“NOT IF, BUT WHEN”
This is your opportunity to help the hungry and educate yourselves and the whole community concerning the coming influenza pandemic! A few good women, men and children can make a mountain of difference and have a great time to boot!
WHO: A FEW GOOD WOMEN, MEN, AND CHILDREN
WHAT: EMERGENCY FOOD COLLECTION SPECIFIC FOR NEEDS OF MOBILE MEALS RECIPIENTS
WHEN: OCTOBER 15 TRAINING SESSION (CA.2 HR) AND OCTOBER 18 COLLECTION (3-3 ½ HR)
WHERE: TRAINING AT MOBILE MEALS BOARD ROOM, COLLECTION AT THREE LOCAL GROCERY STORES
WHY: TWO REASONS: FIRST, TO STOCK EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLIES FOR MOBILE MEALS RECIPIENTS WHEN PANDEMIC HITS AND, SECOND, TO ECUCATE YOU (AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY) ON THE NECESSITY TO DO THE SAME FOR YOURSELVES! See below and following for full explanation.
PANDEMIC FLU PREPARATIONS
GENERAL INFORMATION:
WHAT is a pandemic? A worldwide highly contagious life threatening infection to which no natural or vaccine acquired resistance exists.
WHEN will it happen? Nobody knows, but it is predicted to be inevitable.
HOW does it differ from the regular flu? It is more lethal, may occur at any time of the year, and affects all ages.
WHO is responsible for preparations? All levels of government and many private organizations and companies are working to be prepared to respond to a potentially serious disruption of normal community services.
WHAT can we do individually to take precautions against it? The best protection is to stay away from crowds and congested areas (like the former polio precautions in summer). If possible you should stay inside your home during the emergency period until the “all clear” is given. If you have to go out, avoid physical contact with others and wash your hands after coming back home. Keep your hands away from your face, where you might transfer the virus on your hands to your eyes, mouth or nose. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or the crook of your elbow.
ADDITIONAL common sense preparation we can all do is to stock our pantry with the emergency items on the accompanying list from the US government web site www.pandemicflu.gov. Use and rotate the food items, medicines and batteries on a regular basis.
SPECIFIC TO MOBILE MEALS:
The Nursing Ministry Board of Mobile Meals has been developing a plan to respond to a pandemic, which could cause significant disruption to essential services in the surrounding community.
Our responsibility to provide continuing food delivery to our clients under such conditions is a daunting challenge since it may be accompanied by official quarantine of the population.
We have determined that the best approach is to distribute a two week supply of meals at the first announcement of a pandemic and then shelter at home until the situation improves, followed by monitoring our clients’ status periodically by means of telephone or email from our homes.
This approach requires an educational campaign for volunteer drivers and clients well in advance of need, and the accumulation of stable meal components which can be boxed and stored in advance. These preparations are now underway with the planned test drive described above, followed by a full scale collection later this fall.
Any of you who would be willing to be trained to make the one time delivery of meal boxes and/or participate in the phone tree are requested to call Mobile Meals at 573-7684 and leave your name and number with our Nursing Ministry Director, Mrs. Wylene Bailey. Also, help with the preliminary collection and boxing of food would be greatly appreciated.
THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING PARTICIPATION AND FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF MOBILE MEALS!