Your Health: what to consider in preparing for a pandemic

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Your Health: What to consider in preparing for a pandemic

by S. Altman, for USA TODAY

Are you, your family and your home prepared for a possible flu pandemic?

Questions that once seemed theoretical are now startlingly real — even though it

remains unclear whether this new outbreak of swine flu will be a brief, scary

episode, the start of a worldwide health catastrophe or something in between.

But it definitely is a teachable moment. It's a chance for health and

emergency-preparedness advocates to inspire action in a public that has yet to

embrace the idea of preparing homes and families for terror attacks, hurricanes,

flu pandemics or other more mundane disasters, from power outages to snow

storms.

" Most people haven't even thought about it, " says Garrett, director of

planning and response at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at

Columbia University, New York. In recent, repeated surveys, just one third of

Americans say they've taken the most basic precautions — such as storing extra

food and water — for any disaster, Garrett says.

" Some people took some actions right after 9-11, " says s ,

executive director of the American Public Health Association. But even many of

those people have let their guards drop, allowing home emergency supplies and

plans to get outdated, he says. " People are just busy and they are not that

organized. "

In the past week, health officials and even the president have urged parents, at

least, to get organized — to consider what they would do if their children's

schools closed due to flu.

Here are a few specific things experts say families should be considering right

now:

• Child care. If your child's school or daycare center closes for days or weeks,

will you be able to stay home, too? And who would step in if you got sick? Is

there a neighbor or relative who could help? Now is the time to have those

discussions with everyone involved, including your boss.

• Food and water. A three-day supply is good; a two-week supply is better. Think

non-perishable, easily prepared items. In a severe pandemic, far worse than

anything we are experiencing now, even grocery stores and utility companies

could be closed or crippled, simply because too few people show up for work. But

even in today's outbreak, one suddenly-sick child might keep your whole family

homebound for a week. You won't want an empty pantry if that happens.

• Medical supplies. If possible, store extra supplies of any prescription drugs

you need and the basic medicines and first-aid items that might run short in a

wave of pandemic flu — such as over-the-counter fever drugs, rehydrating

solutions and plastic gloves. Right now, most health experts are not

recommending people stock face masks because they are costly and, if improperly

used and fitted, might create a false sense of security.

• Medical information. Make a chart of each family member's medications,

allergies, blood type and any special health needs. " If this becomes a

widespread pandemic, you might need to be treated outside your usual medical

setting " without access to your medical records, says Kim Elliot, deputy

director of Trust for America's Health, a non-profit health advocacy group.

Usual family caregivers may get sick themselves, she notes, or forget important

details in a crisis.

•Special items. Don't forget about pet food, diapers, baby formula and other

essential items for your household. Having extra on hand could provide a lot of

peace of mind.

Not on the list: panicking. After all, experts have been asking people to do

exactly these things for years, to prepare for all sorts of disasters.

Fortunately, for this particular, possible disaster, we are getting a strong,

early warning, Garrett notes.

" It's almost like a tornado watch, " he says. " This is the precious half hour

when we still have time to prepare. "

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