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Home > Pandemic Flu Survival Supplies You Need
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Pandemic Flu Survival Tips |
A flu pandemic occurs when a new flu virus arrives that people have little or no immunity to, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads person-to-person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and world in a very short time. There have been 3 major pandemics in the 20th Century; 1918 (Spanish Flu), 1957 and 1968. It is unknown when the next flu pandemic will occur or how many lives it may take.
Most doctors were concerned that the spread of the avian flu virus (H5N1) across Asia and other countries would be the next significant threat to human health and survival. But now, the H1N1 swine flu virus is the immediate pandemic flu threat. See our Flu Comparison Guide to understand the differences between these viruses. The reasons for such alarm about the H1N1 flu virus at this time include: |
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- Delays in getting sufficient quanitities of the H1N1 flu vaccine
- The virus is currently active in the U. S. well before our typical flu season
- Persons considered obese are more susceptible to the virus
- Few people are prepared with adequate pandemic flu survival supplies, see a Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist
- The virus is being spread human-to-human
- Like other influenza viruses, it continues to evolve
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Terminology
Familiarize yourself with these terms to help understand influenza pandemic issues.
- Avian (Bird) Flu - Is caused by influenza A viruses that occur naturally among birds. The avian flu currently of concern is the H5N1 subtype.
- Influenza (Flu) - An acute, contagious, infectious disease, caused by any of a specific group of viruses and characterized by inflammation of the respiratory tract, fever, and muscular pain.
- Pandemic - A global disease outbreak.
- Seasonal Flu - Follows predictable seasonal patterns; occurs annually (usually in winter) in temperate climates. Health systems can usually meet public and patient needs with vaccine developed based on known flu strains.
- Social Distancing - is the public health practice of encouraging people to keep their physical distance from each other during disease outbreaks in order to slow the spread of infection.
- Swine Flu - is caused when a seasonal human flu virus combines with an avian flu virus in swine (e.g. pigs, hogs). The two viruses combine and create a new swine flu strain such as our current concern the H1N1 subtype.
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A serious flu outbreak would overwhelm medical centers and cause delays in both emergency and routine care. It would trigger shortages of beds, ventilators, drugs, masks, gloves and other supplies for survival. Unlike a hurricane or terrorist bombing, a pandemci would drag on for months and affect communities nationwide at the same time. Therfore, when planning for a flu pandemic your emergency kits and pandemic flu survival supplies should be augmented to include:
- Food and water for up to 2 weeks and possibly as much as 6 weeks
- Medications for up to 2 weeks including fever and pain medication such as Tylenol
- Multivitamins to maintain a healthy immune system
- Rehrydration solutions, such as Gatorade or Pedialyte for children
- Large garbage bags to store contaminated trash
- Soap and disinfectants for surfaces
To minimize the risk of getting the flu, take these steps to limit the spread of germs and make good hygiene a habit.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Put used tissues in a waste basket.
- Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don't have a tissue.
- Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people
- Stay at home if you are sick.
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