Public Health Preparedness
Any number of public health emergencies could occur in Independence and the surrounding areas ranging from natural disease outbreaks to deliberate acts of terrorism involving the use of biological agents.
Public health has a significant role to play in emergency response. Public health’s main functions are to provide the community with a plan to maintain good health, to prevent its citizens from getting ill, and to control the spread of disease. Once a public health threat is suspected or identified, the responsibility of public health is to coordinate the overall response. This requires conducting an epidemiological investigation to determine the source, informing medical providers of the status of the situation, providing prophylactic antibiotics or vaccines as appropriate, and informing the general public how to respond to protect themselves.
To schedule an educational presentation or to request information please view the Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness Training Guide .
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Although we are not currently experiencing an influenza pandemic, the potential for an outbreak is always present. There were three separate pandemics in the 20 th century and experts believe it is only a matter of time  before another strikes. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. It spreads easily from person-to-person, causes serious illness and can sweep across the country and the world in a very short time.
It is time to prepare
Public health is engaged in preparing for a potential outbreak now, because once a pandemic strikes, it is too late to prepare. All members of the public (including you) must be involved in personal, family, business and community preparation for a possible pandemic influenza. Listed below are some definitions, preparedness tips and resources.
Types of the influenza virus
Seasonal flu is a common respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus that is transmitted among humans. Most people have some immunity and a vaccine is available.
Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Currently, there is no pandemic flu. A pandemic can come from a human strain of the virus or from another species, such as an avian strain.
Avian flu or bird flu is a naturally occurring illness in birds caused by the influenza virus. It is transmitted among birds, but can be transmitted from birds to humans.
Practice good hygiene
-Wash your hands regularly
-Cover your cough with your sleeve
-Stay home if you are sick
-Avoid those who are sick
-Get a seasonal flu shot*
Prepare yourself
-Develop a family emergency plan that answers "what if" scenarios.
-Stock at least a two week supply of water and non-perishable foods for your home.
-Keep an emergency supply kit.
Educate yourself
Please take the time to educate yourself and your family on the pandemic flu. The website www.pand emicflu.gov contains general information, situation up dates and preparedness checklists that you can follow to ready yourself for a potential pandemic. A Community Guide is available from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for free distribution, you may download and order the brochure here .
For those interested in pandemic flu information or presentations for communi ty groups, please call the Independence Health Department at 816-325-7185.
I nformation and updates on the seasonal flu can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu and www.fluFACTS.com .
* Regularly receiving seasonal flu shots does not mean a person will be protected from a pandemic flu. A pandemic would come from a new strain of influenza to which people hav e little or no immunity. This means there would not be a vaccine for a pandemic flu until after it has hit, and that past seasonal flu vaccinations will not offer protection from a new pandemic strain. However, receiving a seasonal flu shot is a positive step towards maintaining good health in general.
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In any emergency it is important to be able to take care of yourself and your family for 
at least 48 hours. Follow these three steps to be Ready in 3:
1. Create a Plan
Your family might not be together when an emergency happens so it is important to have a plan to place for all situations. Talk with your family about how you will reach each other at work, school, and different situations.
Plan how you will contact each other and what to do if you are asked to stay in your home or if you are asked to leave the area.
Download a family plan to help you create a plan by clicking here: FAMILY PLAN
2. Prepare a Kit
Make sure you have an emergency kit put together for your home, your car, your work and for your pets.
Items for your emergency kit should include:
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Water- 1 gallon per day per person
Canned and dried food
Battery powered radio
Flashlight
Extra batteries |
Prescription medications
First-aid kit
Warm clothing and blankets
Food and water for your pets |
Keep smaller kits in your car and at work. Your car kit can include maps, extra gas, etc.
3. Listen for Information
It is important to stay calm in an emergency. Get as much information about the situation as possible. Listen to the TV and radio for information. The City of Independence has developed emergency plans. In the event of an emergency listen for instructions and advice.
To c ontain the spread of a contagious illness, public health authorities rely on many strategies. Two of these strategies are isolation and quarantine. Both are common practices in public health, and both aim to control exposure to infected or potentially infected persons.
To learn more about quarantine and isolation, check out this citizen's brochure on Quarantine and Isolation . |