10 Things You and Your Family Can Do to Prepare for Seasonal and Pandemic Flu

1. Take precautions to prevent spreading the flu. Avoid close contact with people who are sick and keep your distance if you are sick. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Wash your hands often.
2. Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious foods. Avoid smoking, which may increase the risk of serious consequences if you do contract the flu.
3. Discuss important health issues with your family and loved ones. Talk with them about how/where they would be cared for if they become ill. Make plans for who will care for children and people with special needs if all adults in the household are ill.
4. Create a family health emergency plan. Document the blood type, allergies, current medications and dosages, and current and previous medical conditions of each family member.
5. Have generic medical and health supplies on hand. Examples include glucose and blood-pressure monitoring equipment; soap or alcohol-based hand wash; medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen; thermometer; fluids with electrolytes; and tissues.
6. Anticipate shortages of common prescription drugs and plan accordingly. If you or a family member has a chronic disease and regularly takes prescription drugs, talk to your physician/pharmacist/insurance plan about having several weeks of medications stockpiled at home.
7. Anticipate shortages in perishable foods, water, and common household emergency supplies. The federal government recommends stockpiling non-perishable food items, water, portable radios, batteries, flashlights, garbage bags, and manual can openers.
8. Anticipate social disruption and make backup plans. Schools may be closed for an extended period of time, so consider pooling child care resources with neighbors. Think about how you and your family might compensate if you are cut off from banks, stores, restaurants, post offices, and services.
9. To fight the annual flu, get a flu shot. Even those who are not in the high-risk categories should get a flu shot if enough vaccine is available.
10. Do NOT go to work, school, or to any public place if you become ill!