Neighborhood Watch Pandemic Awareness Community Training

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Neighborhood Watch Pandemic AwarenessCommunity
Training
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Partners

• National Sheriffs Association
• Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice
  Programs, U.S. Department of Justice
• Citizen Corps

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Program Goal

• To empower communities by providing
  Neighborhood Watch groups and their leaders with
  effective training on Pandemic
  Influenza

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Module I Overview

• Awareness
• Potential impact on communities

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A severe pandemic influenza presents
a tremendous challenge as it may affect the
lives of millions of Americans, cause significant
numbers of illnesses and fatalities,
and substantially disrupt our economic
and social stabilityStrong
partnerships and smart planning will
be our best protection against
this threat.
The Challenge

• Secretary Michael Chertoff,
• Department of Homeland Security

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What is a Pandemic influenza?

• Pandemic influenza is a global disease
  outbreak caused by a new influenza virus.
• The virus may spread quickly.
• Many people could be at risk of illness.
• Historically, pandemics have caused widespread
  harm and death.

Nations with confirmed cases of H5N1 avian
influenza (www.pandemicflu.gov)
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How is a pandemic flu different from a
seasonal flu?

• Seasonal flu is caused by viruses that are
  already in existence among the population, and is
  treatable by existing vaccines.
• Pandemic influenza could begin with an existing
  influenza virus that has changed or mutated and
  then spread from person to person, few of whom
  would have natural immunity.
• A pandemic could severely affect a broad set of
  the population, including the young and the
  elderly.
• A severe pandemic could change daily life for a
  time.

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Have there been influenza pandemics in
the past?
Influenza pandemics have occurred throughout
recorded history.

• About 30 influenza pandemics have been
  recorded.
• There were three influenza pandemics in
  the last century.
• The most recent influenza pandemic was
  the Hong Kong Influenza in 1968-69.
• The most serious was the 1918 pandemic,
  which killed tens of millions of people
  worldwide, and 675,000 in the United States.

www.pandemicflu.gov www.cdc.gov
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When might a pandemic occur?
Pandemic influenza will occur again.

• Influenza viruses are constantly changing.
• Occasionally a new virus emerges that can spread
  easily among humans.
• It is difficult to predict when the next pandemic
  will occur, or how severe it will be.

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What is the Bird Flu that we have been hearing
so much about lately?
Scientists are concerned that the bird flu
(H5N1 variant of avian influenza) in eastern
Asia and other countries could
evolve into a virus capable of spreading
by human-to-human
transmission.

• The virus is spreading to migratory birds in
  new regions.
• More than 300 cases of bird-to-human H5N1
  Influenza have been documented, with death
  resulting in more than half the cases, and
  severe illness in many others.
• It is believed that in a few cases, the
  virus spread from one
  person to another.
• 
  

www.pandemicflu.gov World Health Organization
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How fast could the pandemic flu spread?
A person can be infected and not realize it.

• Influenza is a contagious disease of the lungs,
  and usually spreads by infected people coughing
  and sneezing.
• Most people will have little or no immunity to
  pandemic influenza.
• It is estimated that a pandemic virus could kill
  hundreds of thousands of Americans, and that some
  40 of the workforce would be unavailable for
  duty.

www.whitehouse.gov www.pandemicflu.gov
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Impact on Communities

• Flu viruses occur in waves and may last from
  six to eight weeks each until contained.
• Community centers or other public gathering
  places must take special actions or may be forced
  to close.
• Transportation and food delivery
  may be limited.
• Emergency personnel may not be available
  for essential operations.

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Possible Effects
As with other emergencies, pandemic influenza
would affect everyday life.

• Schools and businesses might
  be
• closed during a pandemic
  influenza.
• Travel could be limited
  during a pandemic.

There might be spot shortages of supplies.
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If a pandemic hits our shores, it will affect
almost every sector in society, not just health
care, but transportation systems, workplaces,
schools, public safety and more. It will require
a coordinated
government-wide response, including Federal,
State and local governments, and it will require
the private sector and all of us as individuals
to be ready.
National Impact
- Secretary Mike Leavitt, Department of Health
and Human Services
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Module II General Community Preparation and
Protection
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Protection From the Flu
People should take common-sense actions to
keep from spreading germs

• Cover coughs and sneezes, and
  wash their hands frequently.
• Stay away from sick persons as much
  as possible.

If you are sick, you should
keep away from others as much as
possible.
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Shelter-in-place Plan

• Food/Water
• Medication
• Equipment (including medical equipment)
• Supplies
• Communications
• Electricity/Power

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Shelter-in-place Home Supplies

• Keep a supply of essential items such as food,
  water, and medicine on hand at home.
• Important supplies include
• Medications and medical equipment
• Easy-to-prepare food and bottled water
• Pantry staples
• Sanitizing agents
• Emergency contact information

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Infection Control Policies and Procedures

• Avoid contact with infected or contagious
  persons.
• Develop and implement effective infection control
  policies and procedures.
• Provide education on good personal hygiene and
  infection control.
• Provide infection control materials.

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Traveling

• Avoid traveling to infected areas.
• Keep personal contact to a minimum
  in affected areas.
• Keep apprised of local news, announcements, and
  warnings.
• Remember to wash hands frequently and take
  infection control precautions.

Pandemic luggage tag
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Know your Community Plan

• Know the exact location of
• Shelters
• Hospital/Medical/Triage Centers
• Vaccination locations
• Food/Water distribution centers
• Be aware of
• Evacuation routes
• Transportation
  options

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Disease Containment and Control Strategies

• Isolation
• Quarantine
• Social distancing
• Closing places of assembly
• Limiting or stopping volunteer work
• Changes in movement patterns

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Community Information

• Stay informed about pandemic influenza through
  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
  www.cdc.gov, 1-800-311-3435, or at
  www.pandemicflu.gov.
• Develop a neighborhood awareness and education
  campaign. Utilize NW Toolkit flyers and tools.

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Pandemic Module Tools and
Uses

• Protecting NW Volunteers Leaflet
• Pandemic Planning Flipbook
• Neighborhood Needs Assessment Form
• Essential Neighborhood Functions Form
• Special Needs Checklist
• Response Team Roster
• Emergency Information Folder Form
• Adult and Child Detailed Information Forms
• Emergency Responder Alert Magnet
• Influenza Planning Checklist Card
• Pandemic Protection Strategies Poster
• Luggage/backpack Tag
• Evacuation Leaflet
• Shelter-in-Place Leaflet

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Summary

• Awareness and Impact
• Preparation and
  Protection Strategies
• Tools and Uses

For more information, visit www.pandemicflu.gov
Other Resources National Strategy for Pandemic
Influenza available online at www.whitehouse.gov/h
omeland/nspi.pdf Implementation Plan for the
National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza available
online at www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/nspi_implem
entation.pdf