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Washington State Department of Health
Preparing for pandemic influenza:
A Washington State Overview
Print version in PDF
Stay Healthy -- Be Prepared
Keep Germs to Yourself
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Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing, coughing or
blowing your nose.
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Throw used tissues in the trash as soon as you can.
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Always wash your hands after sneezing, blowing your nose or
coughing, after touching used tissues or handkerchiefs, or after
using the restroom.
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Always use warm water and soap if available. If you can’t use
water and soap, alcohol based hand sanitizers are a good
alternative to clean your hands.
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Try to stay home if you have a cough and fever.
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Call your health care provider as soon as you can if you have a
cough and high fever. Follow their instructions, including taking
medicine as prescribed and getting lots of rest.
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If asked, use face masks provided in your health care provider’s
office or clinic waiting room and follow other instructions to
help stop the spread of germs.
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Don’t share things like towels, lipstick, toys or anything else
that might be contaminated with respiratory germs.
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Don’t share food, utensils or beverage containers with others.
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Wash your hands often.
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Get your annual flu shot to protect against seasonal influenza.
Make Personal and Family Emergency Plans
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Establish a point of contact for family emergencies.
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Decide who would take care of children if schools were closed for
an extended time.
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Think about how you would care for people in your family with
disabilities if their support services are not available.
Keep These Items In Your Home for Emergencies
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Food and water
Have enough to last a week or more. Choose foods that do not
require refrigeration or cooking. Be sure to include a manual can
opener. Flu causes
dehydration; have extra water and fruit juices on hand in case
someone is sick.
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Medications and equipment
Have a week’s supply of the medicines you take regularly and a
digital thermometer.
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Items to relieve flu symptoms
Have medicines for fever on hand, such as ibuprofen and
acetaminophen along with cold packs and blankets.
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Items for personal comfort
Have a supply of soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper and
cleaning products.
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Activities for yourself and your children
Have some things to do that don’t require electricity, such as
crafts, board games and books to read.
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Cash
Banks may not always be open and cash machines may not always
work.
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Pet supplies
Pets will need food, water, litter and other supplies.
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Cellular phone or wired land-line phone
Cordless phones will not work when the power is out.
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Large trash bags
Garbage service may be disrupted or postponed for many days.
Next page: Web resources -- Further
information
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