| 1. | Keep in mind that the vaccination may not be readily available. Although there is a flu shot out there the difficulty with the bird flu is that it is a new strain of virus. This means that the normal flu vaccination may be ineffective. |
| 2. | knowledge is power! Stay informed about the pandemics through the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
| 3. | Ouch! Although the flu shot will not protect you from new strains of the virus it can help you to stay healthier during the flu season. The flu shot will help you to boost your immune system and help fight whatever illness you may encounter. |
| 4. | More needles!! Get a pneumonia vaccine shot. Many people who do contract the avian flu often get pneumonia immediately following their battle. This precaution can save you another week in bed! |
| 5. | Listen to the doctors orders. Ask your doctor about taking anti-viral medications. Studies have shown links between anti-viral medications and prevention and treatment of the bird flu. |
| 6. | Wash your hands frequently. Handwashing may be the single most powerful defense against avian influenza and many other infectious diseases. If pandemic strikes, you should wash your hands several times a day. Make sure that you use proper handwashing technique. |
| 7. | Kill those germs. Use an alcohol based disinfectant on your hands. For example, bath and body works hand sanitizer. |
| 8. | Stay away from sick birds. Currently the only documented way to get the avian flu is from exposure to sick birds. |
| 9. | Exercise social distancing. The most effective way to prevent becoming infected with avian influenza is to avoid exposure to infected people. Unfortunately, it's not possible to determine who is infected and who is not--by the time symptoms appear, a person is already contagious. Social distancing, deliberately limiting contact with people (especially large groups of people), is a reasonable precaution to take in the event of a pandemic. |
| 10. | Stay home from work. If you're sick or if others at your workplace have become sick, you should stay away from your workplace even in the absence of a pandemic. Given that people will generally be infected and contagious before they exhibit symptoms, however, during a pandemic it's essential to stay away from places, such as work, where you have a high probability of being exposed to an infected person. |
| 11. | Try to work from home. A pandemic can last for months or even years, and waves of intense local outbreaks can last for weeks, so it's not like you can just take a few sick days to protect yourself from workplace infection. If possible, try to arrange a work-from-home situation. A surprising variety of jobs can now be accomplished remotely, and employers will likely be willing--or even required--to try this out if a pandemic strikes. |
| 12. | Keep children home from school. Any parent knows that kids pick up all kinds of bugs at school. Avian influenza is one bug that you certainly don't want your kids picking up. |
| 13. | Avoid public transportation. Buses, planes, boats, and trains place large numbers of people in close quarters. Public transportation is the ideal vehicle for widespread spread of infectious disease. |
| 14. | Stay away from public events. During a pandemic, governments may cancel public events, but even if they don't, you should probably stay away from them. Any large gathering of people in close proximity creates a high-risk situation. |
| 15. | Wear a respirator. The influenza virus can be spread through the air, so in the event of a pandemic it's a good idea to protect yourself from inhalation of the virus if you're out in public. While surgical masks only prevent the wearer from spreading germs, respirators (which often look like surgical masks) protect the wearer from inhaling germs. You can buy respirators that are designed for one-time use, or you can buy reusable ones with replaceable filters. Use only respirators labeled as "NIOSH certified," "N95," "N99," or "N100," as these help protect against inhalation of very small particles. Respirators only provide protection when worn properly, so be sure to follow the instructions exactly--they should cover the nose, and there should be no gaps between the mask and the side of the face. |
| 16. | Wear medical gloves. Gloves can prevent germs from getting on your hands, where they can be absorbed directly through open cuts or spread to other parts of your body. Latex ornitrile medical gloves or heavy-duty rubber gloves can be used to protect the hands. The gloves should be removed if torn or damaged, and hands should be thoroughly washed after removal of gloves. |
| 17. | Protect your eyes. Avian influenza can be spread if contaminated droplets (from a sneeze, for example) enter the eyes. Wear glasses or goggles to prevent this from occurring, and avoid touching your eyes with your hands or with potentially contaminated materials. |
| 18. | Dispose of potentially contaminated materials properly. Gloves, masks, tissues, and other potential biohazards should be handled carefully and disposed of properly. Place these materials in approved biohazard containers or seal them in clearly marked plastic bags. |
| 19. | Prepare for disruption of services. If a pandemic strikes, many of the basic services we take for granted, such as electricity, phone, and mass transit, may be disrupted temporarily. Widespread employee absenteeism and massive death tolls can shut down everything from the corner store to hospitals. |
| 20. | Keep a small amount of cash around at all times as banks may close and ATMs may be out of service. |
| 21. | Discuss emergency preparation with your family. Make a plan so that children will know what to do and where to go if you are incapacitated or killed, or if family members cannot communicate with each other. |
| 22. | Stock up on necessities. In the developed world, at least, food shortages and disruption of services will likely not last more than a week or two at a time. Still, it's essential to be prepared for such an event. |
| 23. | Store a two-week supply of water for everyone in your household. Keep at least 1 gallon per person per day in clear plastic containers. |
| 24. | Store a two-week supply of food. Opt for non-perishable foods that don't need to be cooked and that don't require a lot of water to prepare. |
| 25. | Make sure you have an adequate supply of essential medications. |
| 26. | Seek medical attention at the onset of symptoms. The effectiveness of antiviral medications decreases as the illness progresses, so prompt medical treatment is imperative. If someone with whom you have had close contact becomes infected, be sure to seek medical care even if you do not display symptoms. |