Below are some situations that could be
caused by a severe pandemic and possible ways to address them. A
checklist and fill-in sheets for family health information and
emergency contact information have been prepared to help guide your
planning and preparation.
Family Guide, Checklist, and Information Sheets top of page
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.
- Prepare backup plans in case public gatherings,
such as volunteer meetings and worship services, are canceled.
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Consider how to care for people with special needs in case the
services they rely on are not available.
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Being Able to Work May Be Difficult or Impossible -
Find out if you can work from home.
- Ask your employer about
how business will continue during a pandemic. (A Business Pandemic
Influenza Planning Checklist is available at
Business Pandemic Planning Checklist (PDF File)).
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Plan for the possible reduction or loss of income if you are unable
to work or your place of employment is closed.
- Check with
your employer or union about leave policies.
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Schools May Be Closed for an Extended Period of Time -
Help schools plan for pandemic influenza. Talk to the school nurse
or the health center. Talk to your teachers, administrators, and
parent-teacher organizations.
- Plan home learning activities
and exercises. Have materials, such as books, on hand. Also plan
recreational activities that your children can do at home.
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Consider childcare needs.
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page
Transportation Services May Be Disrupted -
Think about how you can rely less on public transportation during a
pandemic. For example, store food and other essential supplies so
you can make fewer trips to the store.
- 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.
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People Will Need Advice and Help at Work and Home -
Think about what information the people in your workplace will need
if you are a manager. This may include information about insurance,
leave policies, working from home, possible loss of income, and when
not to come to work if sick. (A Business Pandemic Influenza Planning
Checklist is available at
Business Pandemic Planning Checklist (PDF File)).
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Meet with your colleagues and make lists of things that you will
need to know and what actions can be taken.
- Find volunteers
who want to help people in need, such as elderly neighbors, single
parents of small children, or people without the resources to get
the medical help they will need.
- Identify other information
resources in your community, such as mental health hotlines, public
health hotlines, or electronic bulletin boards.
- Find support
systems—people who are thinking about the same issues you are
thinking about. Share ideas.
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of page
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.
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Stay Healthy
Will the seasonal flu shot protect me against pandemic influenza? |
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No, it won't protect you against pandemic influenza. But flu
shots can help you to stay healthy.
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Get a flu shot to help protect yourself from seasonal flu.
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Get a pneumonia shot to prevent secondary infection if you are
over the age of 65 or have a chronic illness such as diabetes or
asthma. For specific guidelines, talk to your health care
provider or call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) Hotline at 1-800-232-4636.
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Make sure that your family's immunizations are up-to-date.
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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.
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Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue.
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Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or
an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
- Stay at home if you are sick.
It is always a good idea to practice good health habits. -
Eat a balanced diet. Be sure to eat a variety of foods, including
plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grain products. Also include
low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish, and beans. Drink
lots of water and go easy on salt, sugar, alcohol, and saturated
fat.
- Exercise on a regular basis and get plenty of rest.
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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. -
Reliable, accurate, and timely information is available at
www.pandemicflu.gov.
- Another source for information on
pandemic influenza is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) Hotline at: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636). This line is
available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
TTY: 1-888-232-6348. Questions can be e-mailed to
cdcinfo@cdc.gov.
- Look for information on your local and
state government Web sites. Links are available to most provincial
department of public health
here.
- Listen to local and
national radio, watch news reports on television, and read your
newspaper and other sources of printed and Web-based information.
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Talk to your local health care providers and public health
officials.
As you begin
your individual or family planning, you may want to review your
state's planning efforts and those of your local public health and
emergency preparedness officials. Many of the state plans and other
planning information can be found
here.
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Community Guidance
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Last
revised: September 25, 2007 |
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This site has been made possible through an unrestricted educational
grant from
Roche Canada Inc.
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