Pandemic Preparation
Having a plan for a potential pandemic
is important. Making decisions under great stress might cause
you to do the wrong thing, but if you have a game plan already
mapped out, you won't hesitate. Talk over pandemic preparations
with work, family, church and school. Raise awareness about the
possibilities.
While there has not been a pandemic in almost half a
century, many doctors and scientists feel that it is only a
matter of time. Great strides have been made in various
diseases but viruses that cause the flu as well as bacterial
infections are on the rise irregardless. Because a pandemic can
have a huge impact on local government, work, school, food
supply and more, you should have a good idea of how to prepare
and wait a pandemic out. Take a look at some of the steps you
should take:
1. Create a plan! Having a plan for a potential
pandemic is important. Making decisions under great stress
might cause you to do the wrong thing, but if you have a game
plan already mapped out, you won't hesitate. Talk over pandemic
preparations with work, family, church and school. Raise
awareness about the possibilities.
2. Make sure that you will be able to stay in
communication and know what is going on in the news. Stock up
on batteries for radios and if possible, purchase a generator
or some alternate form of power. If you can make sure that your
telephones will stay functional too. Touch base with neighbors,
friends and family so that everyone knows what is going on.
3. You should be prepared with the proper
precautionary equipment and measures to prevent illness in your
own family. Have masks ready to wear as well as disposable
gloves and even goggles and gowns if necessary. Practice good
hygiene with hand washing and sneezing and coughing into
tissues.
Buy disinfectants to treat the hard surfaces in your home
that could harbor viruses and bacteria. Stock up on hand
sanitizer for those times when water is not accessible. Make
sure that you also have bleach handy to decontaminate other
items and surfaces as needed. Also don't forget trash bags!
When you have to throw out disposable gloves or anything else
that might be contaminated, you will want plenty of bags to
throw these things away to prevent the spread of infection.
4. Create a handy, portable first aid kit that can get
you through a pandemic. Over the counter diarrhea, cold and flu
remedies are important as are electrolyte drinks to replenish
any lost salt due to dehydration in your body. Get the flu shot
too. While it won't prevent a pandemic flu, it will prevent any
flu illness from being overwhelming.
Hand SanitizerAvoid Infection By Maintaining a Healthy Home
Some germs are good as they can help your body develop antibodies to fight off infections. However, too many germs is not a good thing and can keep you in your sick bed if you are not careful. It is often said that your home could be the biggest germ factory in your life, spreading infection and preventing faster recovery times.
With some easy adjustments to your regular home routine, you can cut down on the infectious germs that cause such illnesses as the cold, flu, allergies and even gastrointestinal issues. There is no need to invest in too many antibacterial products as they can be counterproductive.
Health And Safety
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Invest in a first aid kit with bandages, pain relievers and
more. Also, make sure that you stock up on any prescription
medications you need for the duration of the pandemic. Make
plans for at least two months just to be on the safe side.
5. Stock up on drinking water, especially if you rely
on city water services. If you have well water or alternate
sources, you will want to boil your water to kill germs or
treat the water with chemical disinfectants to make the water
potable. These chemical agents can be found in camping and
outdoor stores predominantly.
6. Realize that transportation may become a problem.
Therefore, try and stock up and plan ahead for all your food,
water and health needs. You may or may not be able to fill up
with gas and roads could be closed during the pandemic. Talk
with your child's school as well as your workplace to arrange a
way to school and work from home in the event of a
pandemic.
The six steps above are just a few of the many things to
contemplate when faced with a possible pandemic. Who knows?
This may never happen but it is always helpful to be prepared
and feel secure with yourself that you have a workable plan to
see you and your family through a difficult
time. Latest News Regarding Infection Control ?
10/14/2008
Greater Latrobe student diagnosed with MRSA infection (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
A student at Mountain View Elementary School in Unity has been diagnosed with an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection, school officials said.
Greater Latrobe student diagnosed with MRSA infection (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
10/15/2008
Clostridium Difficile Infection in Long-Term Care: Tailored Approaches to Management Complimentary Continuing ... (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
Clostridium difficile infection is increasingly being seen in older adults, especially among residents of long-term care facilities . This is further complicated by the emergence of a new resistant strain of C. difficile associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality.
Clostridium Difficile Infection in Long-Term Care: Tailored Approaches to Management Complimentary Continuing ... (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance)
10/14/2008
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust Improves Infection Control Practices, UK (Medical News Today)
The Healthcare Commission yesterday (Monday) announced that Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust has made necessary improvements in infection control. It said the trust is now compliant with the requirements of an improvement notice, issued on 18 June 2008, which required immediate changes to infection control practices.
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust Improves Infection Control Practices, UK (Medical News Today)
10/13/2008
Unotron Lauds New Infection Control Guidelines Issued By the American Hospital Association and the Joint Commission As ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
DALLAS----Infection Control Guidelines issued by the nation's top epidemiological societies, the American Hospital Association, and the Joint Commission offer compelling evidence that prevention programs, universal screening, vigilant hand-washing, and other precautions prevent spread of deadly infection in U.S. hospitals.
Unotron Lauds New Infection Control Guidelines Issued By the American Hospital Association and the Joint Commission As ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
10/14/2008
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust Improves Infection Control Practices, UK (Medical News Today)
The Healthcare Commission yesterday (Monday) announced that Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust has made necessary improvements in infection control. It said the trust is now compliant with the requirements of an improvement notice, issued on 18 June 2008, which required immediate changes to infection control practices.
Ashford And St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust Improves Infection Control Practices, UK (Medical News Today)
10/13/2008
Unotron Lauds New Infection Control Guidelines Issued By the American Hospital Association and the Joint Commission As ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
DALLAS----Infection Control Guidelines issued by the nation's top epidemiological societies, the American Hospital Association, and the Joint Commission offer compelling evidence that prevention programs, universal screening, vigilant hand-washing, and other precautions prevent spread of deadly infection in U.S. hospitals.
Unotron Lauds New Infection Control Guidelines Issued By the American Hospital Association and the Joint Commission As ... (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
10/15/2008
Virus control endorsed (iafrica.com)
A task team has endorsed the infection control procedures at Morningside Medi-Clinic.
Virus control endorsed (iafrica.com)
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