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No, not R2D2's robotic buddy. That was 3CPO.
What I'm talking about is a Chief Pandemic Officer. Someone in your in your business, or your family, whose job it is to coordinate your pandemic plan.
You do have a pandemic plan, don't you?
Well, if not, start with assigning a CPO.
Nothing is likely to happen until someone takes the responsibility to make it happen. A pandemic plan doesn't just come of the rack like a cheap suit, it has to be tailored to fit each organization, and that includes all the way down to the family level.
You don't have to be an expert in pandemics, or pandemic planning to get started. There are plenty of resources available on the Internet. Just Google Business Continuity Pandemic, and you'll have a month's worth of reading at your fingertip.
But to get started, go to www.pandemicflu.gov, and visit the Individual planning page for preparing your family, and the Workplace planning page for businesses.
Here you will find `toolkits', basically checklists, for starting your pandemic plan. While you will have to modify these toolkits to fit your situation, they provide an excellent starting point.
Another essential read is the CDC's Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation (PDF - 10.3 MB) guidelines on actions, designed primarily to reduce contact between people, that community government and health officials can take to try to limit the spread of infection should a pandemic flu develop.
Appendix 4 contains information for businesses and other employers.
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Two other essential resources, specifically geared for business owners, are these guides from OSHA.
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For individual and family planning, the CDC has several toolkits, along with this advice:
Social Disruption May Be Widespread
- Plan for the possibility that usual services may be disrupted. These could include services provided by hospitals and other health care facilities, banks, stores, restaurants, government offices, and post offices.
- Prepare backup plans in case public gatherings, such as volunteer meetings and worship services, are canceled.
- Consider how to care for people with special needs in case the services they rely on are not available.
Being Able to Work May Be Difficult or Impossible
- Find out if you can work from home.
- Ask your employer about how business will continue during a pandemic. (A Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist is available at www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/business/businesschecklist.html.)
- Plan for the possible reduction or loss of income if you are unable to work or your place of employment is closed.
- Check with your employer or union about leave policies.
Schools May Be Closed for an Extended Period of Time
- Help schools plan for pandemic influenza. Talk to the school nurse or the health center. Talk to your teachers, administrators, and parent-teacher organizations.
- Plan home learning activities and exercises. Have materials, such as books, on hand. Also plan recreational activities that your children can do at home.
- Consider childcare needs.
Transportation Services May Be Disrupted
- Think about how you can rely less on public transportation during a pandemic. For example, store food and other essential supplies so you can make fewer trips to the store.
- Prepare backup plans for taking care of loved ones who are far away.
- Consider other ways to get to work, or, if you can, work at home.
People Will Need Advice and Help at Work and Home
- Think about what information the people in your workplace will need if you are a manager. This may include information about insurance, leave policies, working from home, possible loss of income, and when not to come to work if sick. (A Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist is available at www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/business/businesschecklist.html.)
- Meet with your colleagues and make lists of things that you will need to know and what actions can be taken.
- Find volunteers who want to help people in need, such as elderly neighbors, single parents of small children, or people without the resources to get the medical help they will need.
- Identify other information resources in your community, such as mental health hotlines, public health hotlines, or electronic bulletin boards.
- Find support systems—people who are thinking about the same issues you are thinking about. Share ideas.
Stock a supply of water and food. During a pandemic you may not be able to get to a store. Even if you can get to a store, it may be out of supplies. Public waterworks services may also be interrupted. Stocking supplies can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters. Store foods that:
- are nonperishable (will keep for a long time) and don't require refrigeration
- are easy to prepare in case you are unable to cook
- require little or no water, so you can conserve water for drinking
See a checklist of items to have on hand for an extended stay at home.
Family Guide, Checklist, and Information Sheets
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Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families
Российская (Russian)
Español (Spanish)
(Vietnamese) - Family Emergency Health Information Sheet
The resources are out there. There is no excuse not to have a pandemic plan. Creating a workable plan can take weeks or even months. If you wait until it is obvious that a pandemic is imminent, then you've waited too long.
Do yourself a favor.
Assign a CPO, and start your pandemic plan today.
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