This blog began in 2005.
My goals: discuss risk, show the danger of inaction, reduce confusion, and share ideas on managing the consequences of a pandemic.
This blog is more of a reference site than a running commentary.* For news & quick comments, Follow me on Twitter.
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Things you need to know about pandemic influenza
-- World Health Organization
» Flu pandemics recur.
» All countries will be affected.
» Expect widespread illness.
» Medical supplies will be inadequate.
» Expect great disruptions.
Respirators; Family-sized
emergency food units |
Trickle-down Theory:
Federal - State - YOU
Because a pandemic affects many people in many places at once, federal governments can only provide limited local help. They'll do all they can. But that won't be enough.
Why waiting till the last minute to prepare is dangerous
Short notice.
Limited supplies.
Why be vulnerable?
Latex gloves & sanitizers
for infection control |
Why all the talk about a "three-day supply?"
A pandemic likely would last more than a year, coming in multi-week waves. Obviously, a three-day "disaster kit" is not sufficient.
What do you do on the fourth day of a "three-day supply?"
"Stockpiling" is not a dirty word
Stockpiling can help reduce the spread of a pandemic flu. We need more of it.
Supplier of family-sized
emergency food units |
Fighting a flu pandemic from 1918-era supply shelves
In a pandemic, it doesn't matter what medical treatments we have today, if we don't have enough of them at the point and time of need.
"Just in time" versus
"Just in case"
The Wall Street Journal notes that "just-in-time" deliveries and inventories are at odds with the "just in case" rationale behind emergency preparedness planning.
The world supplies my local Wal-Mart
A chain with many links has more chances for disruption.
In a pandemic, sickness is just part of the problem
Less apparent indirect consequences (ripple effects) might be widespread.
You're right, it's not 1918.
Is that good or bad?
Yes, we have modern advantages. But we also have inadequate surge capacities, complex modern systems, and changed populations.
What is Tamiflu? How does it work? Who needs it?
Tamiflu can reduce the length and severity of the flu.
Q: Should you buy a personal supply?
In the event of a major flu pandemic, who keeps the kids?
Closed schools & daycares.
Parents, what do you do?
Employers, what do you do?
Risk communication during a disease outbreak
WHO says the overriding communications goal is trust. Be candid. Acknowledge uncertainty. Avoid excessive reassurance. Trust the public's ability to handle it.
Other key posts:
PRODUCTS & SERVICES - CATEGORIES
GLOSSARY
Planning assumptions of the U.S. Pandemic Influenza Plan
10 Steps Your Business Can Take
» Add infectious diseases to contingency plans.
» Identify essential functions, personnel, and outside activities.
» Tell workers about your pandemic plan.
» Enable work-from-home.
Telecommuting - A business lifeline
As a business risk, an infectious disease attacks people, not property. Telecommuting tools help reduce personal contact, protecting people from infection. How to use
GoToMyPC, GoToMeeting, and USB flash drives.
Access your PC .. data ..
email from ANYWHERE. |
A lot of my employees are out sick ... and so are yours
Running a business with 25% absenteeism. Up and down the supply chain, the same problem.
Some legal aspects of corporate pandemic planning
Can you send a sick employee home? Also:
leave policies, workers' compensation, health insurance, union agreements.
*My approach to this blog:
» It's more reference site than running commentary.
» Some posts are long -- "backgrounders" on uncommon topics.
» I may post in spurts, rather than daily -- and sometimes retroactively. I revise content, as needed.
- USB flash drives page
