How to Prepare for a Pandemic: 100 Tips, Tools, and Resources

By Meredith Walker

A pandemic, or the spread of an infectious disease worldwide or over a large geographical area, can be frightening to anticipate. Not knowing where the disease will spread next or if you will be able to protect yourself may leave you feeling vulnerable. Whether you are a parent or medical professional, it is important to taken certain precautions. Especially in light of the recent developments of the swine flu that began in Mexico and has begun to spread around the world, find out how to protect yourself and your family for a pandemic with these tips, tools, and resources.

General Information and Preparedness

Learn the basics to ensure you are prepared in the event of a pandemic with these resources.

Preparing the Family

If you have the additional concerns of making sure your family is protected during a pandemic, then take a look at these resources to find out how to create family emergency plans, how to talk with children, and much more.

Tips

Follow these tips to help prepare and deal with any situation that may arise during a pandemic.

Don’t panic. Overreacting can be as dangerous as underreacting to a potential situation. Stay on top of what is happening and follow the advice of experts to ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones. Watch local broadcast stations. Watching local stations will ensure not only that you are staying up to date on the latest information, but that you know exactly how the pandemic is impacting your region. Wash hands. Wash hands frequently and properly using warm water and soap to help prevent the spread of germs from others to yourself. Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer for those times you will not have access to soap and water. Avoid contact with sick people. Stay away from those you know are sick or who have recently been sick. Understand the incubation period of illness. Be aware that often the flu can be spread prior to the onset of symptoms and up to 10 days after someone has become ill. Ask about telecommuting. Many employers already allow telecommuting for their employees, but in the face of a pandemic, it may become even easier for you to work from home to ensure your health as well as help keep the workplace running smoothly. Wear a medical facemask. If there are confirmed cases in your geographic region, wearing a protective facemask approved by the FDA can help keep germs from entering through your nose or mouth. Create an emergency stockpile. Make sure you have extra food, water, and anything else you may need if you must stay at home for any length of time. Get to know your neighbors. Coming together as a community means you can look out for each other and pool your resources in case of a health emergency. Create an emergency plan. Compile family member contact information, plan for a meet-up spot in case your immediate family becomes separated, and gather emergency numbers you may need. Put together a first-aid kit. Think about over-the-counter and prescription medications you may need in the event of illness as well as materials for injury. If medical communities are busy with a pandemic flu, they may not have the resources available for typical care. Have a way to stay connected. In case of an emergency, you will need to have access to news and updates. Have a plan in case your usual sources are unavailable or in case communication systems go down temporarily.

Pandemic Tools

From maps to keeping important emergency information to computer widgets, these tools will help you prepare and monitor a pandemic.

Public Health and Government Resources

Considered some of the main sources for vital information during a public health emergency, these resources provide the latest word during a pandemic.

Resources for Educators

Because schools are often considered one of the biggest sources of disease sharing, it is especially important for educators and school nurses to be prepared for all aspects of a pandemic, from school closing to communicating information effectively to parents.

Community Resources

From physicians to non-medical public health officials to community leaders, these resources will help those in the community understand how to prepare and how to proceed during a pandemic.

Travel Resources and Tips

Travel is frequently disrupted and discouraged during a pandemic. Check with these resources to learn what you need to know about travel during a pandemic and follow the tips if you do travel.

CDC – Travelers’ Health. The CDC keeps current information for travelers at this site including health risks by geographic location, news and announcements, and resources for special populations. U.S. Department of State International Travel. If you plan to travel outside the US, check with this website to learn all you need to know about traveling to your destination safely. U.S. Department of State Current Travel Warnings. Cut to the chase and find out anyplace not recommended for travel by US citizens with this listing. World Health Organization: International travel and health. Find interactive maps, search by specific disease, and get updates for travelers here. Bird and Pandemic Flu Information from Other Nations and Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs). Find out what these countries have planned in case of a pandemic to understand how safe you may be during travel there. Monitor CDC and WHO websites. If you are traveling abroad, stay updated with these websites to learn developments of any health issues which may affect your travels or return home. Understand that borders may close. If you choose to travel during an outbreak, you may not be able to return home if the country you are visiting or your home country closes its borders. Have enough supplies to stay longer than you may anticipate. Recognize the symptoms. If a pandemic is underway, recognize the symptoms you may develop and do not hesitate to report them to officials while traveling. Refusing to do so only helps spread the disease. Monitor your health. Even after returning from an area where there was potential for a pandemic, monitor your health for ten days to insure you are not sick.

History of Past Pandemics

Understand what you may be able to expect and how to avoid mistakes from the past by learning about the history of past pandemics from these resources.

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