Individual and Family Planning

Overview   |  Preparedness Guide  | Other Disaster Planning Tips
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If a pandemic were to occur, personal preparedness and self-reliance will be critical to survival. Here are some steps you can take now to ready yourself and your family:

· If you haven’t already done so, prepare an emergency supplies kit with enough food, water and medical supplies to last for a few weeks.  Include medications for treating flu symptoms such as pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes and vitamins.

· Talk with family members and love ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick. Record the medical histories of everyone in your household and prepare a family emergency card with important phone numbers.   

· Think about how you might reasonably isolate your family for several weeks. The first wave of a pandemic will quickly overwhelm our medical resources. If you can delay catching influenza until the worst has past, you will reduce the load on community resources and increase the chance that care will be available when you become infected. 

· Practice good “respiratory hygiene” habits at all times. Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and cover coughs and sneezes with tissues. Encourage children to do the same. Stay home from work or school if you are sick. These are all  steps that can prevent the spread of any respiratory disease and will be especially crucial if an influenza pandemic were to occur. 

· Most importantly, don't become complacent. You must remain vigilant. Closely monitor the news and follow the instructions of local public health and emergency officials. 

· If you can, become a volunteer with Citizen Corps to prepare and assist local officials with the emergency response.

PowerPoint presentations:

• Pandemic Flu: Protecting Our Families, Preserving Our Community
  [PowerPoint]
  [PDF]
   

• Pandemic Flu: How Can We Be as Prepared as Possible
  [PowerPoint]
  [PDF]
   

• Pandemic Flu: Providing Healthcare in the Home
  [PowerPoint]  
  [PDF]

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Preparedness Guide

           
[Spanish (Color)]
[Burmese (Color)]
[Spanish (B&W)]

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Other Family Disaster Planning Tips
 

General Preparedness (American Red Cross)

• Preparing for a Disaster [Web] [PDF]
   

•  Disaster Supplies Kit [Web] [PDF]
   

• Storing Supplies [PDF]
   

• Water Storage Before Disaster Strikes
   

• Children and Disasters
   

• Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs [Web] [PDF]
   

• Pets and Disasters

To find foreign language versions of these documents, click here

Food/Cooking

•  Food and Water in an Emergency  [Web] [PDF]
   

• Food Supplies in Case of Disaster
   

• Eating Nutritiously when the Lights Go Out (Ohio State University Extension) [PDF]
   

• In Case of Power Outage: Do not Open (Ohio State University Extension)
   

• Clear Liquid Diet (Colorado Center for Digestive Disorders)
   

• Clear Liquid Diet (Jackson Gastroenterology)
   

• Recipes and Tips for Healthy, Thrifty Meals (USDA) [PDF]
   

• Grab Quick & Easy Snacks (USDA) [PDF] 

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  Caring for the sick at home
  

• Stay at home toolkit for influenza (MD)
  
  
  
  
  
  
   

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Learn More 

For more information on preventing the spread of germs:  

At home 

· Stop the Spread of Germs at Home, Work and School (CDC)

· Proper handwashing  (CDC)

At school

· Resources for parents, schools (CDC) 

At work

· Stopping Germs at Work (CDC) [PDF]