Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response

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Pandemic InfluenzaPreparedness and Response
Individual and Family
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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• You can prepare for PI 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 PI on you and your
  family. This checklist will help you gather the
  information and resources you may need in case of
  a flu pandemic.
• Plan for PI

• 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.

• Periodically check your regular prescription
  drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home.

• 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.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Get involved in your community as it works to
  prepare for PI.

• To limit the spread of germs and prevent
  infection

• 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

• Examples of food and non-perishables

• Protein or fruit bars.

• Dry cereal or granola.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Peanut butter or nuts.

• Dried fruit.

• Canned juices.

• Bottled water.

• Canned or jarred baby food and formula.

• Pet food.

• Examples of medical, health, and emergency
  supplies

• Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and
  blood-pressure monitoring equipment.

• Soap and water, or alcohol-based (60-95) hand
  wash.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or
  ibuprofen.

• Thermometer.

• Vitamins.

• Fluids with electrolytes.

• Cleansing agent/soap.

• Flashlight.

• Portable radio.

• Manual can opener.

• Garbage bags.

• Tissues, toilet paper, disposable diapers.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Family Emergency Health Information Sheet
• It is important to think about health issues
  that could arise if an influenza pandemic occurs,
  and how they could affect you and your loved
  ones. For example, if a mass vaccination clinic
  is set up in your community, you may need to
  provide as much information as you can about your
  medical history when you go, especially if you
  have a serious health condition or allergy.
• Create a family emergency health plan using
  this information. Fill in information for each
  family member in the space provided. Like much of
  the planning for a pandemic, this can also help
  prepare for other emergencies.
• Family Member Information

Family Member Blood Type Allergies Past / Current Medical Conditions Current Medications / Dosages






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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Interim Guidance Taking Care of a Sick
  Person in Your Home
• H1N1 flu virus infection (formerly known as
  swine flu) can cause a wide range of symptoms,
  including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches,
  headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have
  reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with
  H1N1 flu. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 flu in humans
  can vary in severity from mild to severe. Severe
  disease with pneumonia, respiratory failure and
  even death is possible with H1N1 flu infection.
  Certain groups might be more likely to develop a
  severe illness from H1N1 flu infection, such as
  pregnant women and persons with chronic medical
  conditions. Sometimes bacterial infections may
  occur at the same time as or after infection with
  influenza viruses and lead to pneumonias, ear
  infections, or sinus infections.
• The following information can help you provide
  safer care at home for sick persons during a flu
  outbreak or flu pandemic.

• How the Flu Spreads
• The main way that influenza viruses are thought
  to spread is from person to person in respiratory
  droplets of coughs and sneezes. This can happen
  when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an
  infected person are propelled through the air and
  deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby.
  Influenza viruses may also be spread when a
  person touches respiratory droplets on another
  person or an object and then touches their own
  mouth or nose (or someone elses mouth or nose)
  before washing their hands.
• People with H1N1 flu who are cared for at home
  should

• Check with their health care provider about any
  special care they might need if they are pregnant
  or have a health condition such as diabetes,
  heart disease, asthma, or emphysema.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Check with their health care provider about
  whether they should take antiviral medications.

• Get plenty of rest.

• Drink clear fluids (such as water, broth,
  sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants)
  to keep from being dehydrated.

• Cover coughs and sneezes. Clean hands with soap
  and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often and
  especially after using tissues and after coughing
  or sneezing into hands.

• Avoid close contact with others do not go to
  work or school while ill.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Be watchful for emergency warning signs that
  might indicate you need to seek medical
  attention.

• Is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Medications to Help Lessen Symptoms of the
  Flu
• Check with your healthcare provider or
  pharmacist for correct, safe use of medications.
• Antiviral medications can sometimes help lessen
  influenza symptoms, but require a prescription.
  Most people do not need these antiviral drugs to
  fully recover from the flu. However, persons at
  higher risk for severe flu complications, or
  those with severe flu illness who require
  hospitalization, might benefit from antiviral
  medications. Antiviral medications are available
  for persons 1 year of age and older. Ask your
  health care provider whether you need antiviral
  medication.
• Influenza infections can lead to or occur with
  bacterial infections. Therefore, some people will
  also need to take antibiotics. More severe or
  prolonged illness or illness that seems to get
  better, but then gets worse again may be an
  indication that a person has a bacterial
  infection. Check with your health care provider
  if you have concerns.
• Warning! Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic
  acid) to children or teenagers who have the flu
  this can cause a rare but serious illness called
  Reyes syndrome. For more information about
  Reyes syndrome, visit the National Institute of
  Health website.
• Check ingredient labels on over-the-counter
  cold and flu medications to see if they contain
  aspirin.
• Children 5 years of age and older and teenagers
  with the flu can take medicines without aspirin,
  such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen
  (Advil, Motrin, Nuprin), to relieve symptoms.
• Children younger than 4 years of age should NOT
  be given over-the-counter cold medications
  without first speaking with a health care
  provider.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Medications to Help Lessen Symptoms of the
  Flu
• The safest care for flu symptoms in children
  younger than 2 years of age is using a cool-mist
  humidifier and a suction bulb to help clear away
  mucus.
• Fevers and aches can be treated with
  acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil,
  Motrin, Nuprin) or nonsteroidal
  anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Examples of
  these kinds of medications include

Generic Name Brand Name(s)
Acetaminophen Tylenol
Ibuprofen Advil, Motrin, Nuprin
Naproxen Aleve

• Over-the-counter cold and flu medications used
  according to the package instructions may help
  lessen some symptoms such as cough and
  congestion. Importantly, these medications will
  not lessen how infectious a person is.
• Check the ingredients on the package label to
  see if the medication already contains
  acetaminophen or ibuprofen before taking
  additional doses of these medicationsdont
  double dose! Patients with kidney disease or
  stomach problems should check with their health
  care provider before taking any NSAIDS.

• Steps to Lessen the Spread of Flu in the Home
• When providing care to a household member who
  is sick with influenza, the most important ways
  to protect yourself and others who are not sick
  are to

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Keep the sick person away from other people as
  much as possible, especially others who are at
  high risk for complications from PI.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Placement of the Sick Person

• Keep the sick person in a room separate from
  the common areas of the house. (For example, a
  spare bedroom with its own bathroom, if thats
  possible.) Keep the sickroom door closed.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Protect other persons in the home

• The sick person should not have visitors other
  than caregivers. A phone call is safer than a
  visit.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Use paper towels for drying hands after hand
  washing or dedicate cloth towels to each person
  in the household. For example, have different
  colored towels for each person.

• If you are the Caregiver

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Talk to your health care provider about taking
  antiviral medication to prevent the caregiver
  from getting the flu.

• Using Facemasks or Respirators

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• If you must have close contact with the sick
  person (for example, hold a sick infant), spend
  the least amount of time possible in close
  contact and try to wear a facemask (for example,
  surgical mask) or N95 disposable respirator.

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Avoid re-using disposable facemasks and N95
  respirators, if possible. If a reusable fabric
  facemask is used, it should be laundered with
  normal laundry detergent and tumble-dried in a
  hot dryer.

• Household Cleaning, Laundry, and Waste
  Disposal

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Individual and Family Planning Checklist

• Wash linens (such as bed sheets and towels) by
  using household laundry soap and tumble dry on a
  hot setting. Avoid hugging laundry prior to
  washing it to prevent contaminating yourself.
  Clean your hands with soap and water or
  alcohol-based hand rub right after handling dirty
  laundry.

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