A Family Action Checklist for Flu
	What can we do to protect ourselves from pandemic flu? Recognize the threat Listen to the news, know what is being done globally, nationally and regionally Who will take care of you? Talk with others to find out what they think and are doing Decide for yourself what you and your family need to do Educate yourself and your family Understand the disease, how it spreads, how it can be prevented by vaccine, how it can be treated Especially, understand how it could infect your family, the Prep community and spread throughout and beyond Have everyone in the school family educated about the threat(s) and what is needed Some web sites can be very helpful; see the list at the end of this checklist For global and national information http://pandemicflu.gov/ www.Tamiflu.com site of the World Health Organization (WHO) site of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) For medical information, look at sites like webmd.com for information on how to diagnose flu (what symptoms to look for, what tests are available), how to reduce the spread of flu through the family, how to treat flu, etc. Evaluate your current home and family practices for hygiene, medical care, medical supplies, food and water supplies Know the symptoms of influenza Flu symptoms: high temperature, sore throat, runny nose, headache, dry cough, muscle pain Get everyone vaccinated for seasonal flu. The prevention of influenza, regardless of type, should be a high priority for human health. Behavioral practices are important too Wash your hands often during the day Use hand disinfectants Avoid putting hands near mouth, eyes and nose Avoid shaking hands with those obviously ill When you have flu symptoms - STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL OR WORK Plan ahead about how you will do work from home if you feel well enough Notify bosses or teachers of your intention to do this and seek assistance in how to cover your responsibilities during periods of illness THIS APPLIES TO TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AS WELL AS STUDENTS Separate the ill from the well at home as much as possible during the contagious period Get professional help very early. Treatment in the first day of the symptoms is considerably more effective than when initiated later. Get a supply or access to a sufficient supply of medicines that will treat the symptoms of flu or prevent it or help moderate it (the current best knowledge identifies Tamiflu as the drug most likely to help --- NOTE: this is a prescription medicine) Think globally when Traveling - for business or pleasure or going home for holidays Avoid "hot spots" Think about where you are planning to go, know the current condition of the locales Think twice about entering crowded conditions Help the Prep community and yourselves by letting us know in advance where you are traveling and when. Prep may be able to help by providing timely information or tips On your return, we can help you ensure that your re-entry to school and work is healthy. Meeting visitors to your workplace or school, take precautionary measures - e.g., avoid shaking hands with those who are ill Participate in planning and preparation for yourselves and your communities Day care centers are notorious as breeding grounds for sickness. If you use daycare, help close off this pathway for flu to enter your family Ask the daycare provider what they are doing to address the flu threat. Find out what their policy is for having the children in the daycare center vaccinated. Does the center have a supply of masks, Tamiflu or other supplies that would reduce the spreading? Does the center follow good practices? Join with other families to help the center work properly to protect everyone. Build links to your community for help that you can give/receive during an outbreak. Participate with us in FluPrep to build our shared capability to address any outbreak.