Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Michelle Bissell, MPH student Walden University PUBH-6165-4 Instructor: Dr. Stephen Arnold Summer 2009 This presentation was created to educate HIV positive individuals how to prepare for Pandemic Influenza.

How to Protect Self & Family Prepare for emergency *Food *Water *Medicine *Illness The purpose of this presentation is to teach you how to prepare yourself and your families for emergencies. It is a good idea to stock up on food, water and medicine. It will be very important to recognize signs of serious illness. Today, I am going to talk to you about Pandemic Influenza. We will discuss what it is, how to avoid it and being prepared to survive it.

What is Pandemic Flu? New type virus – Able to spread quickly Serious Illness Can Cause Death Annual flu shots will offer little protection Able to last for years American Public Health Association. (n.d.). Pandemic Flu is a new virus to a particular area that can spread very quickly. It can cause serious illness and death. Annual, seasonal flu shots will offer little protection against pandemic flu. This type of flu is new and spreads quickly. It takes time to develop a vaccine to combat new illnesses. Pandemics don’t last for days or weeks. They can last for days or years.

How Bad is it? 200,000 people US – hospitalized with seasonal flu per year 36,000 die Pandemic can be 100 times worse In the past Flu Pandemics have sent millions to the hospital & killed hundreds of thousands in US. American Public Health Association. (n.d.). Regular seasonal flu causes 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths per year. Pandemics are 100 times worse. In the past, they have hospitalized millions and killed hundreds of thousands.

How is it Spread? Spread person to person by coughing and sneezing American Public Health Association. (n.d.). Simply put, Influenza is spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing.

Protection From Infection – Limit Spread of Germs Wash hands frequently with soap and water Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or upper sleeve Stay away from others that may be sick Stay home from work or school if sick If condition worsens, see doctor U.S. Department of Human Services. (2006) Limiting the spread of germs is accomplished by a combination of actions. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is simple and effective. Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or upper sleeve also helps stop the spread of germs. It’s best to stay away from others that might be sick. If you are sick, stay home from work or school. If your condition worsens, please see you doctor.

EMERGENCY – Get Help! Difficulty breathing Pain or pressure in chest Dizziness or Confusion Severe or persistent vomiting Symptoms that improve and return with fever U.S. Department of Human Services. (2006). If you or anyone in your family experience difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, dizziness or confusion, you should seek medical attention. Severe or persistent vomiting and symptoms that return with a fever are also signs that medical attention is necessary. Don’t wait for the symptoms to pass. Get help now.

Stay Healthy Balanced Diet *water *lean meats *whole grains *low fat dairy *fruits and vegetables Exercise Rest U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). Eating a well balanced diet of lean meats, whole grains, low fat dairy, fruits and vegetables is essential to keeping your immune system as strong as it can be. Getting plenty of rest and exercise helps you maintain a healthier immune system as well.

Prepare for Pandemics 2 weeks supply of food and water Prescription drugs Non prescription drugs Candles Flashlights with batteries U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). You should prepare now. It is better to prepare now than to panic later. It is important to stock up on food, water, medicine and other supplies. You may not be able to get to the store, because you are too sick. In some cases, cities could be shut down to stop the spread of the flu. If you can get out, stores may be out of supplies. Pandemics affect more than one community. Normalcy will disappear. You should stock up on supplies for all types of emergencies. Two weeks worth of food should be non perishable and easy to prepare. Make sure you refill your prescriptions on a regular basis to make sure that you don’t run out. Pain relievers, cold medication and anti diarrheal medications are important to keep on hand as well. Alternative sources of light are important incase of power outages.

Food to Have on Hand Canned – meats, fish, fruits, vegetables & beans Protein & Fruit bars Dry cereal & granola Peanut butter or nuts Juice and Water U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). Nonperishable foods that are nutritious and important to keep on hand are canned meats, fish, fruits, vegetables and beans. Protein and fruit bars, dry cereal and granola are easy to store. Make sure that you have plenty of water for the entire family for 2 weeks.

Emergency Supplies Prescriptions Blood pressure and glucose monitoring equipment Pain reliever/Fever reducer Thermometer Fluid with electrolytes U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). Because this is so important, I am going to go over this one more time. Individuals have different medical needs. It is very important to keep a supply of your medications as well as any over the counter drugs that are necessary when people are sick. It is a good idea to keep all of your medication together in one spot so you can see exactly what you have. Keep track of your refills. When you need them, get them filled. Make sure that all medical monitoring equipment is in proper working order. In addition to water, you may want to stock up on fluid with electrolytes.

Other Supplies Soap Flashlights with batteries Portable radio Manual can opener Garbage bags Toilet paper/disposable diapers U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). When planning for emergencies, you should tailor your plan to fit your familie’s needs. If you have pets, make sure that you have plenty of food and water on hand for them. If you have a baby, make sure you have diapers, wipes and appropriate food items. Make sure that you have a manual can opener, flashlight and a portable radio with a supply of batteries. You don’t want to run out of garbage bags or toilet paper. Don’t forget to rotate your food and water by dates to keep everything fresh. Keep track of the diaper sizes too. You want them to fit if you need them.

START NOW! Get informed Devise a plan Stock up on food and water Stock up on medicine The time to prepare is now. You shouldn’t wait until people are getting sick. You don’t want to be around sick people, because you cannot afford to get sick. If you prepare now, you will not be panicking in the future. There is still time to prepare before flu season.

Resources www.c-uphd.org www.stock2forflu.com www.getreadyforflu.org www.pandemicflu.gov www.champaigncountyprepares.com Centers for Disease Control Hotline 1-800-232-4636 These websites will provide you with additional information about pandemic flu and preparing for it. You will find check lists, emergency contact forms and family health information sheets. Don’t panic. The time to prepare is now. What questions do you have?

References American Public Health Association. (n.d.). Get Ready for Pandemic Flu. Retrieved on July 13, 2009 from http://www.getreadyforflu.org/facts/PandemicFactSheet.pdf U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families. Retrieved July 13, 2006 from http://www.flu.gov/plan/individual/checklist.html U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). Symptoms and When to Get Help. Retrieved July 13, 2006 from http://www.flu.gov/health/index.html#symptoms U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). Stay Healthy. Retrieved July 13, 2006 from http://www.flu.gov/health/index.html#stayhealthy