• Prepare Your Church or Synagogue for a Bird Flu Pandemic by Jim Love
• AVIAN FLU PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS by Bruce E. Abraham
  

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Preparedness for Avian Influenza Pandemic

Most people need to be reminded that, the easiest way to prevent any flu is to regularly wash your hands. In order to be sure you’vet removed any virus, wash as long as it takes to say the alphabet in your head. Special antibacterial or medical soaps are unnecessary.

Surgical Masks can easily be ordered over the Internet.Follow instructions for them to be effective; if there is any air coming in from the sides of the mask, it is not working. The mask must completely connect to your skin all around. Men who have beards must shave in order for the masks to work. I've heard good feedback when ordering masks from MasksNMore.com. Here's a good Canadian story on masks from the SARS scare, a few years ago.

Anti-viral Avian Flu Drugs

Should you buy expensive anti-viral drugs like Tamiflu? Consider that, while experts indicate Tamiflu might be partially or totally ineffective, governments around the world still continue to their stockpiling. A single treatment of Tamiflu can cost $50-$150, depending on the source. Unless you are affluent, your best money will be spent on getting some masks and learning how to use them properly. Avoiding getting infected is a better goal.

Other non-Bird Flu Drugs:

Don’t forget to have a good supply of common flu fighting medicines? Do you have Tylenol for fever? These and other flu medicines may be in short supply during a widespread bird flu pandemic. During pandemics, with many people sick, supply lines may mean delays for many common flu products. Do you also have a good supply of the existing non-flu drugs you need? Don’t start stockpiling your needed heart medicine, but renew your supply well before you run out.

Get a Regular Flu Vaccine and Pneumonia Vaccine.

Getting a regular flu vaccine costs less than $20USD and is generally good money spent. There will not be a repeat of last years shortages. We'll get getting our child vaccinated again this year because we believe it is a good idea. Do you and your children have a pneumonia vaccine? We think this is generally good advice, regardless of bird flu.

Grandma and Grandpa

If you have family in a seniors care facility, make sure it has bird flu plan. Often these facilities will be quarantined to all but a few family members. Hand cleaning procedures will be required for all staff and authorized visitors. A portion of the facility will be prepared as a quarantine area for those who fall sick with flu. Some facilities may stockpile anti-viral drugs for staff and seniors.

If elderly or frail members of your family live by themselves, make plans to cover shopping and other tasks that may put them at risk. Total isolation is not necessary if hand washing precautions are taken.

Filling the Pantry

With portions of the workforce sick, pandemics can disrupt the distribution of goods and services. Did you know that most people have as little as seven days of food in their home? Grocery stores have only three days supply of food. It would be an overreaction to go out tomorrow and buy 500 pounds of rice, but building up a pantry of food is prudent advice. The first word on reasonable food stockpiling is to buy what you like. Use the use and replace food before it expires. If you don't end up using the food, give it to a local food bank. Contrary to common sense, children will not eat anything if they are hungry enough. Don’t buy 100 cans of tinned sardines unless your kids just love the stuff. Buy nutritious food, but don't forget some treats too. If you are on a low income, each time you buy groceries add something extra and put it aside in a box. In time, your pantry will grow. Don't forget to stock up for Fido. Dry pet food keeps for a long time and when nearing expiration can be given to local food banks for other’s pets.

Daily Life During a Bird Flu Pandemic

Most people will still need to make a living, although all daycares, schools, and public gatherings may be canceled. Who will take care of your children if all daycares and schools are ordered closed? Can your family survive financially for 18 months on one salary, if one parent has to stay at home with your children? Is there a trusted relative or friend available to be a live in nanny during period of the pandemic? Buy some cards, games, and books for the children. Kids can only watch so much television! It is estimated that the bird flu may come in waves and last 18 months, so be prepared for some extended time indoors with the kids. Remember that there are home schooling resources on the Internet, so children don’t need to get too behind in their schooling.

Places of worship will also be closed. Sustaining the faith of your family is paramount during a crisis. Develop some special rituals, readings and prayer times, to remind your family that there is hope.

Governments may suspend public transit. Do you know someone you could carpool with? Is it possible to bicycle to work? Can you afford to drive? If none of these is the case, have you a skill that would be in demand, even during a crisis? Can you afford to lose your job at this time, if you can't make it to work? Does your country have Employment Insurance (ex. Canada) that will get you through the crisis?

Pandemics cause big shocks to economies. If there is mass unemployment, due to company closures, governments may use their powers to restrict foreclosures and evictions. If may not be the case, so hold off making any big purchases, pay down your debts, and ensure that you have some savings in the bank.

Make plans for any possible electrical power grid failures. Does your furnace need electricity to run? If you have a generator is there enough gas? Follow local regulations for gasoline storage. If bylaws allow it, consider adding an approved wood stove. If alternative heating is not possible, do you have adequate winter clothing and extra blankets necessary to keep warm? Drop by the Salvation Army thrift store and get some extra clothing.

Anarchy?

If the worst of the worst happens, those who have done some basic preparation will be better able to care for themselves and some of their neighbors. History shows that society usually does not breakdown into anarchy. The looting in New Orleans is an example of what happens when governments and individuals don’t adequately prepare for a potential crisis. While government’s main role is to ensure liberty, in a crisis, governments also must maintain order. They have the power to impose marshal law, establish curfews, seize food stores, impose rationing, shoot looters, and compel essential people to work. This should all be unnecessary if governments, institutions, and families make prudent plans for all possibilities. Can your local government officials and ask them what they are doing to prepare for a bird flu pandemic. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Death

We don’t like to think that we might be the ones who die of the bird flu. Experts report that, for some strange reason, bird flu is generally more deadly to people between the ages of 20-40. If you have kids, get a will. It costs about $100-$250 for a will. Make sure other family members know where it is located. Who do you want to take care of your children? Include a second choice, just in case. Do these people want to parent your children if you are gone? Talk with family/friends so they know your wishes. Have a list of important contact phone numbers/addresses and let your children know where they are. Your children will hear about deaths from bird flu, so share your beliefs with them about death and dying. Let them know who will take care of them if you die. Children often deal better with the truth than with uncertainty. Remind them that the odds of dying are very low, but these plans are “just in case”.

Y2K All Over Again?

A pandemic is likely to occur but when is anyone’s guess. As each month passes, governments, institutions, and individuals are getting better prepared. It may be that a pandemic will not occur and we will just suffer through an exceptionally nasty flu season. If the worst does come, people who prepare will increase their odds of survival. Some critics are comparing the current bird flu concerns to the Y2K computer hype we experienced five years ago. Governments prepared for that crisis and little, if anything happened. It may have been that appropriate preparation averted the worst. When faced with this potential bird flu pandemic, we at Prepare-For-Bird-Flu.com recommend that you wisely prepare your family. Spend a few dollars and a little time, may make all the difference in your families lives.

Keep Perspective

It is also important to keep the current number of deaths in perspective. You and your family are much more likely to die from a car accident or even Islamic jihadists than by the bird flu. There is much research being done on this deadly disease, however human depravity and disrespect for human rights claim many more lives that bird flu would even if a global pandemic occurred.