Posted on 03/13/2006 10:10:32 AM PST by blam
What You Should Do to Prepare for an Epidemic
Stock Up on Essentials and Have an 'Outbreak Plan'
How To Protect Yourself
Bird Flu
How Would You Know If You Had Avian Flu?
A Bit of Context on the Bird Flu Threat
How To Protect Yourself
By LARA SETRAKIAN
March 12, 2006 — Will there be an outbreak of avian flu that threatens humans? Many experts disagree on when or if a human pandemic will occur, but do say there is a chance that the virus could mutate, leading to widespread infection. In that case, the best thing you and your family can do right now is to prepare for that possibility.
Here's what you need to know to help keep yourself healthy.
Stock up on Essentials
If there is an avian flu pandemic, you'll want to minimize your chance of catching it by staying indoors; you might even be required to stay home if the government asks that people remain in quarantine or "shelter in place." Stocking up today on at least seven days' worth of essentials such as water, nonperishable food, emergency and medical supplies will help you get through an extended time at home if an outbreak happens. Once you've purchased these items, store them in a place where you will not be tempted to dip into them for everyday use. See the checklist below for guidelines on what and how much you need.
Have an Outbreak Plan
It may feel odd or uncomfortable to talk to family members and loved ones about the worst-case pandemic scenario. But if that scenario strikes, you'll all be much better off if you have a plan decided on and ready. Talk with your friends and family about how you'd respond to an epidemic. Figure out how you would care for them and what your first response and responsibilities would be; this is an especially important conversation to have with those with special care needs. Get involved with local groups and community efforts aimed at preparing for a pandemic. If your community has no program in place yet, find out how you and your neighbors can get one started.
Pick up the Habits of Healthy Behavior
The habits that can help keep you healthy in an outbreak are the same good health habits that can keep you from catching the common cold: maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly and get sufficient rest. Particularly in a flu outbreak situation, it will be important to wash your hands thoroughly and often, reminding loved ones — especially children — to do the same. Be diligent about covering coughs and sneezes with tissues, teaching any children in your family to do the same. Also teach children to stay away from others as much as possible if they are sick and stay home from work or school if you are sick.
Know Your Emergency Contacts and Information Compile the phone numbers you'd need in case of the emergency, keeping the list somewhere safe and visible. Make sure everyone in your household knows where to find it. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, you should include information for:
Local and out-of-town personal emergency contacts
Hospitals near your work, home and school
Family physician
Your state public health department (full list at www.cdc.gov/other.htm#states)
Pharmacy
Employer contact and emergency information
School contact and emergency information
Religious/spiritual organization
Also, know your essential health information such as blood type, allergies, past or current medical conditions, and current medications and their dosages. Make a list of that essential information for all the members of your household. Keep that list safe and make sure everyone in your household knows where it is.
HHS has sample sheets that you can print out and fill in with all your essential contact and health information.
http://www.pandemicflu.gov/planguide/InformationSheet.pdf
What Else Will I Need
Make sure you have:
Food and nonperishable items, such as ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables, and soups, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, peanut butter or nuts, dried fruit, crackers, canned juices, bottled water, canned or jarred baby food and formula, and pet food.
Medical and practical items, such as prescriptions drugs and medical supplies such as glucose and blood-pressure monitoring equipment, soap and water, or alcohol-based hand wash, medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, thermometer, anti-diarrheal medication, vitamins, fluids with electrolytes, cleansing agent/soap, flashlight, batteries, portable radio, manual can opener, garbage bags and tissues, toilet paper, and disposable diapers.
Source: the Department of Health and Human Services
I just spoke with 100,000 of my closest contacts, and not one has received a small pox vaccination.
I know I have not received mine, nor has my wife, and my wife is a first responder. She has yet to receive a bird flu vaccine or a small pox vaccine.
You are too liberal in your personal attacks. You are not being realistic.
It will have to mutate before it will begin H2H transmission and they can't make a vaccine until they get samples of the H2H virus that has mutated.
Beer will save us.
Beer and Rock and Roll.
Beer was a safe substitute for water for centuries, Stocking upon beer, and knowing how to make your own, is good sense. Rock & Roll??? Purely a matter of taste.
