What You Can Do
You can take some simple steps now to prepare for a pandemic flu
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cough and sneeze into your sleeve or use a tissue. If you use a tissue, only use it once and put in the trash right away. Then wash your hands.
- Wash and sanitize commonly touched surfaces, such as doorknobs and countertops.
- If you are sick, stay home and limit your contact with other people. Do not send sick children to school or to daycare.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Try to stay at least 3 feet away from someone who is sick.
- When a flu vaccine becomes available, get vaccinated.
- Stay informed by keeping up-to-date on pandemic influenza and other health hazards in your area. Listen to the radio and television, read news stories, and check the internet. Look for information that comes from reliable sources, such as your local health department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
- Stay healthy by eating a well-balanced diet, being active each day, and drinking plenty of water.
View an online webcast to learn more about preparing for a pandemic flu:
Duration: 1 hour