Pandemic Flu Response

Transcription

1 Pandemic Flu Respnse INTRODUCTION What is a Flu Pandemic? Are yu prepared? The Michigan District has begun t lk at advance preparatin in the event that a flu pandemic ccurs. The fllwing infrmatin and resurces have been cmpiled t help cngregatins and schls begin the prcess f becming prepared fr a flu pandemic thus lessning the impact n ur cmmunity f churches and schls. The flu, (als knwn as influenza) is a cntagius disease caused by a virus. Many individuals are familiar with the seasnal flu, but there are several differences between the seasnal flu and a pandemic flu. Seasnal flu is cmmn and generally causes a mdest impact n sciety. Seasnal (r cmmn) flu is a respiratry illness that can be transmitted frm persn t persn. Mst peple have sme immunity t this type f flu. The impact n individuals can be serius, but generally healthy individuals are nt at risk fr serius cmplicatins. A pandemic flu is a glbal disease event in which a serius virulent flu culd be spread arund the wrld affecting a large number f peple. A flu pandemic ccurs when a new influenza virus emerges and there is little r n immunity t this virus in the human ppulatin. It spreads easily and quickly frm persn t persn acrss the wrld. The impact n sciety wuld likely be mre serius ptentially affecting even healthy individuals. In additin t the physical impact n humans, the ecnmic and scietal effects f a severe influenza pandemic culd be very great. The intent f this dcument is t prvide resurces fr addressing key issues in cngregatins and schls that impact the delivery f essential services and peratins. These suggestins are t assist in the planning and develpment f plans fr individual churches and schls. This infrmatin will by n means meet every need in rganizatins but is meant t prvide a starting place. The cmplete reliance n the Triune Gd is the main pillar f strength fr accmplishing these gals, and it is in the shadw f the Almighty that we can accmplish all things. He wh dwells in the shelter f the Mst High will rest in the shadw f the Almighty. Psalm 91:1 Jesus said unt him, If thu canst believe, all things [are] pssible t him that believeth. Mark 9:23 1 f 11

2 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is a flu pandemic and am I prepared if ne shuld ccur? What can I d t mitigate r prevent a flu pandemic? What can I d t prepare fr a flu pandemic? What shuld I d if a flu pandemic ccurs in my church rganizatin? What shuld I d t recver frm a flu pandemic in my church rganizatin? Hw will we cntact ur members if phne service r pwer are disrupted? What is ur back-up plan fr church recrds? Are we adequately insured against all ptential disasters? Hw culd we deliver cre cngregatinal services such as wrship, Sunday Schl, and Bible study t ur members if they culd nt assemble? Hw culd we deliver cre educatinal services such as schl t ur students if they culd nt assemble? D we have adequate financial reserves t help ur emplyees shuld ur revenue stream immediately end fr an extended time? Wh can I cntact fr further infrmatin n a flu pandemic? These questins will be answered in the rest f this dcument. Fr mre infrmatin, please check the varius resurces and references listed n the last page. 2 f 11

