Individuals and Families
How You Can Prepare
You and your family need to make preparations for the possible avian (bird) flu pandemic to protect yourself and those you love from illness and social disruption.
Everyday life would be disrupted as clusters of people across the country became ill at the same time. Disruptions would include the closing of schools, community services and businesses, the possible quarantine of areas, the suspension or reduction public transport and public gatherings.
IN THIS SECTION
Preparing Yourself and Your Family
Keep Informed
- Read and know about bird flu and the general developments around the world
- Understand national and local government plans for containing, treating and recovery from the pandemic
- Know which radio and television stations will make announcements for health officials and the government
- For information and a personal checklist, see http://pandemicflu.gov
Be personally prepared
- Store a supply of food (nonperishable and easy to prepare) for when stores may be closed
- Keep a supply of drinking water in case the public waterworks services are disrupted
- Keep extra cash at home
- Invest in a good telephone and telephone plan so that you can
- Call family in other parts of the country and world to check on their well-being
- Call for help yourself and can be called upon - Fill extra prescriptions for chronic medications so that family members do not run out in case of quarantine periods, or closed grocery stores and pharmacies.
- Check your family's first aid supplies and include fever reduction medication
Social Disruption may be widespread
Plan for the possibility that banks, shops, schools, government offices and private health services may be closed for periods of time:
- Consider volunteering in the community or local church
- Identify the information resources and support systems in the community
- Assist neighbors who depend on public services that are suspended
- Find other volunteers - Have books, games and projects for children to do when schools are closed
- Have your own projects to do at home
Use common sense to limit the spread of germs
Good hand hygiene
- Frequent hand washing with soap and water
- Regular changing and thorough washing of hand towels and handkerchiefs
- Hand shaking, hugging and kissing are discouraged
- Regular disinfection of doors, surfaces and other points of hand contact
Sneezing and Coughing
- Covering of nose or mouth with a tissue on sneezing/coughing and then properly disposing of those tissues
- Coughing or sneezing into the bend of the arm if no tissue is available
- No spitting
- Mask wearing may be useful to remind the wearer not to touch his/her face. This can reduce infection due to contact with contaminated surfaces, especially in crowded public places where coughing or sneezing people have no way of washing their hands
Isolation
- Stay away from people who are sick
- The sick should avoid work, school, and other public settings
Working in your office or environment may not be possible
Meet with your colleagues and make a list of questions for your employer in the light of a pandemic. This list may include
- Leave policies and health benefits
- Earning power and guaranteed income
- How business will continue
- The possibility of working from home
- Knowing who will have the authority to make decisions
Eating chicken
Safely prepare poultry by following these guidelines:
- Wash your hands before and after preparing food
- Keep raw poultry and its juices away form other fresh foods - particularly those that are not going to be cooked, like salads
- Keep utensils and surfaces (cutting boards) clean
- Cook a whole chicken to a temperature of 180°F in an oven set to at least 325°F. More information can be found at www.usda.gov/birdflu
- Eat eggs but first wash them in their shells, then wash your hands before cooking
