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Graceland Emergency Preparedness Guide

This document, while written in response to a possible worse-case swine flu pandemic, can be a helpful
guide to prepare for any type of severe community emergency that disrupts our normal standard of living.

Swine flu: Information, prevention & preparation
We have every indication that the swine flu will return in the fall and it will be much stronger than a normal
flu season. Swine flu's symptoms are very similar to seasonal flu except that it often includes vomiting and
diarrhea too. Normal healthy people are infected by the swine flu versus the seasonal flu affecting
weakened folks. It attacks in a very severe way. It is highly contagious. So far, it is not air or water borne.
The federal government estimates that 40-50 % of Americans may get the swine flu over the next two
years.
Prevention is always preferable to treatment of illness. Viral illnesses are often communicated from person
to person, and in this case the pathway is the respiratory system. When a virus is picked up by an
individual’s hands, the hands usually communicate the virus to the face via nose, eyes, or mouth, with
symptoms developing a couple of days later. Frequent hand washing and/or sanitizing is the primary
mode of protection. Proper disposal or sanitation of contaminated articles (i.e. tissue, linesn, phone
receivers, etc.) is strongly advised, as viruses may remain alive on surfaces for an extended period of time
(48-72 hours or more). Viruses can also be transmitted within a three to five foot radius via droplet
particles floating in the air, originating from another person’s cough or sneeze. Therefore, care should be
taken to cover all coughs and sneezes with tissue. In addition, minimizing close contacts with other people
may be advisable.

Such a severe illness may affect businesses, schools, and churches. Closures may occur. Quarantines may
be enforced. Shortages of goods and interruptions in utilities may happen.
When a disaster strikes, people often have difficulty coping due to lack of preparedness. This often results
in: denial, over-reaction, fatigue, anger/blaming, headaches, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, family
problems. Prepare early to avoid these issues.

Swine Flu: Tends to affect normally healthy people as opposed to regular flu
Symptoms: fever, sleepiness, head and body aches, cough, and sore throat. Tell-tale symptoms include:
vomiting and diarrhea. Severe symptoms: blue or gray coloring, pneumonia, inability to wake up, and
seizures.
Treatment: Keep the person warm and comfortable and hydrated. Ensure that the person takes his/her
normal medicine and food and drink. Give normal flu medicines unless they interfere with their regular
medicine. If tell-tale symptoms occur, go to the doctor immediately. Rush to ER if severe symptoms
occur. Early indications are that it is highly contagious. Wear a N-95 mask and gloves if you have them.
There are two approved drugs for swine flu: Relenza and Tamiflu. Tamiflu is available in large stockpiles.
The government plans to vaccinate every American, however, we do not as yet have adequate supplies.
Expect vaccination to begin to occur in mid-October and extend into February 2010. Swine flu vaccination
occurs in TWO SHOTS given over several weeks.