3 The checklist that fllws is divided int subject areas f Mitigatin and Preventin, Preparedness, Respnse, and Recvery. Each subject area is subdivided int General Church Organizatin Cnsideratins with pints that fllw specific t Schls and Child Care and Preschls. MITIGATION AND PREVENTION General Church Organizatin Cnsideratins Cmpleted In Prgress Nt Started Encurage yearly influenza vaccinatin fr staff, members, and persns in the cmmunities that yu serve. Distribute materials with basic infrmatin abut pandemic influenza: signs and symptms, hw it is spread, ways t prtect yurself and yur family (e.g. respiratry hygiene and cugh etiquette), family preparedness plans, and hw t care fr ill persns at hme. Evaluate yur rganizatins usual activities and services (including rites and religius practices if applicable) t identify thse that may facilitate virus spread frm persn t persn. Set up plicies t mdify these activities t prevent the spread f pandemic influenza (e.g. guidance fr respiratry hygiene and cugh etiquette, and instructins fr persns with influenza symptms t stay hme rather than visit in persn.) Cnsider determining the amunt f supplies needed t prmte respiratry hygiene and cugh etiquette and hw they will be btained. Additinal Schl Cnsideratins Cmpleted In Prgress Nt Started Wrk with lcal health department t implement effective infectin preventin plicies and prcedures that help limit the spread f influenza at schls in the public schl district (e.g. prmtin f hand hygiene, cugh/sneeze etiquette). Prvide sufficient and accessible infectin preventin supplies, such as sap, alchl-based/waterless hand hygiene prducts (cntaining at least 60% alchl), tissues, and receptacles fr their dispsal. Disseminate infrmatin frm public health surces cvering rutine infectin cntrl (e.g. hand hygiene, cugh/sneeze etiquette), pandemic influenza fundamentals (e.g. signs and symptms f influenza, mdes f transmissin) as well as persnal and family prtectin and respnse strategies (e.g. guidance fr the at-hme care f ill students and family members). Additinal Child Care and Preschl Cnsideratins Cmpleted In Prgress Nt Started Give special attentin t teaching staff, children, and their parents n hw t limit the spread f infectin. (Fr example, use gd hand washing; cver the muth when cughing r sneezing; clean tys frequently.) Keep a gd supply f things yu will need t help cntrl the spread f infectin. (Fr example, keep n hand plenty f sap, paper twels, and tissues.) 3 f 11

4 Tell families that experts recmmend yearly flu shts fr all children 6 mnths t 5 years ld and fr anyne wh cares f children in that age range. Tell parents t let yur prgram knw if their child (ren) are sick. Keep accurate recrds f when children r staff are absent. Include a recrd f the kind f illness that caused the absence (e.g. diarrhea/vmiting, cughing/breathing prblems, rash, r ther). Teach staff a standard set f steps fr checking children and adults each day as they arrive t see if they are sick. Make it clear that any child r adult wh is ill will nt be admitted. Give staff and students families reliable infrmatin n the issues listed belw in their languages and at their reading levels: Hw t help cntrl the spread f flu by hand washing / cleansing, and cvering the muth when cughing r sneezing. Hw t recgnize a persn that may have the flu, and what t d if they think they have the flu. Hw t care fr ill family members. Hw t develp a family plan fr dealing with a flu pandemic. PREPAREDNESS General Church Organizatin Cnsideratins Cmpleted In Prgress Nt Started Assign key staff with the authrity t develp, maintain, and act upn an influenza pandemic preparedness and respnse plan. Determine the ptential impact f a pandemic n yur rganizatin s usual activities and services. Plan fr situatins likely t require increasing, decreasing, r altering the services yur rganizatin delivers. Determine the ptential impact f a pandemic n utside resurces that yur rganizatin depends n t deliver its services (e.g. supplies, travel, etc.) Outline what the rganizatinal structure will be during an emergency and revise peridically. The utline shuld identify key cntacts with multiple back-ups, rle and respnsibilities, and wh is suppsed t reprt t whm. Identify and train essential staff (including full-time, part-time, and unpaid r vlunteer staff) needed t carry n yur rganizatin s wrk during a pandemic. Include back-up plans, crss-train staff in ther jbs s that if staff are sick, thers are ready t cme in t carry n the wrk. Test yur respnse and preparedness plan using an exercise r drill, and review and revise yur plan as needed. Plan fr staff absences during a pandemic due t persnal and/r family illnesses, quarantines, and schl, business, and public transprtatin clsures. Staff may include full-time, part-time, and vlunteer persnnel. Evaluate access t mental health and scial services during a pandemic fr yur staff, members, and persns in the cmmunities that yu serve. Identify persns with special needs (e.g. elderly, disabled, limited English speakers) and be sure t include their needs in yur respnse and preparedness plan. 4 f 11

