Prepare Now When a Household Member is Sick In a flu pandemic, hospitals and clinics may be overwhelmed. You may be asked to care for family members at home so that hospitals can care for the more critically ill. You may also choose to care for mild or moderately ill family members at home to avoid exposing them to other illnesses. Prepare a home care kit now in case there are shortages of supplies when you need them. □ Thermometer (digital preferred) d Alcohol Wipes or cotton balls and rubbing alcohol (70% Isopropyl Alcohol) □ Acetominophen (Tylenol™) or Ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil™) for fever reduction and pain s □ Bleach for disinfection—carefully follow product label instructions 1.1 Tissues □ Soap for hand washing □ Paper Towels to prevent spread of the virus from regular towels : Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizer □ Disinfectant Wipes for hard surfaces n Trash Bags a Box of Disposable Gloves d Juices, Liquids & Electrolyte Drinks for hydration n Masks • Five or more for each family member • Surgical masks (available at medical supply stores or pharmacies) • N95 masks (available at hardware stores or discount stores) • If there is a shortage of masks, family members who are not ill can write their name on their mask and reuse it for several days • III individuals should change and dispose of masks daily • Do not share used masks with another person Flu virus is spread when contaminated droplets from the mouth and nose of an infected person come in contact with others. The virus can survive on surfaces for up to 8 hours. Follow these tips to protect yourself and others in your home: • Keep everyone's personal items separate • Avoid sharing computers, telephones, pens, papers, clothes, towels, sheets, blankets, food or eating utensils • It is okay to wash everyone's dishes and clothes together if you use detergent and hot water • Wash your hands after handling dirty laundry • Change hand towels daily, or better yet, use paper towels • Wear disposable gloves when touching or cleaning up body fluids • One person should be the caregiver and they should wear a mask. Pregnant women should not be caregivers Caring for the Flu Clean door knobs, handles, and commonly touched surfaces using disinfectant cleaning wipes or cleaner. Surfaces may be sanitized with a household bleach solution of 2 cups water and 1 teaspoon (5 ml) bleach or other antiseptic. Please follow directions on product labels. Bleach may be dangerous to skin, mucus membranes, and the respiratory system. Keep away from .children. A person recovering from flu should have: • Rest and plenty of liquids • No alcohol or tobacco • Medications to relieve flu symptoms • Keep the sick person in a room away from the common areas of the house, preferably a spare bedroom with its own bathroom • Keep the sickroom door closed • Unless necessary for medical care, persons with the flu should not leave the home • If available, antiviral medicines such as Oseltamivir (Tamiflu™) or Zanamivir (Relenza™) may improve the recovery time and reduce complications from flu—follow current recommendations from your doctor and health department