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Disaster planning: Things you can do to stay healthy
By Mayo Clinic staffDefinition (2)
- Infectious diseases
- Mayo Clinic expert answers your questions on H1N1 flu (swine flu)
Prevention (4)
- Disaster planning: Things you can do to stay healthy
- Hand washing: Do's and don'ts
- Vaccines for adults
- see all in Prevention
Treatments and drugs (1)
- Fever treatment: Quick guide to treating a fever
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Disaster planning: Things you can do to stay healthy
Disaster planning starts with these steps to protect yourself.
By Mayo Clinic staffDisaster planning before a major event such as pandemic flu is essential to riding out the event safely. Here are some important disaster planning tips.
1. Stay healthy
It's impossible to know how or whether a flu pandemic, for example, might take shape, but being in good health can help protect you. A healthy body means a strong immune system that fights off infection. Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting adequate sleep, and not smoking are all things you can do to maintain good health.
2. Get a seasonal flu shot
Although your yearly flu shot won't protect you from the swine flu or bird flu, it's still protective against the more-common seasonal flu viruses. It's also a precaution against the possibility of getting simultaneous infections with both the common flu and the swine flu or bird flu. This is important because simultaneous infections are the main way that viruses swap genes and create new strains that potentially can cause flu pandemics.
3. Wash your hands frequently
Use soap and water or, when traveling or when water is scarce, an alcohol-based (60 to 95 percent) hand sanitizer to help prevent the spread of infection. It's especially important to wash your hands before handling food or touching your nose, mouth or eyelids. When you wash, use warm water and soap and scrub for at least 15 seconds. Even with washing, avoid touching your mouth or eyes with your fingers.
4. Use proper respiratory hygiene
Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze. Discard used tissues immediately. If no tissue is available, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve.
5. Consider wearing a mask
A respiratory mask may prevent you from inhaling airborne particles from an infected person's coughs or sneezes. The snug-fitting N95 face mask is the gold standard for infection protection.
6. Wear gloves
Consider wearing latex gloves when caring for someone with flu, as gloves may reduce the risk of direct contact with influenza viruses (but still wash your hands). Use latex-free gloves if you have a latex allergy.
7. Keep your home and work areas clean
Use disinfecting wipes or cleanser to clean such common surfaces as door handles, phones, computer keyboards, countertops and tools.
8. Keep your distance
In the event of a pandemic, avoid public areas, work from home, avoid unnecessary travel, stay three to six feet away from people who are coughing or sneezing, and avoid shaking hands, hugging, or kissing.
- Protect yourself - Avian flu - general precautions. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_AvianFlu/avian_flu_general_precautions.pdf. Accessed Jan. 13, 2009.
- Good health habits for prevention fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm. Accessed Jan. 13, 2009.
- Human infection with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus: Advice for travelers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentAvianFluAsia.aspx. Accessed Jan. 13, 2009.
