Emergency kit is a key to pandemic survival

"Be prepared, not scared," is what the Southwest District Health Unit in Dickinson advocates to everyone about a possible avian flu or pandemic.

Going over a checklist of what is necessary to have during a pandemic and stocking up on these things beforehand is the key to surviving any disaster, whether it is an influenza pandemic or severe weather.

On the government Web site about the pandemic flu or avian flu, there are several different areas in which a plan must be in place, especially for agencies and individuals who are part of the critical infrastructure.

Sherry Adams is the influenza coordinator for the SDHU which has an emergency preparedness kit that lists specific items people will need.

"The list we have for the emergency preparedness kit was developed from several resources for overall disasters, but with the addition of flu supplies and pain medications," Adams said. "I would emphasize people have things like access to or stockpile of water, along with extra bleach and trash bags, which are three major supplies needed for any major event."

Being prepared now means less panic for people in the first four weeks of a pandemic, she added.

"There's also a formula for dehydration because in past flu pandemics, dehydration has been the cause of many deaths," Adams said. "The formula helps with dehydration, but is not a substitute for going to the hospital."

Having the ingredients for it is in case people can't get to or into the hospital, she added.

Being prepared is not the whole story, but it is a start. The next steps include learning proper infection control and disposing of wastes.

Proper infection control means sticking to the basic concepts of hand washing, keeping 3 feet from person to person contact and covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing around others, said Adams.

"Using masks is controversial because most likely, average people won't have those available to them," she said. "Certain masks, like N-95s, will only be used by those who are part of the critical infrastructure like doctors, nurses, ambulance and hospital personnel, the fire department, etc. They are tested on the masks and certain masks need to be fitted."

There would be a shortage of masks to be used by the public and the same goes for using gloves, she added.

"Hand washing is still your best bet," Adams said. "Soap and water is even better than hand sanitizer and should not be replaced with it unless you need to use water for more important things."

It is not known if the pandemic could become droplet or airborne, she added. In addressing germs, families need to put together their own plan on how to teach children to keep as germ-free as possible.

"Help them to remember to wash their hands and not touch their face after touching everything else around them," said Adams. "Avoid transmitting anything by touching others or other things in public."

With proper infection control as part of a plan, proper disposal of wastes is just as important.

"For disposal of wastes, get extra bags," Adams said as a good start.

Ken Kussy, the public works manager for Dickinson, is in the business of dealing with street and solid waste management.

"According to the EPA, anyone handling wastes in a pandemic should wear gloves and masks and waste should be put into plastic bags and buried in landfills," Kussy said. "Normally, we suggest people don't touch anything contaminated, but call the city of Dickinson Sanitation Department."

The department would supply bags if needed and the public is to not make contact with any animals that are possibly contaminated, he added.

"The only thing we'd do differently in a pandemic is wear decontamination suits and bag things," Kussy said. "Health officials determine where the sources are and quarantining, but we'd be in the loop."

For the most part, the city public works department has dealt with solid waste and not hazardous items, he added.

"Special teams do that," said Kussy. "For example, the train which derailed in Minot did not call on the local people, but a decontamination team that goes in."