Emergency Numbers: Write in your numbers if not within the New Albany Area
New Albany
Ambulance
Hospital
Fire
Police
Water
Gas
Electricity
Sewer
Basic Nutritional Requirements
Food (2200 calories for men, 2000 calories for women and children) Individuals can go a week without
food but are progressively weakened.
Federal guidelines = Two weeks of food per person= 42 meals
Use perishable foods first, from the refrigerator second, from the freezer third, from canned goods fourth.
Food spoils quickly without refrigeration. Use the natural refrigeration of wintertime to extend storage of
food.
Supplement cheaply with vitamins. Five small meals are better than three to keep from being hungry. Good
choices include rice and beans, oatmeal, canned meats, fish, beans, soups, stews. Ramen noodles and soup
mixes for seasoning. Add oil to add calories. Buy things your family will eat. Buy some treat foods for
comfort. If children won't eat your stockpiled food, add protein powder to canned fruit initially. Hungry
children will eventually eat no matter what.
Water (1 gallon per person per day= ½ gallon for drinking + ½ gallon for cleaning) 3 days without water =
severe weakness and death. Federal guidelines = Two weeks of water (14 gallons) per person
A. If water supply is suspect, filter with coffee filters if necessary, add 16 drops of unscented bleach to one
gallon. Let sit for 30 minutes. You can pour it back and forth between containers to release the bleach
smell. Alternative boil for one minute. Add a dash of salt to improve flavor or pour it several times in a
clean container to re-add oxygen. Water is heavy (1 gallon = 8.5 lbs). A hot water tank commonly holds 40
gallons of water. To pull from the tank, 1)shut off the gas or electricity to the tank 2) shut off the incoming
water line 3) open the drain spigot into a container. Never store water in used milk jugs (will cause
sickness).B. Never drink water from outside water sources without boiling and adding bleach. C. Collect
water in all the clean containers you have. Water stored in a bathtub will need to be purified. D. Keep water
in insulated areas to keep from freezing. E. Pipes can freeze too. If the house is cold, keep a tiny trickle of
water going to prevent freezing. If the water goes off, drain the lines to prevent leaks later. F. A little
window washer antifreeze put down toilets, washing machine drain lines, and sinks will assist them from
freezing in an unheated home.
A Water Bob can be purchased for about $25 and acts as a reservoir of up to 100 gallons
www.waterbob.com
Cooking
If the power or gas fails, use your outside grill. It is easier to cook for the entire day at once on a grill rather
than cooking several times. Have adequate charcoal and propane on hand.
Medicine
Fill prescription medicines now. There are discounts on several months of medications.
Make a first aid kit to treat headaches/body aches, fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Dehydration can best be treated with sports drinks or by giving ORS:Oral Rehydration Solution
Simple formula:
3 Tablespoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of salt, dissolved in 1 quart of potable water.
Superior formula
ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTION FORMULA (ORS)
· 1/4 teaspoon Salt (common table salt - sodium chloride)
· 1/4 teaspoon Salt Substitute or “Lite Salt” (potassium chloride)
· 1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
· 2 ½ tablespoons Sugar
· Combine these ingredients and dissolve them in 1 qt. of sterile water.
Can be flavored with 1 tsp of instant jello mix (powder)
Q. How much solution do I feed?
A. Feed after episode of diarrhea. Adults and large children should drink at least 3 quarts of ORS a day until they are well. Each Feeding: For a child under the age of two=between a quarter and a half of a large cup For older children =between a half and a whole large cup For Severe Dehydration: Drink sips of the ORS (or give the ORS solution to the conscious dehydrated person) every 5 minutes until urination becomes normal. (It's normal to urinate four or five times a day.) Q. How do I feed the solution?
A· Give it slowly, preferably with a teaspoon.· If the child vomits it, give it again. The drink should be given from a cup (feeding bottles are difficult to clean properly). Remember to feed sips of the liquid slowly. Q. What if the child vomits?
A. If the child vomits, wait for ten minutes and then begin again. Continue to try to feed the drink to the child slowly, small sips at a time. The body will retain some of the fluids and salts needed even though there is vomiting. Q. For how long do I feed the liquids?
A. Extra liquids should be given until the diarrhea has stopped. This will usually take between three and five days. Q. How do I store the ORS solution?
A. Store the liquid in a cool place. Chilling the ORS may help. If the child still needs ORS after 24 hours, 10 Things you should know about Rehydrating a child.
1. Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing solution. 2. Prepare a solution, in a clean pot, (as above) - with one quart of clean drinking or boiled water (after cooled) Stir the mixture till all the contents dissolve. 3. Wash your hands and the baby's hands with soap and water before feeding solution. 4. Give the sick child as much of the solution as it needs, in small amounts frequently. 5. Give child alternately other fluids - such as breast milk and juices. 6. Continue to give solids if child is four months or older. 7. If the child still needs ORS after 24 hours, make a fresh solution. 8. ORS does not stop diarrhea. It prevents the body from drying up. The diarrhea will stop by itself. 9. If child vomits, wait ten minutes and give it ORS again. Usually vomiting will stop. 10. If diarrhea increases and /or vomiting persists, take child over to a health clinic.