5 Develp tls t cmmunicate infrmatin abut pandemic status and yur rganizatin s actins. This might include websites, flyers, lcal newspaper annuncements, pre-recrded widely distributed phne messages, etc. Set up plicies fr nn-penalized staff leave fr persnal illness r care fr sick family members during a pandemic. Set up mandatry sick-leave plicies fr staff suspected t be ill, r wh becme ill at the wrksite. Emplyees shuld remain at hme until their symptms reslve and they are physically ready t return t duty (Knw hw t check up-t-date CDC recmmendatins). Set up plicies fr flexible wrk hurs and wrking frm hme. Set prcedures fr activating yur rganizatin s respnse plan when an influenza pandemic is declared by public health authrities and altering yur rganizatin s peratins accrdingly. Cnsider fcusing yur rganizatin s effrts during a pandemic t prviding services that are mst needed during the emergency (e.g. mental/spiritual health r scial services). Understand the rles f federal, state, and lcal public health agencies and emergency respnders and what t expect and what nt t expect frm each in the event f a pandemic. Assign a pint f cntact t maximize cmmunicatin between yur rganizatin and yur state and lcal public health systems. Wrk tgether with ther Faith-Based and Cmmunity Organizatins in yur lcal area and thrugh netwrks (e.g. denminatins, assciatins, etc.) t help yur cmmunities prepare fr pandemic influenza. Develp a plan fr the backing up f church recrds. Investigate whether yu are adequately insured against all disasters. Develp a plan t have adequate financial reserves t help ur emplyees (r ur churches) shuld ur revenue stream immediately end fr an extended time. Share infrmatin abut yur pandemic preparedness and respnse plan with staff, members, and persns in the cmmunities that yu serve. Additinal Schl Cnsideratins Cmpleted In Prgress Nt Started Becme familiar with the Incident Cmmand System by taking the free Intrductin t ICS fr Schls nline curse and exam at the fllwing link: An Incident Cmmand System, r ICS, is a standardized rganizatin structure that fllws the Natinal Incident Management System (NIMS) guidelines and establishes a line f authrity and cmmn terminlgy and prcedures t be fllwed in respnse t an incident. Delineate accuntability and respnsibility as well as resurces fr key stakehlders engaged in planning and executing specific cmpnents f the peratinal plan. Assure that the plan includes timelines, deliverables, and perfrmance measures. Incrprate int the pandemic influenza plan the requirements f students with special needs (e.g. lw incme students wh rely n the schl fd service fr daily meals), thse in special facilities (e.g., juvenile justice facilities) as well as thse wh d nt speak English as their first language. Implement an exercise/drill t test yur pandemic plan and revise it 5 f 11

6 peridically. Identify the authrity respnsible fr declaring a public health emergency at the state and lcal levels and fr fficially activating the public schl district s pandemic influenza respnse plan. Identify fr all stakehlders the legal authrities respnsible fr executing the cmmunity peratinal plan, especially thse authrities respnsible fr case identificatin, islatin, quarantine, mvement restrictin, and healthcare services. Wrk with yur lcal and/r state health department and state educatin agencies t crdinate with their pandemic plans. Participate in exercises f the cmmunity s pandemic plan. Cnsider prvisin f psychscial supprt services fr the staff, students, and their families during and after a pandemic. Cnsider cntacting the lcal health department t request a surveillance system that wuld alert them t a substantial increase in absenteeism amng students. Develp scenaris describing the ptential impact f a pandemic n student learning (e.g. student and staff absences), schl clsings, and extracurricular activities based n having varius levels f illness amng students and staff. Develp alternative prcedures t assure cntinuity f instructin (e.g. web-based distance instructin, telephne trees, mailed lessns and assignments, instructin via lcal radi r televisin statins) in the event f public schl district clsures. Develp a cntinuity f peratins plan fr essential central ffice functins including payrll and nging cmmunicatin with students and parents. Establish plicies and prcedures fr students and staff sick leave absences unique t a pandemic influenza (e.g. nn-punitive, liberal leave). Establish plicies fr transprting ill students. Assess readiness t meet cmmunicatin needs in preparatin fr an influenza pandemic, including regular review, testing, and updating f cmmunicatin plans. Develp a disseminatin plan fr cmmunicatin with staff, students, and families, including lead spkespersns and links t ther cmmunicatin netwrks. Ensure language, culture, and reading level apprpriateness in cmmunicatins. Develp and test platfrms (e.g. htlines, telephne trees, dedicated websites, and lcal radi r TV statins) fr cmmunicating pandemic status and actins t schl district staff, students, and families. Develp and maintain up-t-date cmmunicatins cntacts f key public health and educatin stakehlders t prvide regular updates as the influenza pandemic unflds. Assure the prvisin f redundant cmmunicatin systems/channels that allw fr the expedited transmissin and receipt f infrmatin. Anticipate the ptential fear and anxiety f staff, students, and families as a result f rumrs and misinfrmatin and plan cmmunicatins accrdingly. 6 f 11

