Pandemic Preparedness For Businesses

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Pandemic Preparedness For Businesses

• Megan Silverstrim
• Cumberland County
• Department of Public Safety

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• At least 1 in 4 businesses never reopen after a
  disaster!

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• Dont become a statistic.
• Be Pandemic Ready!

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Epidemic

• disease outbreak which effects people in a
  community or small region.

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Pandemic

• an infectious disease that spreads through
  populations across large regions or even world
  wide.

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Flu

• a respiratory illness caused by a virus there
  are many different flu strains and they are
  always changing.

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Pandemic Flu

• a flu strain that few people, if anyone has
  immunity to spreads rapidly and causes death.

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History of Pandemics

• Pandemics are a natural thing and occur on
  average every 40 years.
• Most recent concern H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu).
  Before this we were closely monitoring H5N1
  (Avian Flu).

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History of Pandemics

• 1580- First recorded influenza pandemic
  originates in Europe.
• 1700s- Pandemics in 1729-1730, 1732-1733,
  1781-1782.
• 1800s- 1830-1831, 1833-1834, 1889-1890 (Russian
  Flu), HPAI avian influenza- 1878 (Fowl Plague).

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History Continued

• 1918-1919- Spanish Flu (500,000 US deaths, 50-100
  million world wide).
• 1957-1958- Asian flu 70,000 US deaths, 1 million
  world wide.
• 1968-1969- Hong Kong Flu 34,000 US deaths,
  700,000 worldwide.

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How does it spread?

• Similar to common flu.
• Past Pandemics took months to spread.
• With advances in travel, a pandemic could spread
  in a matter of days or weeks in todays world.
• May occur in waves lasting several weeks.

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Pandemic Flu v. Seasonal Flu

• No vaccine during early stages.
• Higher mortality rate.
• Will not only effect infants and elderly, but
  will effect generally healthy young adults.
• Can occur in any season.

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Global Influenza Preparedness Pandemic Plan

• World Health Organization created this plan which
  defines the stages of a pandemic, outlines the
  role of WHO, and makes recommendations for
  national measures before and during a pandemic.

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Phase 1

• No new influenza virus subtypes have been
  detected in humans. An influenza virus subtype
  that has caused human infection may be present in
  animals. If present in animals, the risk of human
  infection or disease is considered to be low.

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Phase 2

• No new influenza virus subtypes have been
  detected in humans. However, a circulating animal
  influenza virus subtype poses a substantial risk
  of human disease.

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Phase 3

• Human infection(s) with a new subtype but no
  human-to-human spread, or at most rare instances
  of spread to a close contact.

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Phase 4

• Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human
  transmission but spread is highly localized,
  suggesting that the virus is not well adapted to
  humans.

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Phase 5

• Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still
  localized, suggesting that the virus is becoming
  increasingly better adapted to humans but may not
  yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic
  risk).

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Phase 6

• Pandemic increased and sustained transmission in
  general population.

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How will the pandemic effect me?

• Family
• Workforce (30-40)
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Businesses
• Government

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Getting Your Pandemic Plan Started

• Start by creating a planning team.
• Determine who will participate in the preparing
  process for your business.
• Be sure to include workers from all levels of
  your business. Focus on those workers who are
  vital to your daily business functions.

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Discussion Topics

• Discuss Pandemic Leave Policy
• Trigger Points
• Communications Planning (Internal and External)
• Continuity Planning
• Recovery Planning

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Educate Your Staff

• Educate your staff on pandemic flu and your plan.
• Social Distancing of 6 feet.
• Promote hand washing (20 second rule).
• Supply staff with N-95 Dust Masks, hand
  sanitizers, etc.
• Encourage the staff not to come to work sick.
  How do they know if they may have the flu?
  Fever!

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Continuity Planning

• How will you continue to operate?
• Decide which staff, materials and functions are
  essential to your operation.
• Determine how you will expedite financial
  decisions, payroll, etc.
• Cross train employees.
• Plan for succession of management
• Identify key suppliers, shippers and other
  resources you interact with. Learn their plan
  and research alternative suppliers.

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Mental Health

• Provide counselors and encourage employees to
  speak to counselors.
• -stress and fear brought on by pandemic
• -loss of loved ones and friends
• -stress of taking care of family
• -be supportive of staffs needs to care for
  family

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Encourage Employees to Plan at Home!

• Home Pandemic Supply Kits
• Family Response Plan
• Communications Plan

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Office Emergency Supply Kit

• Water(1 Gallon/person/day for 3 days)
• Non-perishable food
• Battery powered radio
• Flash light
• First aid kit/extra medications
• Whistle to signal for help
• Blankets
• Garbage bags/moist towelettes/soap
• Small tool kit
• Can opener
• Maps
• Prescription medications
• Fever Suppressants
• Money (Cash and Coins)
• Clothes
• Cards, crossword puzzles, paper, pens
• Encourage staff to have their own small kit on
  hand at the office!

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Review and Practice Your Plan

• Be sure to review and update your plan on a
  regular basis.
• Remember, Practice Makes Perfect the more you
  practice and review your plan the more effective
  your plan will be.

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Questions?

• Megan Silverstrim
• Cumberland County
• Department of Public Safety
• 717-240-6400
• www.ccpa.net
• mmoriarty_at_ccpa.net