Loss of heat
Most heaters are electric or gas. Very cold temperatures can occur in the wintertime without heating.
Purchase a kerosene heater and extra kerosene as a cheap source of heat. Average kerosene use = two
gallons of kerosene per 12 hour period.
If you have a southern sunny window, hang black plastic two inches from that window, and tape foil to the
plastic to radiate heat into the room.
Ensure that your fireplaces have been cleaned of creosote before use otherwise a chimney fire could
happen. Never burn wood in a gas fireplace. They are not intended for burning wood.
Heat loss occurs mostly from your head. WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES INDOORS. Wear multiple layers
of loose knit clothing.
Pitch a tent or pick a small room for everyone to sleep in. Insulate it with blankets, rugs, mattresses, etc.
Sleep together to watch small children and conserve heat. Have smoke alarms in that room. Emergency
blankets reflect 90% of body heat and are inexpensive.
Never burn an open fire without ventilation. Never burn charcoal inside. It builds up deadly fumes. Never
leave candles burning.
Loss of lighting
It gets dark very early in winter. Plan activities accordingly. Have enclosed paraffin oil lamps and plenty of
paraffin oil. Doubles as a heat source. A mirror placed behind casts more light. LED flashlights use less
batteries and burn brightly. Crank style flashlights are excellent for children. Open candles are very
dangerous and should be used as a last resort.
Sanitation
Dishes - Scrape dishes well, then wash in hot soapy water that has a few drops of bleach added.
Surfaces - For general disinfecting (floors, counters, etc.), use 1 tablespoon of liquid bleach in 1 quart of
water. Soak small items for 5 minutes. Surfaces such as floors or counters should be wet liberally and kept
wet for 2 minutes.
Laundry - Keep as clean as possible as it prevents illness. Use hand sanitizer and waterless soap if you have
them. Water placed in black bottles that sit in the sun (for two hours) will warm them. Only brush your
teeth or clean contacts with clean water.
Prepare one sink with a minimum of soapy water, hand wring them, rinse in one sink. Hang to dry.
Save your waste water in marked buckets/containers. Toilets will still flush even if the water goes off. Use
the waste water to flush toilets. Use proper precautions: contamination happens when you touch
something dirty and touch your face. Purchase sanitary products ahead of time. If toilets will not flush,
store waste materials in one container, and then place in plastic bags for burial later.
Money
If power outages occur city-wide, ATMs and credit card machines may not work. Have a reserve of $500
for emergencies.
Sheltering in Place (SIP)
This is a government medical term for staying at home and self-quarantines. Stay away from large crowds
when told to do so. Wear a mask and gloves when the flu hits in our area and you must travel. Do not let
your children play with other neighbor children if quarantines are in place.
Communication
Emergency information will be available on all television and radios. Most cars have a radio, but reserve
power and gas in case you must evacuate quickly. Purchase a batter powered radio in case of power
outages. Land line phones should work unless there are outages. Have a cell phone handy. Avoid
unnecessary phone calls to keep the circuits from becoming overloaded. Avoid rumors which will only
exacerbate the situation.
Aftermath
Once the pandemic concludes, neighbors will need our assistance. Knock on doors and ask if they need
help. Teach preparedness to them. Assist children whose parents have fallen ill. Look for elderly victims.
Notify authorities of illness and death. If you knock on doors to assist others, always go in twos, and
identify yourselves clearly, maintaining a distance of six feet. Wear a mask and gloves, if in doubt. Expect
neighbors to be highly nervous and anxious. Speak slowly and clearly.
Helpful Websites:
There are a variety of websites which have carefully thought out a response to the pandemic flu.
The official government website is http://flu.gov/. If you look under individual preparedness, you'll see
that our government is recommending each American (at a very minimum) have enough food and water
stored for two weeks. That number was originally three days worth, and has been revised due to the serious
nature of the pandemic.
One government website from Idaho is:http://getpandemicready.org/. This website details some very
specific messages to targeted audiences. It is simple and effective in its ways of inexpensively dealing with
the flu.
Another excellent website is:http://www.readymoms.org/#anchor1. They have developed many
printed materials which we could use or modify for use to our members.
One physician has detailed some ways to handle sick family members. His website can be found
here:http://www.birdflumanual.com/ He has made freely available a booklet on his website.
The direct link is:
http://www.birdflumanual.com/resources/Home_Influenza_Treatment/files/Good%20Ho
me%20Treatment%20of%20Influenza/
Southern Baptist North American Mission Board:
http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.1761077/k.6230/Pandemic_Flu_Preparedness.htm
Disclaimer: this information is intended to serve as a resource manual for Graceland
members and attendees. The information contained herein is considered reliable. It is not
intended as medical advice for an individual patient and does not take the place of regular
medical advice from your physician.

Source: http://gracelandbaptist.org/clientimages/46422/health/gracelandemergencypreparednessguide.pdf