7 Additinal Child Care and Preschl Cnsideratins Cmpleted In Prgress Nt Started Frm a cmmittee f staff members and parents t prduce a plan fr dealing with a flu pandemic. Include members frm all different grups yur prgram serves. Learn wh in yur area has legal authrity t clse child care prgrams if there is a flu emergency. Learn whether the lcal/state health departments and agencies that regulate child care have plans. Be sure yur flu plan is in line with their plans. Encurage parents t have a Plan B fr finding care fr their children if the prgram is clsed during a flu pandemic. Talk t ther child care and preschl prgrams in yur area t share infrmatin that culd make yur plan better. Plan ways t help families cntinue their child s learning if yur child care prgram r preschl is clsed. Make sure staff and families have seen and understand yur flu pandemic plan. Explain why yu need t have a plan. Give them a chance t ask questins. Assign ne persn t identify reliable surces f infrmatin and watch fr public health warnings abut flu, schl clsings, and ther actins taken t prevent the spread f flu. Have a plan fr keeping children wh becme sick at yur prgram away frm ther children until the family arrives, such as a fixed place fr a sick rm. RESPONSE General Church Organizatin Cnsideratins Find up-t-date, reliable pandemic infrmatin and ther public health advisries frm state and lcal health departments, emergency management agencies, and CDC. Make this infrmatin available t yur rganizatin and thers. When apprpriate, include basic infrmatin abut pandemic influenza in public meetings (e.g. sermns, classes, trainings, small grup meetings, and annuncements). Ensure that what yu cmmunicate is apprpriate fr the cultures, languages, and reading levels f yur staff, members, and persns in the cmmunities that yu serve. Fllw CDC travel recmmendatins during an influenza pandemic. Recmmendatins may include restricting travel t affected dmestic and internatinal sites, recalling nn-essential staff wrking in r near an affected site when an utbreak begins, and distributing health infrmatin t persns wh are returning frm affected areas. Advise staff, members, and persns in the cmmunities yu serve t fllw infrmatin prvided by public health authrities state and lcal health departments, emergency management agencies, and CDC. Additinal Child Care and Preschl Cnsideratins Require staff members t stay hme if they think they might be sick. If they becme sick while at the prgram, require them t g hme and stay hme. Give staff paid sick leave s they can stay hme withut lsing wages. Require ill staff and students t stay at hme until their flu symptms are gne and they feel ready t cme back t wrk. 7 f 11

