A flu pandemic could have a serious impact on your community. However, there is a lot you can do to help prepare yourself and your family for a flu pandemic. You can lessen this impact by being ready, making an emergency plan, and stocking up on household and medical supplies.
Step 1: Make a Plan
Tips for Everyone:
- Create an emergency plan and update it on a regular basis. Talk with your family about responsibilities - who will do what in an emergency situation, and where family members and loved ones will go in an emergency in case you cannot talk with them.
- Have family health information on hand for each member of your family.
- Write down emergency contacts.
Tips for Parents of School Age Children:
- Know the school's response plan for a flu pandemic.
- Make sure that the school has current contact information for you and your family.
- Know what will be done to protect students, faculty, and staff.
- Make sure the school supports regular hand washing among students, faculty, and staff.
- Talk to teachers, administrators, and parent-teacher organizations about possible activities, lesson plans, and exercises that children can do at home if schools are closed. This could include continuing courses by TV or the internet.
- Plan entertainment and recreational activities that your children can do at home.
- Have materials, such as reading books, coloring books, and games, on hand for your children to use.
Tips for Adults in the Workforce:
- Consider making special arrangements for your family in case you are not able to work. Or if you are able to work from home, make sure you have all the needed supplies.
- Talk with your employer about how your workplace has planned for a flu pandemic.
- Understand your role in your workplace's flu pandemic plan.
- Plan for childcare if you are not able to work from home or if childcare facilities are closed.
Step 2: Gather Supplies
To prepare for a flu pandemic, store at least a two-week supply of basic items. Having these supplies at home will help you survive with little to no outside help. It will also help decrease your risk of getting sick since you will not need to go outside into the community to get basic supplies.
Food and Water
- Non-perishable canned or dried foods that would be easy to make in case you are unable to cook
- Bottled water - at least one gallon per person per day (2 quarts for drinking, 2 quarts for food preparation/sanitation), in clean plastic containers. Avoid using containers that will rot or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles
- Ready-to-eat canned meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, and beans
- Canned juices
- Protein or fruit bars
- Dry cereal or granola
- Peanut butter or nuts
- Dried fruit
- Crackers
- Canned or jarred baby food and formula
- Pet foods
Household Supplies
Household items, for example:
- Cleaning supplies such as bleach and disinfectant sprays
- Extra blankets
- Candles
- Matches
- Garbage bags
- Battery-powered radio
- Manual can opener
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
Medical and Personal Supplies
- Thermometer
- Non-aspirin pain reliever
- Fever medicines
- Prescription medication and first-aid kits
- Extra bath and hand soap
- Toilet paper, tissues, feminine hygiene products and disposable diapers
- Vision aids, such as glasses or contact solution
- Dental supplies
- Entertainment (videos/DVDs, books, magazines, music)
- Baby supplies
- Pet supplies
Pets
- Include pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, cat litter/pan, can opener, food dishes, first aid kit and other supplies in your emergency kit.
- Talk to your veterinarian about evacuation and emergency care for your animals.
- Develop a buddy system with neighbors, friends, and relatives to make sure that someone is available to care for or evacuate your pets if you are unable to do so.
- For public health reasons, many emergency shelters cannot accept pets. As you prepare your emergency plan, identify an emergency animal shelter location in your area (kennels, adjoining farms, state and local fairgrounds, Pennsylvania State Animal Response Team (PASART), County Animal Response Team (CART), etc.)
- Know which hotels will accept pets.
- Have a portable crate available for cats or small dogs and a leash available for larger dogs.
- Keep all vaccinations current.
- Make sure identification tags are up to date and securely fastened to your pet's collar. If possible, attach the address and/or phone number of your evacuation site. Consider microchips and/or tattoos as permanent identification.
- Have a copy of medical records and a list of necessary medications on hand.
- If you must leave animals behind, post a highly visible sign - above any anticipated flood water (either on a window or a door) letting rescue workers know the type and number of animals which remain. Leave plenty of food and water with care instructions. Keep the animals contained in the safest place in your home for the type of emergency you are experiencing.
Step 3: Help Your Community Prepare
- Take the lead in helping your neighborhood or community get ready.
- Reach out to neighbors who may be elderly or disabled to see what you can do to help them.
- Get active in your church, school, or social groups by leading talks about planning for a flu pandemic or by inviting speakers from the local health department or hospital.
- Talk to your co-workers and friends about their plans and share ideas.
Additional Resources:
Ready PA | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania