Oregon Fire Chiefs Association
Swine Flu updates
Oregon Summit on Pandemic H1N1 Preparedness
Fire Chief Jack Cooley attended the summit and has graciously allowed the OFCA to place his notes on the website as a reference for other chiefs.
If the Swine flu gets big this winter, we should be prepared with policies and procedures for work loads, work hours, potential plans for working from home, emergency response procedures etc.
Personal accountability is the most important part of the equation
1. Wash your hands
2. Cover your cough
3. Stay home if you’re sick
4. High risk groups get vaccinated
- Pregnant
- 6 months to 24 yrs. old
- People who care for children less than 6 months old
- Care workers (fire/police)
5. "If it is wet, not yours, don't touch it"
6. The H1N1 virus is big and drops out of a cough after 3 feet. Primarily transmitted through droplet spread.
7.Keep hands away from face.
8.Oregon hopes to get the H1N1 vaccine sometime mid-October. Two doses, three weeks apart.
9.Seasonal vaccine will be taken in addition to the H1N1 vaccine.
- Three shots total
There is good literature on the web for dealing with large losses of employees being out sick and on how to keep the "business" going.
- It would be good to come up with a city framework for the eventuality of a large reduction in workforce that could potentially last 7 months.
- This will impact those that do show up for work.
Biggest hit is on HR directors.
- Need to visit sick rules (dealing with children and coming to work sick).
- Worker comp rules
- Consideration of flex time and working from the home.
As administrators it would be prudent to have some contingency plans in place in the event your area is hit with the flu.
http://www.flu.oregon.gov/
This site will be Oregon’s main site for flu information. Sometime this week, videos will be available of the breakout group discussions concerning H1N1. These include:
- School Preparedness
- Health Care System Capacity – Preparing for surge
- Business Continuity Planning and Worker Protection
- County Emergency Managers
- Local Government
- Emergency Medical Services and First Responders
- State Agencies
- Protecting At-Risk Populations Through Effective Outreach and Engagement Strategies
Emergency Medical Services and First Responders
- N95 mask will be adequate for patients and EMTs alike. If virus mutates, should have P100 masks available. They have good reusability.General all purpose masks for the patient are adequate.
- The City needs to gain access to the public health official. Need to maintain a good relationship with them prior to the crisis.
FIRE DEPARTMENT PLAN:
- Once pandemic flu is declared an emergency:
- Activate a Pandemic flu run card- change medical response. We will need to check with physician for potential protocol changes.
- Clausen system card
1. Respond normally
2. Hold on, we will come when we can
3. Shelter in place, list websites to read
- Firefighters will limit public contact in day to day operations.
- One station selected to respond to all flu symptom calls.
- Do not allow firefighters to work sick.
Check with neighboring departments to get what they have lined out.
The CDC WEBSITE is good place to read for EMS guidance for pandemic flu and EMS SURGE-
