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Flu Preparedness
Tips for Staying Healthy
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Red Cross
Links
FAQs for H1N1 Flu
Flu Preparedness Tips
Flu Prevention Tips for Kids
Flu Checklist English
Flu Checklist Spanish
Pandemic Flu Information
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Red Cross Store
for your preparedness needs. |
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As health experts around the world seek to better understand the scope
and severity of the H1N1 flu outbreak, this is a good time for
individuals, families, businesses and organizations to review
and update
their emergency preparedness plans.
Recent cases of the H1N1 flu in several states across the U.S. and in a
growing number of other countries may cause many people to wonder what
they can do to better protect themselves.
Staying Healthy
The Red Cross and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
are offering the following tips to ensure you stay healthy:
- Wash your hands often with soap
and
water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
Alcohol-based hand cleaners are effective when soap and water aren’t
available.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a
tissue
or sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash
after you use it.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or
mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to avoid close contact with people
who are sick.
- Influenza (flu) is thought to
spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing.
- If you get sick, stay home from
work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting
them.
Consult your healthcare provider if you
develop symptoms of the flu, such as:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Body aches
- Headache
- Chills
- Extreme tiredness
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
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Disaster Services
Quick Links
Local
Red Cross Disaster Relief
Local
Red Cross Response
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@ Red Cross On-Line Store!
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Prepare for
Potential Flu Outbreak
Stocking extra food, water and supplies at home
will reduce the need to go out should H1N1 flu become more widespread, thereby
limiting potential for exposure to the virus.
If a person does get sick and has extra supplies on hand, they will help reduce
the spread of the flu by staying home. |
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- Store a two-week supply of food, water and
household necessities (such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, etc.).
Select foods that are easy to prepare and store.
- Store one gallon of water per person per
day in clean plastic containers. Avoid using containers that will decompose
or break, such as milk cartons or glass bottles.
- Insure that formula for infants and any
child’s or older person’s special nutritional needs are a part of your
planning. Store an extra supply of food for your pets.
- Make sure you have an adequate supply of
essential medications and medical items
for all family members.
The Red
Cross recommends you take this opportunity to prepare your family for any
disaster -
Get a Kit,
Make a Plan and
Be Informed.
More information is available on the
Red Cross Web Site.
Up-to-the-minute updates on the swine flu can be found at the
CDC Web site. People seeking information on H1N1 flu should visit the
CDC Web site or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
Resources
For more detailed information and ongoing updates go to:
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC):
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
Washington State Department of Health:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/h1n1
American National Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org
Public Health
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
http://www.tpchd.org/page.php?id=482
Thurston County Public Health and Human Services
http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/personalhealth/influenza/swineflu.html
Mason County
http://www.co.mason.wa.us/forms/Health/what_to_do_about_the_flu.pdf
Lewis County
http://lewiscountywa.gov/publichealth/public-health-blog
Grays Harbor County Public
Health and Social Services Department
http://www.healthygh.org/page.aspx?id=428558
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For more information or questions, please contact the
American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter
Serving Pierce, Thurston, Mason, Lewis and Grays Harbor Counties
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(253) 474-0400 Pierce County
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(360) 352-8575 Thurston & Mason
Counties
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(360) 748-4607 Lewis County
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(360) 249-2341 Grays Harbor County |
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