How to prepare

Many people will be sick during this pandemic. So you don't need to make trips out while you are sick, have at least a week's supply of

• alcohol-based hand rub
• paracetamol
• tissues
• food
• medical supplies

Make sure you ahve contact details fro frieds/neighbours/family easily available so that you can call them if you need help.

Think about:

• who will look after your extended family if they become sick.
• organisng child care if schools and day care facilities close.
• whether or not you can work fro home.
• who could deliver groceries or meals to sick family members if they need them.

Protecting Yourself and Others

Wash and dry your hands frequently.
Wash your hands for at least 20 secounds and dry them for 20 secounds, or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Wash your hands before preparing food and eating or smoking. After coughing, sneezing, wiping children's noses, visiting the toilet or changing nappies.

Cover you coughs and sneezes.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and put you used tissue in the bin. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve- not your hands.

Remember to wash your hands afterwards.

Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes. Germ spread that way.

Stay away from other people if you or they are sick.
If you are unwell, stay away from other people.

Try to sat away fro sick people to reduce the spread of germs.

Reduce time spent in crowded areas.

Contamination and cleaning.
Regularly clean flat surfaces such as bathroom sinks, bedside cabinets, desk and table tops where germs can live for up to 48 hours. Wipe them down with a household disinfectant.

If you've got flu symptoms.
Stay at home until you are well. That is not sneezing ad cughing as this is how the virus spreads. this is usually three to four days after symptoms start, but may be up to a week.

If your condition worsens.
Seek medical advice by phoning Healthline on 0800 611 116 or your healthcare provider first before you go to avoid potentially infecting others.

How does Swine flu spread

Influenza A H1N1(swine flu) spreads from person to person, in the same way that seasonal influenza viruses spread.

The main form of transmission is through the coughs or snezzes of an infected person. Infected drplets are releases into the air and breathed in by others. However these droplets do ot remain in the air for long and generally only affect people within two metres.

It is also possible to get the influenza by touching contamiated surfaces and then touching your nose, mouth or eyes.

The Influenza A (H1N1) virus is not spread through eating properly-cooked pork or handling pork products. Chloriated water also makes it very unlikel that people will get this virus.

Signs and Symptoms

• Fever (a temperature around 38 degrees celsius).
• Cough.
• Sore Throat.
• Runny or Stuffy Nose.
• Body Aches.
• Headache.
• Chills.
• Fatigue.