Those who are willing to entrust their lives and the lives of family members to the care of local elected officials may safely ignore this message. All others, read on. The checklist appearing below is from pandemicflu.gov. See also the following:
- iFlu.org pandemic flu information
- UK News Now bird flu reports
- Avian Flu Wiki
- Bird Flu by Bob Gleason, MD
- Effect Measure Blog
- Bird flu resources on WebMD
- Bird Flu Pandemic and Tamiflu by Patricia O'Malley, PhD, RN, CCRN, CNS
Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families
Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families in PDF format
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You can prepare for an influenza pandemic now. You should know both the magnitude of what can happen during a pandemic outbreak and what actions you can take to help lessen the impact of an influenza pandemic on you and your family. This checklist will help you gather the information and resources you may need in case of a flu pandemic.
- To plan for a pandemic:
- Store a two week supply of water and food. During a pandemic, if you cannot get to a store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be important for you to have extra supplies on hand. This can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters.
- Have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.
- Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick, or what will be needed to care for them in your home.
- Volunteer with local groups to prepare and assist with emergency response.
- Get involved in your community as it works to prepare for an influenza pandemic.
- To limit the spread of germs and prevent infection:
- Teach your children to wash hands frequently with soap and water, and model the correct behavior.
- Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, and be sure to model that behavior.
- Teach your children to stay away from others as much as possible if they are sick. Stay home from work and school if sick.
- Items to have on hand for an extended stay at home:
Family Emergency Health Information Sheet
For More Information
- Visit: www.pandemicflu.gov
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hotline, 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), 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.
- Links to state departments of public health can be found at cdc.gov.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
January 2006