**Pandemic Infuenza Preparedness and Response**

Public health organizations throughout the world are engaged in an
unprecedented effort to prepare for a possible influenza pandemic. But
there are important steps you can take as well. The guidelines below
will help you significantly reduce the spread of disease and better
prepare you, your family and staff both before and during a pandemic,
should one occur**.**

1\. Use effective hand washing techniques.

-   Wet your hands with warm running water. Add soap, and then rub your
    hands together away from the running water, making a soapy lather.
    Do this for ***at least 15 seconds,*** washing the front and back of
    your hands, as well as between your fingers and under your nails.

-   

Rinse your hands thoroughly under warm running water. Use a paper towel
to turn off the water, and remember to dispose of it in a proper
receptacle.

Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel, preferably paper. Any kind of
towel previously used by you or others may look clean, but consider it
to be contaminated.

Supervise a child to ensure that they wash hands properly.

Keep nails trimmed and clean. Long fingernails and artificial nails are
very difficult to disinfect.

2\. Use an alcohol-based hand disinfectant, if clean water isn't
available.

Check the product to ensure it contains at least 60 percent alcohol.

Alcohol-based disinfectants do not kill germs on dirty hands. If
possible, wash your hands with soap and warm water, even if the water is
not fit to drink. In the absence of water, do your best to wipe or clean
your hands before using the disinfectant wash.

Make sure your hands are as dry as possible before using the
alcohol-based wash to avoid dilution of the alcohol solution, which
reduces effectiveness.

Apply enough disinfectant to cover all areas of your hands, including
under your nails. Rub hands together to evenly distribute the
disinfectant product. Keep rubbing hands for at least15 seconds -- or
until your hands feel dry.

Children can use alcohol-based hand disinfectants but young children
must be supervised to ensure they do not rub the product into the mouth
or eyes while their hands are still moist. Once the product has dried on
the hands, it becomes non-toxic.

3\. Keep unwashed hands away from your face.

Cold and flu germs typically enter the body through the eyes, nose, or
mouth. This can happen when\
contaminated hands touch the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Germs contaminate doorknobs, railings, computer keyboards, telephones,
steering wheels, elevator buttons, and almost any surface regularly
touched by hands, or where droplets from a cough or sneeze can land. You
can't avoid getting germs on your hands, but you *can* avoid
transferring them to your face.

Take notice of how often you touch your face, rub your eyes, or place
your fingers in your mouth. Learning to become aware of these habits is
the first step to changing them.

If you care for children, be especially careful. Since they can't be
expected to practice adult level hygiene, you'll need to be more
diligent of infection control practices around them.

4\. Cover your coughs and sneezes to protect others from your germs.

Coughing and sneezing spreads germs in the form of droplets that settle
on objects and airborne particles that remain suspended in the air and
can be inhaled by those around you.

-   

To reduce the spread of germs, always cough or sneeze into a tissue --
even your upper sleeve if necessary.\
Immediately dispose of soiled tissue in a wastebasket.

If you've been coughing or sneezing, wash hands frequently to help avoid
contaminating items you touch.

A disposable mask can help contain coughs and sneezes. Don't re-use
masks and dispose of them in a\
wastebasket when you remove them.

5\. Understand how "social distancing" slows the spread of many germs.

During a pandemic, common friendly gestures, such as hand-shaking,
cheek-kissing, and other face-to-face social customs should be modified
using *Social Distancing*. Social distancing is the practice of
maintaining a distance from others of at least three feet in order to
isolate oneself from disease. Social distancing goes beyond keeping away
from those who are obviously sick. It recognizes that germs are easily
spread by people who exhibit no symptoms at all.

-   

Social distancing also involves taking positive steps to avoid placing
yourself in close proximity to crowds. For example, avoid elevators by
using stairs, stay away from crowded stores, shop by internet if
possible -- or at minimum, shop during low-peak hours when stores are
less likely to be crowded.

Do not share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels, or other
personal items.

Refrain from spitting (pandemic or not).

6\. Improve your daily health habits.

Lung and breathing problems, such as asthma, should be kept under the
best control possible.

Quit smoking.

Get adequate rest, exercise, and eat properly to boost your immune
system.

Get a flu shot.

7\. Consider your mental health.

If you are stressed or having trouble coping before a pandemic, the
expected social and economic disruption will really challenge you.
Consult with the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). It's only a phone
call away.

Fear of the unknown can be very stressful. Get the facts about pandemic
flu. If you've read this far, you know that you are not powerless. You
can take positive steps to avoid infection. Don't put off preparing.
Remember, if a flu pandemic occurs, it could progress rapidly.

8\. Have a plan and stock emergency supplies as part of your
preparation.

Have a plan to deal with how a pandemic could affect you and those you
are close to. Pandemic flu checklists for individuals and families are
readily available and include advice on recommended supplies to have on
hand. Go to
[http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html#checklist]{.underline} for a
variety of checklists for you and your family. Where you live, the size
of your family, and any special health concerns will determine what
supplies and prescription medicines you'll need to have available.

A rule of thumb is that if any item or service is essential to you,
consider how you'll get it during a pandemic when supplies may become
limited or stores may be closed.

9\. Develop connections within your communities.

Cohesive communities are a lifeline during stressful times. Your
neighbors, social and church groups, schools, and businesses will all be
affected during a pandemic. Volunteer your assistance because you may
find you'll need theirs.

-   

Children, the disabled, and the elderly in your community have special
needs and will be most severely affected. Your local community will need
plans to address these special populations. Get involved.

10\. Stay informed.

Check the Department of Health and Human Services' pandemic flu website
[http://pandemicflu.gov/]{.underline} regularly so that you can stay
informed about the latest information.

Be flexible. Because an influenza virus has the ability to rapidly
mutate, it is difficult to predict how fast it will eventually spread or
how well vaccines (if available) or antivirals will work. This makes
preparing for some aspects an influenza pandemic inexact at best. So
expect the unexpected and assume an attitude that allows you to adapt to
a fluid environment.