PANDEMIC FLU - CARE FOR OTHERS

If you or someone in your household becomes sick, decide how the person will be cared for ahead of time:

• Talk about how giving care for pandemic flu will be different from other times when a family member is sick.
• Plan now to care for yourself or for others who get the flu.
• Talk about how you or someone else in the household would handle staying home from work, school or other activities to give or receive care.

The following actions can help prevent the spread of the pandemic flu through your household when someone is sick:

• Designate one person as the caregiver.
• Keep everyone’s personal items separate. All household members should avoid sharing pens, papers, clothes, towels, sheets, blankets, food or eating utensils unless cleaned between uses.
• Disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, computers, telephones, toys and other surfaces that are commonly touched around the home or workplace.
• Wash everyone’s dishes in the dishwasher or by hand using very hot water and soap.
• Wash everyone’s clothes in a standard washing machine as you normally would. Use detergent and very hot water, and wash your hands after handling dirty laundry.
• Wear disposable gloves when in contact with or cleaning up body fluids.

Pandemic Flu Home Care (English)

Pandemic Flu Home Care (Spanish)

Seattle & King County Public Health Cold vs. Flu