Have a Plan
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Contact Information
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Saint Louis County Health
Communicable Disease Control Services
6121 North Hanley Road
Berkeley, MO 63134
Flu.doh@stlouisco.com
(314) 615-1630
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Get Informed
How to Avoid Catching the Flu
Here are some simple things YOU can do to keep from catching or spreading a “bug” - whether it’s a “flu bug” or the common cold.
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Try to keep a distance of three feet away from others.
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Always cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough.
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Wash your hands frequently, especially after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.
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Stay home if you are ill.
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Call your doctor on the phone if you can avoid going in to their office.
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Check with your physician about getting the pneumococcal vaccination. It protects you from many types of pneumonia, one of the most common and fatal complications of the flu, especially for older adults.
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Plan Basics
Making a Pandemic Influenza Plan for your Family or Business does not have to be scary. Getting started is the hardest part. Whether you create your plan all at one time or add to it part by part, beginning to think about how a Pandemic might affect your life is the first step.
And here is how:
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Educate yourself on the subject of Pandemic Influenza
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Think "outside the box" about how a Pandemic might affect your organization
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Prepare a list of all of the critical tasks that need to happen in your family or business (See the Sample Spreadsheet on how to do this in the Planning Tools section)
For example, if you are making a plan for your family:
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What are the essential household tasks that you have to do in order to maintain a safe household? (Perhaps the dishes need to be done and trash needs to be taken out, but dusting and weeding can wait a few weeks.)
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What are the essential things that need to be done in order to maintain your family? (Perhaps the baby needs to have its diaper changed but practicing piano or basketball with the kids can wait a few weeks)
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Decide who is usually performs these tasks and then also who would be able to perform them in a Pandemic. (See the Sample Spreadsheet on how to do this in the Planning Tools section)
For example, usually Mom and Dad change the baby, but in the event of Mom and Dad getting sick could Grandma, Grandpa or Older Sibling change the baby?
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Make an Emergency Preparedness Kit for Pandemic Influenza (See the sample list of what to put in a kit in the Make A Kit section)
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Planning Tools
Here are a few tools to get you started (Courtesy of Ameren UE). For the most comprehensive resource on plans, please visit the pandemicflu.gov. There you will find plans for schools, businesses and families.
Make a Kit
Are you prepared?
Do you have a Pandemic Influenza kit?
If not, here is a list of things that you might want to consider putting in your basement or otherwise safe place to protect you and your family in the event of a pandemic.*