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Prepare Because You Care

Prepare Because You Care. A Healthy Approach to Disaster Readiness Simple action Steps you can take to Help Protect yourself, family and your community in times of crisis and Public Health Emergencies. Presented by T.J Harmon and Shari Mattson- Cooper,

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Prepare Because You Care

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  1. PrepareBecause You Care A Healthy Approach to Disaster Readiness Simple action Steps you can take to Help Protect yourself, family and your community in times of crisis and Public Health Emergencies Presented by T.J Harmon and Shari Mattson- Cooper, Region 1 Public Health, Snohomish Health District

  2. Being Prepared: Are you Ready? What do we know? What can we expect? How can you prepare? How to respond when the flu arrives?

  3. What do we know about… • … “Pandemic Flu”, and how it’s different from colds and seasonal Influenza? • … who is most likely to be affected? • … what can we learn from past outbreaks? • … the most effective ways to reduce the number of people affected?

  4. Achoo! This is a “normal” sneeze!

  5. Influenza • Influenza may be life-threatening in: • infants • elderly • persons with compromised immune systems • those with underlying chronic medical conditions

  6. Seasonal Flu • Existing Immunity • Predictable seasonal patterns • Usually sickens elderly, very young, and those with underlying health conditions • Adequate antiviral and vaccines • Average U.S. Deaths: 36,000/year • Manageable by health care systems

  7. What is Pandemic Flu? • Pandemic flu is human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. • Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. • Currently, there is no pandemic flu.

  8. Pandemic History • Always been around • Last century • 1918: Spanish Flu • 1957: Asian Flu • 1968: Hong Kong Flu

  9. 1918 Influenza Pandemic (Spanish Flu) • Spread around the globe in 4 - 6 months • Death rate 25 times higher than previous epidemics • At least 20-40 million persons died worldwide, • 500-650,000 deaths in the U.S. • Bird Flu: H1N1

  10. 1918 Influenza Pandemic • Ten times as many Americans died of flu than died in WW I • Epidemic affected and killed younger, healthy persons • Effect of the epidemic depressed the average life span in the U.S. by 10 years

  11. 1968- Hong Kong Flu 1957- Asian Flu • Killed 1 – 2 million Worldwide • Killed 70,000 in the U.S. • Bird Flu: H2N1 • Killed 700,000 Worldwide • Killed 34,000 in the U.S. • Bird Flu: H3N1

  12. Bird Flu Today- H5N1 • Has sickened 291 Worldwide • Killed 172 Worldwide • Has met 2 of 3 WHO criteria for Pandemic • Authorities know pandemic is inevitable • But will it be H5N1?

  13. Flu is spread by… • An ill person coughing and sneezing • Droplets usually don’t travel far (3 feet or less) • Can spread germs directly or indirectly

  14. Direct Spread by Droplets • Close contact with infected person (3 ft or less) • Person with the flu coughs, sneezes, talks, sings • Droplets land directly on eyes, nose, or mouth of another person

  15. Indirect Spread • Droplets land on area around us – desks, computer keyboards, telephones • Hands come in contact with contaminated areas • Hands touch the mouth, nose, or eyes and virus has an entry way

  16. Pandemic Flu Vaccine During pandemics flu vaccine will be in short supply… or may not available at all • A 6-8 month production time is needed to manufacture influenza vaccine • Demand may exceed available supplies • Current vaccine may not work on a novel virus

  17. Tamiflu • Tamiflu is an antiviral medication • reduces severity and length of symptoms • can have side effects • During pandemics supply will be severely limited • must be reserved for highest priority groups

  18. What can we expect? • Will businesses and retail stores conduct business as usual? • How will the health care system operate under the conditions of the pandemic flu?

  19. Potential for Restrictions/Closures • Hospitals and Healthcare Services - unable to meet needs of the community - sick health care providers have minimal to no backup • Public Gatherings - Restaurants - Sporting events - Tourism - Church • Schools and Daycare • Childcare issues • Businesses • Work at home • Sick time vs. leave time • Lack of income • Mass Transit/Air Travel • Fuel availability • Travel restrictions • Shipping

  20. Supply Shortages • Projection: 1/3 of workforce will be ill • Supply chain • Most businesses run on existing supplies • 3 day supply at pharmacies, hospitals and grocery stores • What do you have at home? • What do you need to have at home?

  21. How can citizens prepare? • Build a network of support in your own neighborhood or community - be prepared to help and be helped • Identify vulnerable individuals in your neighborhood and help them prepare • Stockpile enough food and fresh water for two to three months • Make sure you have a two to three month supply of needed medications

  22. Your Preparedness Kit • Prepareness = Self-Sufficiency • Water • Food • Warm Clothes and Bedding • Routine and Flu Medications • Personal Hygiene • Cash and Important Documents • Communication Equipment • Pet Supplies • Activities

  23. Obtain Needed Medications • Work with your doctor to secure up to a three month supply of needed medications • Purchase other medical supplies that you may need during an extended time of emergency

  24. How should you respond when the influenza arrives? SHARE OUR MAIN MESSAGE! • Cover your cough • Wash your hands • Avoid Crowds • Stay home if you are sick

  25. Build a Network of Support • Identify friends, family members or neighbors who can bring you food or other items that you may need if you and your family are sick • Hold a meeting in your neighborhood to discuss how you are going to handle the pandemic flu emergency • Plan to help others if they are ill

  26. Home Care Instructions • Separate sick people in a specific sick-room. • Have one care provider. • Have a fan pointed toward the sick-room and another out the window in the sick-room. • Wash hands before and after care. • Have favorite flu meds available.*

  27. Stay informed- • Get a NOAA “weather” radio • Stay tuned to the media… TV, radio, newspaper, Internet • Snohomish Health District websitehttp://www.snohd.org/

  28. Volunteers are needed! Citizens Corps: • CERT (Community Emergency • Response Teams) • Fire Corps • Volunteers in Police Service • Neighborhood Watch Program • MRC (Medical Reserve Corps) For more information about Training and Volunteer Opportunities, contact your local Emergency Management Office : Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management Emergency Services Coordinating Agency City of Everett City of Monroe

  29. The Bottom Line: • There will be Disasters. • One of the disasters will be Pandemic Influenza. • Disaster Preparedness is an ongoing process. • It’s a process that begins with YOU! Prepare because you care!

  30. Questions?

  31. Region 1 Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, Snohomish Health District The Rucker Building3020 Rucker AvenueEverett, WA 98201Phone (425) 339-5200 www.snohd.org/

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