8 RECOVERY Assemble the Crisis Interventin Team (als knwn as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) Return t nrmal peratins as quickly as pssible. Schls and churches need t keep students, families, and the media infrmed. Fcus n the building, as well as peple, during recvery. Prvide assessment f emtinal needs f staff, students, families, and respnders. Remember anniversaries f crises. Evaluate. Evaluating recvery effrts will help prepare fr the next crisis. Hw will we cntact ur members if phne service r pwer are disrupted? A majr factr in dealing with a disaster is the fcus n cmmunicatin. Many cngregatins during the aftermath f Hurricane Katrina faced a majr challenge in bth lcating their members and determining their status. Planning befre an event can help minimize the cmmunicatin challenge. Develp a plan that allws fr yu t cmmunicate with them but als allw them t cntact yu when they reach safety. Develp a number/plan that cngregatin members can call t check in with yur church that is an 800 number in anther lcatin. Cnsider anther LCMS cngregatin in a different state r perhaps the District Office. Cnsider gathering the fllwing infrmatin fr each cngregatin member: Cngregatin Member Hme Phne Number Cell Phne Number Address Facebk, Twitter r ther Scial Netwrking Infrmatin Out f State Cntact and their Phne Number Encurage yur members t plan in advance where they will g, shuld they be evacuated. Other infrmatin yu might want fr each family in yur cngregatin recrds is a Family Cmmunicatin Plan. Family Cmmunicatin Plan Cntact Name Telephne Number Out-f-State Cntact Name Telephne Number Neighbrhd Meeting Place Meeting Place Phne Number Yu shuld plan t annually update any and all infrmatin fr each family and gather it frm new members as they jin the church. In additin: Develp an accurate shut-in list. Develp a list f thse with physical needs r limited mbility. Share Cmmunity planning, including evacuatin destinatins with these peple. Gather their family cmmunicatin plan and cntact infrmatin. Yu might cnsider checking with yur cmmunity abut evacuatin plans fr Special Needs members f yur cngregatin. Yur church wuld need t ask which members fit these criteria. These culd include: Thse withut a vehicle. Nn-English speaking families. Hearing r Mbility impaired. Single wrking parents. Special dietary needs ( i.e. Diabetics) 8 f 11

9 Have all recrds and cntact infrmatin saved electrnically with smene in anther area and give an electrnic cpy n a USB drive t ne r tw church leaders. Yur church shuld als discuss wh will be the cntact persn t gather updates n members. Cnsider purchasing a cmmunicatin prgram that allws yu t tape ne message and then call all members with the message. Yu can d a Ggle Search n these services including: Schl Reach Cnstant Cnnect One Call Nw Yu might cnsider wrking with the Red Crss and cmmunity agencies t have yur church designated as an evacuatin site in case f a cmmunity emergency. What is ur back up plan fr church recrds? Cngregatins and schls shuld have a backup system in place fr all data, whether it be electrnic r hard cpy at an ff-site lcatin. Are we adequately insured against all ptential disasters? Cngregatin and schls shuld evaluate with their insurance cmpanies fr a variety f disasters including: pandemic, natural disasters, etc. Nte: Many insurance cmpanies d nt insure against revenue lss. Hw culd we deliver cre cngregatinal services such as wrship, Sunday Schl, and Bible study t ur members if they culd nt assemble? Basic Assumptins: Vital resurces will be available such as electricity, internet, cell phne, and telephne services. If these are nt available, the challenge becmes much greater. While large grup assemblies may nt be pssible, small grups r private visitatin may be allwed. Wrship services by necessity wuld emphasize the Wrd. Wrship services culd be prvided ver the internet using the list f churches in the District that have nline services, recrded r written sermns. Pastrs may be able t recrd a weekly sermn and pdcast it ver the church web site, recrd a vide fr Yu Tube, Gd Tube, r sme ther media. Wrship services culd be prvided ver the radi, with recrded messages sent t lcal radi statins. The Lutheran Hur and Wrship fr Shut Ins may als be used t help prvide in hme wrship pprtunities. The District r the Synd may want t cnsider ways f prviding a wrship service ver cable r bradcast TV. Sacramental Ministry The Pastr and Elders may be able t make hme and hspital visits t bring cmmunin t thse wh are ill. Elders wuld need t be trained and cmmissined fr this ministry. It may be pssible fr the Pastr t cnsecrate the elements and have the Elders take them t individual hmes and families. In all likelihd, celebratin f the Lrd s Supper will be very limited. Individual members can be instructed n hw t d an emergency baptism, if the need shuld arrive. Luther s Small Catechism and ur Lutheran Hymnals have rders fr emergency baptisms. Educatinal Services Small grup, in hme Bible Studies may be an ptin. Online Bible Study grups may als be an ptin fr thse with the right equipment. The Pastr culd set up a Bible Study Blg n line fr members t participate. The same resurces used t deliver sermns culd be used fr Bible Studies 9 f 11

