The kids are back in school and winter is around the corner. Are you
prepared for the flu season? It has started early this year and with
the new flu virus - H1N1(swine flu), we at the Red Cross Training
Center in Greeley, want to help you protect your family in every way
possible. Below are guidelines from the American Red Cross, to assist
you thorough the flu season.

WHAT IS PANDEMIC FLU?

What is the flu?

The flu (also known as influenza) is a contagious disease caused by
the influenza virus. The virus infects the respiratory tract (nose,
throat, lungs). Unlike many viral respiratory diseases, such as the
common cold, the flu can cause severe illness and life threatening
complications.

How will I know if I have seasonal flu, pandemic flu or a cold?

It will be safe to assume you have pandemic flu if government health
officials have announced the presence of pandemic flu activity in your
community and you have signs and symptoms similar to those being
described in the media by local officials. The flu and the common cold
are both diseases that affect the respiratory tract (nose, throat,
lungs) and have similar symptoms. In general the flu is worse than the
common cold. Symptoms such as fever, muscle pains, tiredness and dry
cough are generally more common and intense with the flu than with the
common cold.

Can I get the flu from a person who does not seem to be ill and how long is a person with the flu contagious?

The period when an infected person is contagious depends on the age
and health of the person. Healthy adults may be able to infect others
from 1 to 3 days prior to becoming sick and for 5 days after they first
develop symptoms. Some young children and people with weakened immune
systems may be contagious for longer than a week.

FLU PANDEMIC: PREPAREDNESS

During a flu pandemic, government officials may impose activity,
movement or travel restrictions to prevent the flu virus from
spreading. You may be asked to stay home for an extended period of time
even if you are not sick. Schools, workplaces and public gatherings
such as sporting events or worship services may close temporarily. Mass
transportation such as subways, buses, trains and air travel may be
limited. You, your family and friends may need to rely on each other
when you cannot depend on the services you normally use.

Think about how you handle stress and know your strengths. Take
steps to plan for, getting through and recover from a flu pandemic.

• Store a two-week supply of food. Select foods that do not require
  refrigeration, preparation or cooking. Ensure that formula for infants
  and any child's or older person's special nutritional needs are part of
  your planning. Plan for your pets as well.
• Store a two-week supply of water, 1 gallon per person per day, in
  clean plastic containers. Avoid using containers that will decompose or
  break, such milk cartons or glass bottles.
• Talk with family members and loved ones about how they would be cared for if they got sick.
• Ask your employer about plans to enable you to stay home when you or a family member are sick.
• Find out your employer's plan to keep the business functioning if key staff can't come to work.
• Find out now about the plans at your child's school or day care provider's for handling a flu pandemic.
• Ask if there is a plan in the community, which would require all the children to stay home.

Finding out the answers ahead of time will have a significant impact on your plans and decisions during a flu pandemic.

PANDEMIC FLU: PREVENTION

There are some things that everyone can do to slow the spread of the
flu and reduce its impact, whether the viruses involved or seasonal or
pandemic flu viruses.

• Washing Hands - turn on warm water and wet hands. Apply a
  liberal amount of soap to hands. Rub hands together vigorously for at
  least 15 seconds, covering all surfaces of the hands and fingers.

1. Scrub nails by rubbing them against the palms of your hands.
2.  Wash surfaces around fingernails, where jewelry is worn, and between fingers.
3.  Rinse your hands with water.
4.  Dry your hands thoroughly with a disposable paper towel, then use the towel to turn of the faucet.

• Clean your hands often, especially:

1. Before and after contact with a person who is sick.
2. After coughing or sneezing, even when using a tissue.
3. Before during and after preparing food.
4. Before eating.
5. After using the bathroom.
6. After handling the trash, garbage or animal waste.
7. When coming into the home from public areas.
8. When hands are dirty.

• If hand-washing facilities are not readily available, use
  alcohol-based hand sanitizers (60 - 95%alcohol). Rub until the product
  is dry.

What is a droplet and what is the lifespan of droplets on a contaminated surface?

1. A droplet is a tiny spray of moisture that is released from the mouth during coughing, sneezing or speaking.
2. Droplet spread occurs when the person with the influenza virus
   coughs or sneezes, releasing droplets, which land on the mouth or nose
   of a person nearby. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you
   cough or sneeze and clean your hands afterwards. If you don't have a
   tissue, cough or sneeze into the inside of your elbow or upper arm.
   Whenever possible avoid sneezing into your hands.
3. Influenza viruses can live for 24 to 48 hours on nonporous
   environmental surfaces (stainless steel, smooth counter tops or glass)
   and less than 12 hours on porous surfaces (granite tops, etc.).
4. Direct contact spread occurs when there is skin to skin contact with an infected person.

IF SOMEONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD GETS SICK

If you or someone in your household becomes sick, decide how the person
will be cared for ahead a time. Talk about how giving care for pandemic
flu will be different from other times when a family member is sick.
Plan now to care for yourself or for others who get the flu.
The following actions can help prevent the spread of the pandemic flu through your household:

• Designate one person as the caregiver.
• Keep everyone's personal items separate. All household members
  should avoid sharing pens, pencils, clothing, towels, sheets, blankets,
  food or eating utensils unless cleaned between uses.
• Disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, computers, telephones, toys
  and other surfaces that are commonly touched around the home or
  workplace.
• Wash everyone's dishes together in the dishwasher or by hand using warm water and soap.
• Wash everyone's clothes together in a standard washing machine with
  detergent has you normal would. Use warm or cold water and wash your
  hands after handling dirty laundry.
• Where disposable gloves when in contact with or cleaning up bodily fluids.
• You will need the following caregiving supplies (gathering them ahead of time will be very helpful):
• Thermometer
• Soap and water
• Alcohol - based hand sanitizer (60 -95% alcohol)
• Box of disposable gloves
• Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen and Aspirin
• Non-prescription cough and cold medicines
• Bleach and other cleaning supplies. (You can use a fresh fixture of
  ¼ cup household bleach to a gallon of water. To make a smaller amount,
  use 1 tablespoon of bleach in 1 quart of water).
• Paper towels
• Tissues (Kleenex)
• Masks (surgical and N-95) surgical masks are required in health
  care for specific procedures and recommended in some home health care
  situations. N-95 masks are used to prevent inhalation of airborne
  particles.