Duct (duck)tape. check
Beer. check
Venelator. nope
Beer. check
Ammo. check
Beer. check
I have not personally attacked you.
Let me enlighten you a little more on the pandemic of 1918...many of the deaths that were attributed to the flu virus were caused by secondary bacterial infections. We now have antibiotics to fight those, so deaths would be less.
Sanitation and sterilization methods and water treatment were incredibly bad in 1918. This contributed greatly to the pandemic and secondary infections.
Oh, and one more thing. I have had a small pox vaccination. You and your 100,000 closest contacts are doomed.
I plan to stop kissing chickens and migrating water fowl.
I have a stash of water that I call my "terrorist water" but no food stash. Not sure where my duct tape is. :o)
Again, HTH transmission is not a given.
I was vaccinated against small pox in the 1960s. I don't count that. Was yours recent?
Regardless, stats show a miniscule % of people have been vaccinated.
I still have antibodies against smallpox.
They also don't have to wait until is 'mutates'. There are humans who have antibodies to it now.
"I plan to stop kissing chickens and migrating water fowl."
Good luck, Sandy, That's a hard habit to break.
Seriously though, has anyone heard of any warnings to stop feeding birds at feeders? We go through about 200 lbs. of seed per winter. Just a thought.
I know other Texans with children in school must have received a request for volunteering during a public health emergency. Ours was from our Chief of Police and School Super on behalf of DSHS. DSHS will provide orientation and training. Any other states doing this?
I got mine in the 50's. I think we still have some benefit from those shots.
Highlights, notes to self
Stock up on Essentials
Stocking up today on at least seven days' worth of essentials such as water, nonperishable food, emergency and medical supplies will help you get through an extended time at home if an outbreak happens.
Have an Outbreak Plan
It may feel odd or uncomfortable to talk to family members and loved ones about the worst-case pandemic scenario. But if that scenario strikes, you'll all be much better off if you have a plan decided on and ready.
Pick up the Habits of Healthy Behavior
The habits that can help keep you healthy in an outbreak are the same good health habits that can keep you from catching the common cold: maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly and get sufficient rest. Particularly in a flu outbreak situation, it will be important to wash your hands thoroughly and often .... Be diligent about covering coughs and sneezes with tissues, teaching any children in your family to do the same. Also teach children to stay away from others as much as possible if they are sick and stay home from work or school if you are sick.
Make sure you have:
Food and nonperishable items, such as ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables, and soups, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, peanut butter or nuts, dried fruit, crackers, canned juices, bottled water, canned or jarred baby food and formula, and pet food.
Medical and practical items, such as prescriptions drugs and medical supplies such as glucose and blood-pressure monitoring equipment, soap and water, or alcohol-based hand wash, medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, thermometer, anti-diarrheal medication, vitamins, fluids with electrolytes, cleansing agent/soap, flashlight, batteries, portable radio, manual can opener, garbage bags and tissues, toilet paper, ... and cetera.
That reminds me...not that it pertains to bird flu but rather a local terrorist attack....our school district will go into lockdown and parents will not be allowed to remove their kids from school....so they say. As if the teachers will stay there to protect them as opposed to fleeing to tend to their own family.
"....parents will not be allowed to remove their kids from school....so they say...."
Never get between a Mama bear and her cubs.
I highly advise everyone to familarize themselves with what H5N1 really is. Some of the statements, and assumptions I have seen on this thread are just plain ignorant. Unlike JudithAnn who continues to try and inform Freepers. I grow weary of the abuse, ridicule and insults.
I will leave you all with this final observation: I pray, that this is all hype, that there is no pandenic, that no one dies. But, I owe it to my family to do everything I can to protect them. Just for the record, those that dismiss this potential with a cavelier air, demonstrate little more than their own selfishness. I'll bet you know more about March-Madness than you do about what could (emphasis COULD) decimate your families. But, that being said, I bid you a'dieu, I will no longer proffer opinion, advice or comment on the pandemic potential. Just note, comparing H5N1 to your nomal "flu" is like comparing a .45ACP with a squirt gun.
Hasta la bye-bye
Semper Disappointed
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