Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza

A. Preparing your household for an influenza pandemic

A1. Plan ahead

Once Australia reaches the DELAY phase, the public should:

• Develop a plan in case you and your household have to stay at home for a week or so during a pandemic. Talk to your family and friends about this.
• Think of someone you could call on for help if you became very ill with influenza. Discuss this possibility with them.
• Think of someone you could call on to care for your children if their school or day-care centre is closed because of a pandemic, and you are required to work. Discuss it with them.
• Have a plan to care for elderly or vulnerable relatives and friends who may need your help.
• Identify someone who could help you with food and supplies if you and those in your household are ill or in quarantine. Discuss it with them.
• Have a telephone list of the people who you may have to contact in an emergency.
• Put the telephone number of your family doctor and your state or territory information line in a prominent place. Find out where your local flu clinic may be located.
• Keep a watchful eye on neighbours, especially those living alone or at particular risk, and phone them if you suspect they might be ill.
• Teach children about hand washing and cough etiquette.

A2. Supplies you might need in a pandemic

The Australian Government has developed an emergency survival kit checklist for households entitled Preparing for the Unexpected. This is available from Emergency Management Australia (EMA) at www.ema.gov.au. The Australian food and grocery sector has prepared an emergency pantry list for households which is available from www.pantrylist.com.au.
In the household:

• have a supply of tissues available
• consider having conveniently located dispensers of alcohol-based hand rub
• provide soap and disposable towels near sinks for hand washing
• consider what pain control may be appropriate in a pandemic (see Box 8).

  Box 8: Use of pain control Some of the symptoms of influenza can be alleviated with over the counter pain medication. People under the age of 18 with influenza should avoid taking medications containing aspirin. This is because they can develop Reye syndrome, a very serious illness affecting the nervous system and liver. People over 18 years of age who have a history of gastric ulcers (bleeding from the stomach), previous allergic reaction to aspirin, liver or kidney problems or who have asthma should avoid taking aspirin, as should women who are breast feeding. Paracetamol or ibuprofen could be used as an alternative. Aspirin can interact with some types of prescription medicines. Anyone who is taking prescription medication should check with their doctor before taking aspirin to ensure that it will not interact.

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This information is current for 03 September, 2010
This information was issued on 05 December, 2008