The Bird Flu. (is this October surprise?)

[Horse with no Name]

Look at what I got in my paycheck yesterday.
As some of you know, I am a nurse. Yesterday was payday and I got this "interesting" piece of literature in my paycheck. I am highly curious as to why hospitals are dissimenating this to their employees?

I have to type it as I cannot scan it.Anything in quotations or parentheses are my own insertions.

PREPARING FOR A PANDEMIC

Create an emergency supply kit

The Red Cross recommends that people be prepared to stay at home for extended periods of time, possibly without electricity or water, because "local" services may be disrupted OR because governments may "ask" people to stay home to slow transmission of flu. This means stockpiling all the supplies your family may need including food,water and medications (our government can't take care of you, you should know this by now.)Use the list below as a guide to put together an emergency supply kit. Gather all of these items in a waterproof box or dedicated area of your home, such as a closet or basement. You don't have to buy everything in your emergency supply kit all at once. Instead, buy items gradually over a few weeks or months. Each time you buy something you regularly use, such as canned food or batteries, get an extra to keep in your emergency supply kit.

Emergency supply kit checklist
Food and water (2 weeks supply for each person)
non-preishables, baby food/formula,water, juice, electrolyte beverages

Nonprescription drugs
ibuprofen, acetominophen, cold and cough medications, antidiarrheal medication, vitamins

personal items and toiletries
toothpaste, toilet paper,paper towels,tissues, soap,alcohol based hand santizer,feminine hygiene products,contacts and solution

medications and medical supplies
first aid kit and manual, 30 days of all prescription medications and supplies, face masks, surgical gloves

other
containers and bags for waste, food and supplies for pets, portable radio and extra batteries, flashlight and extra batteries, cash

How Likely is a Flu Pandemic?
There have been 3 documented instances of flu pandemics. They occurred in 1918, 1957, and 1968. Many scientists and medical experts believe that there will be another flu pandemic in the near future, but no one can be certain when it will occur or how severe it will be.


On edit I left this off:
What is Avian Influenza
Bird flu is an infection caused by Avian influenza. These flu viruses occur naturally among birds.

How is Avian Flu transmitted?
Avian flu is transmitted by droplets created by people coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose.

(I thought it wasn't in the human population yet????)

[Armstead]

1. I think it's just taking legitimate precautions

Not even Karl Rove has figured out how to manipulate nature (yet).

[Horse with no Name]

2. In my 20 years of nursing

I have NEVER been told to create an emergency supply kit. Never.
It made me wonder why because I had assumed that in a pandemic, we would be working at the hospital. Not preparing to stay at home.

[Armstead]

3. Maybe Katrina taught the healthcare system a lesson

That debacle would make me want to cover all the bases if I were a healthcare administrator.

Maybe I'm too trusting, but I can't imagine even Rove using bird flu as a political ploy. (They'd exploit it if it happens, but no advantage to creating fear of it beforehand.)

[lonestarnot]

4. Very strange, maybe a repiglican is seated in leather at the top.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. I live in Florida. It's pretty standard stuff.

In fact, I'm so trained that when my son went to college, I made him a medical supply kit that will probably be commandeered by the R.A. if their floor ever gets quarantined. The only thing I forgot was the anti-diarrhea medicine. But he has Ginger Ale, crackers and chicken soup cans for the recovery.

[Nay]

5. Not to worry. Our workplace is doing the same thing -- in fact, I'm

helping a bit with the documents like the one you received. It's just a way for corporations to try to prepare for it if it happens. We have a med team on site, so they have done a lot of the prep work to take care of the employees if flu strikes.

[LeftishBrit]

6. There have been such documents for months now

In fact, about 6 months ago our Department was asked by the central university administration to draw up contingency plans in case we all died of bird flu! Yes, I suppose we would have to cancel our lectures for the week...

[HEyHEY]

7. I leaned over a pit of avian flu infected birds

When it broke out in Vancouver. And I'm fine.

[momzno1]

9. watcha holding?

are those polar bear cubs????

[HEyHEY]

10. They were until I ate them

MMMm... endangerlicious

[mcscajun]

11. Considering who's running the show, a wise precaution.

If Katrina taught this entire country one important lesson, it's how inept our current federal government is at taking care of its citizens in a disaster. We're on our own, as the lack of response to Katrina made all too clear. BushCo wouldn't and couldn't protect us from an out of control truck, much less a pandemic. So I won't rely on our useless present Federal government, and I'll take rational, considered measures to prepare myself for the possibility of a pandemic, while ignoring any and all pronouncements by BushCo. I don't fear, I don't worry. I am concerned, and I stay informed, and I prepare, because I know my government is useless in a crisis. (Hell, it's useless most Mondays to Fridays...and alternate Saturdays, and 3 out of 4 Sundays.)