10 A list f n-line Bible Studies culd be made available t members including Family devtins fr families f all ages and stages f life. Special Need Situatins: Hspital Visits, Shut-In Calls, Funerals Because f the ptential threat f the spread f disease, cmmittal services may have t be private, fr immediate family nly. Funeral and memrial services may have t be delayed. Visits t the sick may require special clthing, if allwed at all. Churches and church staff (bth lay and prfessinal) may have t wrk in cperative effrts t meet these needs. Hw culd we deliver cre educatinal services such as schl t ur students if they culd nt assemble? The recent pandemic episde surrunding the Swine Flu Outbreak in Mexic is an pprtunity fr us t prepare in case there is a situatin in which grup meetings are prhibited. Technlgy tday allws us mre pprtunities t meet then ever befre. Students wuld need access t the Internet thrugh a cmputer r hand held device but teacher-led instructin culd then further enhance the educatinal experience. Examples f hw schl r teachers culd respnd include: Create a free blg n which yu list assignments, resurces, cncerns fr students. Encurage them t pst their wn questins r cncerns. Exchange infrmatin via e- mail attachments r mailed dcuments. One Web site fr this is Use a Web cam t have vide phne cnferences with students. Yu will be able t see them, if they have a camera, and experience face t face cmmunicatin. The phne call prtin is free. The site is Develp a Web site and then pst materials there. This culd include vide, web sites, etc. One lcatin is Als, many cntent-rich websites exist that a teacher culd direct students t fr specific cntent. Create a pdcast, which is a written r spken frmat that allws audi t be dwnladed. A simple teaching tl may be fund at Utilize a cnference call frmat that wuld let yu talk t a large grup r even display yur cmputer screen t the grup. There is a cst, but ne site is Frm an distributin list, which allws the teacher t directins, assignments, r any ther messages r dcuments t all students at nce. Students may chse hw t respnd t the grup, teacher etc. Develp cllabratin thrugh use f a free Wiki site like This site includes directin n using the site. Yur Wiki allws a great deal f interactin between peple in different lcatins. 1. D we have adequate financial reserves t help ur emplyees shuld ur revenue stream immediately end fr an extended time? CEF is ging t discuss at a bard meeting the flexibility f suspending r adjusting lan payments in the event f a disaster. 10 f 11

11 EMERGENCY AGENCIES Michigan Department f Cmmunity Health OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH/PREPAREDNESS Biterrrism Emergency Ntificatin Actual r Threatened Bilgical r Chemical Terrrist Event Bus. Hrs After Hrs General Infrmatin Cmmunicable Disease: Labratry: After Hrs. Emergency: Emergency help number: 911 r lcal emergency dispatch Lcal Emergency Manager: Check lcal listings in yur area State Emergency Manager: US Department f Health and Human Services: Lcal Health Dept.: Check lcal listings in yur area Dept. f Hmeland Security: Center fr Disease Cntrl: r Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Department f Hmeland Security Ready Prgram: American Red Crss: RESOURCES Pandemic influenza preparedness: Recgnizing flu symptms: Develping a family plan: Limit the spread f infectin: Imprtance f yearly flu shts: Imprtance f yearly flu shts: Cntrlling the spread f flu: Flu Psters: Limit the spread f infectin: Illness evaluatin: Islate sick children: Caring fr ill family members: ICS Training: Site Emergency Plan: REFERENCES Website specific t pandemic flu: American Red Crss: Center fr Disease Cntrl: Michigan State Plice: 11 f 11