Public Health and Emergency Preparedness for Minority Communities “Help Us, Help You”

1. Public Health and Emergency Preparedness for Minority Communities “Help Us, Help You” CAROLYN MCCUMMINGS MPH Student- Walden University PUBH 6165 Professor Patrick Tschida

2. What to Prepare for: • Prepare yourself for disasters, public health threats and emergencies: • Weather related; Hurricanes, floods, ice storms, thunderstorms etc. • Safe drinking water threats • Pandemic flu • West Nile Virus

3. First Steps • Become familiar with your local officials • Understand what is considered an “emergency” • Attend district meetings on emergency preparedness • Be prepared to help others in your community

4. Who is Prepared? According to a survey conducted by the American Public Health Association on Public Health Emergency Preparedness: • More than 27% of the public claim to be prepared for a public health emergency, but only half of those actually have a three-day supply of food, water and medication. • 58% of mothers with children age five and younger admit that they do not have even a three-day supply of water on hand for their family in an emergency.

5. Barriers to becoming Prepared • Lack of information • Lack of trust • Cost of items needed to become prepared • Lack of resources

6. Basic Emergency Supply List • Water: One gallon of water per person per day • Food: At least a 3-day supply, including a manual can opener • Cash/coins • Battery-powered radio and extra batteries • First aid kit • Whistle to signal for help • Moist towelettes, toilet paper, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air. Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities • Flashlight and extra batteries • Unique family needs such as daily prescription medications, infant formula or diapers and important family documents • Local maps

7. Additional items to consider • Prescription medications • Important family documents (place in a waterproof bag or container) • Change of clothes • Personal hygiene products • Bedding • Cell phone/charger • Paper/pen

8. What Should You Do If A Hurricane Threatens Your Community? A HURRICANE WATCH issued for your part of the coast indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours (nhc, 2011). A HURRICANE WARNING issued for your part of the coast indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 MPH are expected within 24 hours. This is serious! Begin to take action to move to the safest location to be during the storm. If available, listen to local advisory (nhc, 2011).

9. Hurricane Tips • For Staying Home During a Hurricane: • Listen to advisory for warning vs watch • Find out where the evacuation shelters are nearest you • Have enough basic food items and water for up to 5 days (10 if possible) • Prepare basic “go kit” in case you have to evacuate • Do not use candles or open flames as a light source (get flashlights ready) • Gather your family in a safe room • For Evacuating During a Hurricane: • Evacuate if told to do so (Don’t wait until the last minute to leave!) • Map out your route • Get cash & fill your car with gasoline • Enact your pet plan • Notify family and friends of your plan • Secure your home before leaving

10. Safe Drinking Water

11. Drinking Water Safety Tips If you do not have bottled water, you should boil it. • Boil the water for one minute, let cool, and store it in clean containers with covers. • If you cannot boil the water you can disinfect it using household bleach. • Add 1/8 teaspoon of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water. Stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it. • Listen for public service announcements or information distributions to find locations of alternative sources of water. (Point of Distribution sites)

12. Pandemic Flu

13. What is Pandemic Flu A type of influenza that spreads rapidly through countries and regions around the world. • Pandemics of influenza have occurred sporadically through out history- three times is the last hundred years- resulting in many deaths • Unlike the “ordinary” flu that occurs in the winter, pandemic influenza can occur at any time during the year.

14. Who is at risk during a Pandemic? • Once a pandemic starts everyone is at risk !

15. Pandemic flu vaccine • Is there a vaccine to protect us? • There is no permanent vaccine currently ready to protect against pandemic flu. A vaccine to protect against pandemic flu cannot be made until the new virus has been identified.

16. How often do Pandemics occur? • Three pandemics in the last 100 years • 1918-19 Spanish flu • 1957-58 Asian flu • 1968-69 Hong Kong flu

17. Pandemic Death Tolls Since 1900 • 1918-1919 United States 500,000+ Worldwide 40 million • 1957-1958 United States 70,000+ Worldwide 1-2 million • 1968-1969 United States 34,000+ Worldwide 700,000+

18. What Kind Of Impact Could the Next Pandemic Have? No one can predict the impact with certainty 1918 pandemic was the most deadly event in US history 1968 pandemic was not much more serious than a bad seasonal influenza year The number of US deaths from the next pandemic could range from 200,000 up to 2,000,000

19. Influenza A H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) New Virus first detected April 2009 No immunity No Vaccine Not the same as Seasonal Flu New vaccine was needed

20. H1N1 Transmission How was H1N1 spread? The same way as seasonal flu Coughing Sneezing Touching surfaces infected with the virus and than touching your nose or mouth Virus can survive on surfaces up to 2-8 hrs (possibly up to 3 days in lab testing) When is a person contagious? One day before onset of symptoms, to 7 days after you get sick

21. Symptoms of H1N1 Similar to seasonal flu: Fever Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Body aches Headache Chills and fatigue Vomiting and diarrhea

22. Key Facts about Seasonal Influenza The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year. Every year in the United States, on average: 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized due to complications 36,000 people die each year from influenza complications

23. West Nile Virus

24. What is West Nile Virus? • An infection caused by the bite of an infected mosquito • West Nile Virus season usually starts in April and ends after 2 consecutive frosts • Symptoms may include: fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph glands • The elderly are usually affected, but all ages are at risk

25. How is the Virus Transmitted? • Mosquitoes bite birds infected with the virus and then infect humans, or animals • The cycle continues when mosquitoes bite other birds • Not all mosquitoes carry disease, only certain species are associated with West Nile Virus • “Culex Pipiens” the common house mosquito is the species responsible for the majority of human cases

26. West Nile Transmission in Pictures Incidentalinfection

27. As a Homeowner, What Can I do? • Remove or empty standing water • Maintain unclogged roof gutters • Keep pools chlorinated • Change water in kids pools often • Repair window and door screens promptly

28. How Can I Protect Myself and My Family? • If possible, avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active • When outdoors, wear long sleeves, pants, and socks • Use mosquito repellent according to the manufacturer’s directions

29. Resources Disaster Preparedness • www.fema.gov • www.dhs.gov • www.redcross.org • Hurricane • www.nhc.noaa.gov • Bioterrorism • www.bt.cdc.gov • Weather • www.weather.com • www.noaa.gov • New York State • www.health.state.ny.us/environmtal/emergency • www.nyalert.gov • Centers for Disease Control and prevention • www.cdc.gov • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ • New York State Department of Health http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/ • World Health Organization www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/

30. Any Questions? Thank You