| As you and your family plan for the potential of | | | | - Ask your employer how business will continue |
| an influenza pandemic, think about the challenges | | | | during a pandemic. |
| you might face, particularly if a pandemic is | | | | - Discuss staggered shifts or working at home |
| severe. You can start to prepare now to be able | | | | with your employer. |
| to respond to these challenges. The following are | | | | - Discuss telecommuting possibilities and needs, |
| some challenges you or your family may face and | | | | accessing remote networks, and using portable |
| recommendations to help you cope. | | | | computers. |
| ESSENTIAL SERVICES YOU DEPEND ON MAY BE | | | | - Discuss possible flexibility in leave policies. |
| DISRUPTED; | | | | - Discuss with your employer how much leave |
| Plan for the possibility that usual services may be | | | | you can take to care for yourself or a family |
| disrupted. These could include services provided | | | | member. |
| by hospitals and other healthcare facilities, banks, | | | | - Plan for possible loss of income if you are unable |
| restaurants, government offices, telephone and | | | | to work or the company you work for |
| cellular phone companies, and post offices. | | | | temporarily closes. |
| Stores may close or have limited supplies. Taking | | | | SCHOOLS AND DAYCARE CENTERS MAY BE |
| stock of the items you and your family require | | | | CLOSED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME; |
| now on a daily basis will help you determine what | | | | - Schools, and potentially public and private |
| items you should stockpile to help you manage | | | | preschool, childcare, trade schools, and colleges |
| without these services | | | | and universities may be closed to limit the spread |
| Transportation services may be disrupted and | | | | of flu in the community and to help prevent |
| you may not be able to rely on public | | | | children from becoming sick. |
| transportation. Plan to take fewer trips and store | | | | - Other school-related activities and services could |
| essential supplies. | | | | also be disrupted or cancelled including: clubs, |
| Public gatherings, such as volunteer meetings and | | | | sports/sporting events, music activities, and |
| worship services, may be canceled. Prepare | | | | school meals. School closings would likely happen |
| contact lists including conference calls, telephone | | | | very early in a pandemic and could occur on short |
| chains, and email distribution lists, to access or | | | | notice. |
| distribute necessary information. | | | | - Talk to your teachers, administrators, and |
| Consider that the ability to travel, even by car if | | | | parent-teacher organizations about your school's |
| there are fuel shortages, may be limited. | | | | pandemic plan, and offer your help. |
| You should also talk to your family about where | | | | - Plan now for children staying at home for |
| family members and loved ones will go in an | | | | extended periods of time, as school closings may |
| emergency and how they will receive care, in | | | | occur along with restrictions on public gatherings, |
| case you cannot communicate with them. | | | | such as at malls, movie theaters. |
| In a pandemic, there may be widespread illness | | | | - Plan home learning activities and exercises that |
| that could result in the shut down of local ATMs | | | | your children can do at home. Have learning |
| and banks. Keep a small amount of cash or | | | | materials, such as books, school supplies, and |
| traveler's checks in small denominations for easy | | | | educational computer activities and movies on |
| use. | | | | hand. |
| FOOD AND WATER SUPPLIES MAY BE | | | | - Talk to teachers, administrators, and |
| INTERRUPTED AND LIMITED; | | | | parent-teacher organizations about possible |
| Food and water supplies may be interrupted so | | | | activities, lesson plans, and exercises that children |
| temporary shortages could occur. You may also | | | | can do at home if schools are closed. This could |
| be unable to get to a store. To prepare for this | | | | include continuing courses by TV or the internet. |
| possibility you should store at least one to two | | | | - Plan entertainment and recreational activities that |
| weeks supply of non-perishable food and fresh | | | | your children can do at home. Have materials, |
| water for emergencies more if you have the | | | | such as reading books, coloring books, and games, |
| room and the budget for it. Heres a basic guide | | | | on hand for your children to use. |
| for what you should plan to have on hand; | | | | MEDICAL CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC |
| FOOD | | | | ILLNESS COULD BE DISRUPTED; |
| - Store two weeks of nonperishable food. | | | | - In a severe pandemic, hospitals and doctors' |
| - Select foods that do not require refrigeration, | | | | offices may be overwhelmed. |
| preparation (including the use of water), or | | | | - If you have a chronic disease, such as heart |
| cooking. | | | | disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, or |
| - Insure that formulas for infants and any child's | | | | depression, you should continue taking medication |
| or older person's special nutritional needs are a | | | | as prescribed by your doctor. |
| part of your planning. | | | | - Make sure you have necessary medical supplies |
| WATER | | | | such as glucose and blood-pressure monitoring |
| - Store two weeks of water, 1 gallon of water | | | | equipment. |
| per person per day. (2 quarts for drinking, 2 | | | | - Talk to your healthcare provider to ensure |
| quarts for food preparation/sanitation), in clean | | | | adequate access to your medications. |
| plastic containers. Avoid using containers that will | | | | - If you receive ongoing medical care such as |
| decompose or break, such as milk cartons or | | | | dialysis, chemotherapy, or other therapies, talk |
| glass bottles. | | | | with your health care provider about plans to |
| BEING ABLE TO WORK MAY BE DIFFICULT OR | | | | continue care during a pandemic. |
| IMPOSSIBLE; | | | | |