HHS Pandemic Toolkits: A Closer Look
# 1309
Tired of people looking at you as if you had two heads when talking about pandemic flu? Wish there were some easy way to convey to your boss, your neighbors, your relatives, or even your town's council that they need to take the pandemic threat, and preparation, seriously?
If so, perhaps this will help.
On Friday the HHS (Department of Health & Human Services) released their long-awaited Pandemic Toolkits. These are essentially small PDF files (20 in all) that may be used by organizations, agencies, and private individuals to promote pandemic awareness and preparation in their community or workplace.
While there is some disappointment in the flu community that the HHS retained its `2-weeks' stockpiling advice, politically it would have been difficult for them to expand that.
The cost of stockpiling a month or two of food for a family isn't trivial, and for many families it would be a hardship. For some, it would simply be impossible. Given the uncertainties of the timing of the next pandemic, the 2-week recommendation was left unchanged.
The average American family probably has only about 3 to 5 days of food in their pantry, so 2-weeks would be a significant improvement. And most people, once they understand the scope of a pandemic's threat, would quickly realize that 2-weeks supply might not be enough.
If you ignore the weak stockpiling recommendation, the rest of the toolkit is pretty good. In fact, a quick look at the Introduction (found in the full Toolkit PDF download HERE), shows that the HHS is basically saying what flu forums, preparedness advocates, and flu bloggers have been saying for the last 2 years.
Here are a few excerpts (I've bolded some highlights) to give you an idea, but download the entire package.
I. Introduction: Preparing for Pandemic Flu Is Everyone’s Responsibility
Preparing for a pandemic influenza outbreak involves everybody. The threat of pandemic influenza is real, and America needs leadership from respected community members to prepare our towns and cities, reduce the impact of pandemic flu on individuals and families, and reduce or even prevent serious damage to the economy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health experts agree that it is not a question of IF a pandemic will occur, but WHEN it will occur. If America is not adequately prepared, pandemic flu could seriously affect everyone economically.
Government alone can’t prepare the nation for pandemic flu; this challenge requires your help. As a leader in your community, you can play a powerful role in encouraging those whom you can influence, whether they be employees, patients, or group members, to prepare by providing information and guidance and by preparing yourself.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working with medical professionals, and business, community, and faith-based leaders across the nation to provide them with the simple tools they can use to educate Americans on ways to protect themselves and their families.
What is a flu pandemic, and what is the threat?
o A flu (influenza) pandemic is an outbreak of a new flu virus that spreads around the world. The virus will spread easily from person to person, mostly through coughing and sneezing. Because the virus is new to people, everyone will be at risk of getting it.
o In the 20th century, three flu pandemics were responsible for more than 50 million deaths worldwide and almost a million deaths in the United States.
o The 1918–1919 flu pandemic was the most severe; it caused the deaths of at least 675,000 Americans. If a pandemic of similar severity occurred today, 90 million Americans could become ill, and approximately 2 million Americans could die.
o A flu pandemic could spread quickly. There may be little time to prepare once it begins.
Why do people need to prepare?
o CDC and other leading public health experts agree that the threat of a pandemic is real–it’s not a question of IF one will happen, but WHEN it will happen.
o A flu pandemic could spread quickly. There may be little time to prepare once it begins.
o A vaccine against the pandemic flu cannot be made before knowing exactly which virus will cause the pandemic. It could then take 4-6 months before a vaccine is available (with only limited amounts available at first).
o Preparing now will reduce the negative impact a pandemic will have on individuals, society and our economy.
What does “preparing” mean for individuals?
o Stocking up on food, medicines, and supplies makes it easier to stay at home for extended periods of time.
o Improving health habits now helps lower the risk of infection and slows the spread of disease during a pandemic.
o Planning what you might do if school classes are dismissed, if you can’t go to work, or if you or a family member becomes sick and needs care makes dealing with the emergency easier.
Cynics will point out that there is nothing here that hasn't been shouted from every flu forum and flu blog on the net.
But they'd be wrong. There is one thing here neither of those venues can boast.
The seal of approval from the lead government agency in charge of the nation's health and well being.
Six months ago at the Pandemic Leadership Blog, we asked for validation of the threat, of the need to prepare, and of our involvement in spreading the word.
And these toolkits provide all three.
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