Family Emergency Planning Help

Every family should plan for emergencies that could affect home, school and work routines. The American Red Cross suggests that every family should review and practice its emergency plan at least twice a year.

Information and links to resources for dealing with the advent of an Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Pandemic:

• Bloomington Public Health Avian Flu Questions and Answers: http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/cityhall/dept/commserv/publheal/topics/avianflu.htm

• An informed and prepared public can take appropriate actions to decrease their risk during a pandemic. For more information: http://www.doh.wa.gov/panflu/qna.htm.

• The federal governement created a website that has helpful information on Pandemic Flu, a family planning guide and link to the Minnesota Public Health: www.pandemicflu.gov
  

• The Centers for Disease Conrol and Prevention (CDC) hotline, 1.800.CDC.INFO, is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Minnesota State Health Department offers tips on handwashing. "Handwashing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection" - CDC. http://www.health.state.mn.us/handhygiene/index.html

Here are some links for helpful planning information:

• The American Red Cross has helpful information about Family Disaster Planning at http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/family plan.html
  

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency has a special section on its website for children: http://www.fema.gov/kids/nse/ This section tells children do in a national security emergency or terrorism event. Parents should be sure to preview the information beyond the first page before letting youngsters read it since the language is very direct.
  

• The National Association of School Psychologists provides hints for helping children deal with tragic events at http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/tragicevents.html
  

• The National Association of Elementary School Principals site http://www.naesp.org/safetyResources.htm provides links to the Red Cross and the American Academy of Pediatrics, where you'll find a section on Children and Terrorism.
  
• http://www.nasponline.org/NEAT/parentscalled.html This section provides tips for helping children whose parents are called to active duty. Advice is useful for other families too.