Minimum Pandemic Preparations
Minimum Pandemic
Preparations
You can imagine
if half of the truck drivers are
sick or were caring for sick family members and couldn't bring
those supplies to the community you may not be able to buy the things you
need at the grocery store. –Marilyn Anderson, Eastern Idaho Public Health District
April 30, 2009
Local News 8 - Idaho Falls, ID
With the World Health Organization raising the pandemic threat to a five,
there's no better time to hope for the best but prepared for the worst.
 So how do you prepare?
Health officials tell us, have everything you need to ride out the pandemic
at home.
"It would be important for them to have a supply of food and water, some
government agencies are recommending a three month supply of food. They also
need to have a supply of prescription drugs if they're taking prescription
drugs, enough to last them about three months," said Marilyn Anderson of
the Eastern Idaho Public Health District.
If you do decide to build up your food storage it's a good idea to store
items you would normally eat, and then when you use something from your food
storage replace it with a new item.
Having a supply of food and staying home will prevent you and your family
from being exposed to the flu but there's another good reason. Food may be
short supply.
"You can imagine if half of the truck drivers are sick or were caring
for sick family members and couldn't bring those supplies to the community
you may not be able to buy the things you need at the grocery store,"
said Anderson
Pandemic expert Dr. Dane Dickson says it's important to make at least minimal
preparations for a pandemic.
Wisdom would dictate that we be prepared for a rainy day and those ways are
making sure you have extra good and clothing and maybe fuel at home. Having a
few surgical masks around would be a good idea because if a pandemic were to
start that required significant protection by way of having a surgical mask
you're not going to be able to attain those when everyone is clamoring for
those," said Dickson.
BYU-Idaho students can rest a little easier knowing the school in the past
few years has made some preparations for them in case of a pandemic.
"We started the back in 05 right after the October conference when
President Hinckley told us we need to be prepared for things like that,
" said Eric Harmston, safety officer for the university.
The students will be provided with emergency supplies.
"We have stockpiled some N-95 masks that can be used in case of a
Pandemic by faculty, staff and students those who stay on campus. We have
increased our food stores to supply several thousand people on campus for
many days until they can be replenished," said Harmston.
Students are also encourage to have a 72 hour kit .. a backpack with with
food and some other supplies that will sustain them in case of emergency.
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