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Preparing for Pandemic Influenza:
A personal and family guide

Print version of brochure in pdf
Single sheet version for print

What to do--In your community

Know your neighbors.
Talk with family, friends and neighbors to make sure everyone is prepared. Be ready to help neighbors who are elderly or have special needs if services they depend on are not available.

Know school policies.
Know policies about illnesses and being absent. Be prepared for school closures. Make a plan for taking care of your children if schools are not open for long periods.

What to do--At work

You may not be able to go to work.
Staying home from work when you are sick is the most important thing you can do to protect others.

Know policies.
Ask your employer or union about sick leave and policies about absences, time off and telecommuting.

Encourage planning. Every business, organization and agency should have a plan for making sure essential work can get done if large numbers of employees are absent over many months. You may be asked to perform duties that are not typically part of your job.

Explore other ways to get your work done.
When people are ill, find ways to reduce personal contact such as increased use of e-mails or phone conferences.
 

What to do--Protect your health

Prevent the spread of germs

The flu virus is spread from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or touches things that others use. Do these simple, effective things to help protect yourself and others:

Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
It is best not to use your bare hand. Cough into your sleeve or cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.

Wash your hands.
The best way to protect yourself from viruses is to wash your hands often. Soap and water are best, but when they are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel or disposable wipes.

Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth. The flu virus is often spread when a person touches something that has the virus on it and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

Stay home when you’re sick or have flu symptoms. Drink extra water, get plenty of rest and check with a health care provider as needed.

Home care

Learn basic care-giving.
Know how to care for someone with a fever, body aches and lung congestion. During a flu pandemic you will be provided with specific instructions for caring for those who are sick as well as information about when to call a health care provider.

Learn how to recognize and treat dehydration. Watch for weakness, fainting, dry mouth, dark concentrated urine, low blood pressure or a fast pulse when lying or sitting down. These are signs of dehydration. The flu virus causes the body to lose water through fever and sweating. To prevent dehydration, it is very important for a person with the flu to drink a lot of water—up to 12 glasses a day.

Learn more

Local public health agencies in Washington state — www.doh.wa.gov/LHJMap/
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — www.pandemicflu.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic/
World Health Organization (WHO) — www.who.int

Next page: What to do at home

 

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Last Update : 05/21/2009 07:28 PM
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