Resources on H1N1 Flu

Photo courtesy Reuters AlertNet

Updated June 12, 2009

The resources here are relevant to the latest strain of influenza, type A H1N1 virus, commonly known as Swine Flu. Church World Service staff continue to monitor the spread of H1N1 Flu. CWS Emergency Response personnel are engaged in regular briefings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the event the disaster response community would need to become further involved. CWS is providing denominational and faith-based partners with these resources on how to prevent the spread of the infection and what congregations can do in their communities should an outbreak occur.

 H1N1 Flu Information Sheet: CDC Quick Reference Guide for Public Information on Infection Control

 Pandemic Flu Preparedness for Congregations
Note: The PDF refers to to avian flu; however, similar principles apply to the current H1N1 Flu situation.

From Presbyterian Disaster Assistance:
Guidance for Congregations in response to H1N1 virus
Preparation and serving of Communion during the H1N1 flu pandemic

*General Swine Flu Information *

Swine Flu Key Facts: Provides facts about Swine Influenza.

Swine Flu and You: Provides answers to questions about Swine Influenza.

Swine Flu Video Podcast: In this video, Dr. Joe Bresee, with the CDC Influenza Division, describes swine flu--its signs and symptoms, how it's transmitted, medicines to treat it, steps people can take to protect themselves from it, and what people should do if they become ill.

All you have to do is wash your hands - Podcast: Teaches children how and when to wash their hands properly.

Swine Flu RSS feed: Receive automatic updates on Swine Flu from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention right on your desktop or browser.

INFLUENZA: Pigs, People and Public Health: Public Health Fact Sheet from National Pork Board.

* Flu Information for Children/Parents & Child Care Providers*

The Flu: A Guide for Parents: Questions and answers about the flu, how to protect your child, treatment, and more.

Preventing the Spread of Influenza (the Flu) in Child Care Settings: Guidance for Administrators, Care Providers, and Other Staff: Flu recommendations for schools and child care providers.

Questions and Answers: Information for Schools: Printable version of answers to questions commonly asked by school administrators, teachers, staff, and parents.

Protecting Against the Flu: Advice for Caregivers of Children Less Than 6 Months Old:
Research has shown that children less than 5 years of age are at high risk of serious flu-related complications .

Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School: Fact Sheet.

Ounce of Prevention: Tips and streaming video for parents and children about the steps and benefits of effective hand washing.

CDC Free Flu Materials: This year's seasonal flu materials are free for download. They may be printed on a standard office printer, or you may use a commercial printer. Emphasis remains on outreach to high-risk groups, as well as parents of all children, health care workers, and people in the workplace.

*Prevention Methods*

Clean Hands Saves lives: Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.

Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Setting : Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings - 2002.

Hand washing to reduce Disease: Recommendations to Reduce Disease Transmission from Animals in Public Settings.

BAM! Body and Mind. Teacher's Corner.: In this learning activity, students will conduct an experiment on washing their hands. They will learn that "clean" hands may not be so clean after all and the critical importance of washing their hands as a way to prevent the spread of disease.

CDC TV - Put Your Hands Together: (Video) Scientists estimate that people are not washing their hands often or well enough and may transmit up to 80% of all infections by their hands.

Cover your Cough Posters: Stop the Spread of Germs that Make You and Others Sick! ... Printable formats of " Cover Your Cough". Posters only available as PDF files.

CDC flu information: Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

Questions and Answers: Information for Schools: Information about preventing the spread of flu in schools.

Information for Schools & Childcare... Cover Your Cough Materials. View larger image. See the Cover Your Cough page on this site for poster and flyer formatted for use in schools. 

Stopping the Spread of Germs: Stop the Spread of Germs Healthy habits at home, work, & school; Printable Materials, flyers & posters, Cover Your Cough, Germ Stopper Poster. 

CDC - Be a Germ Stopper: Posters and Materials: For Community and Public Settings Like Schools and Child Care Facilities). ... Cover Your Cough also available for health care settings. 

Cough Etiquette in Health Care Settings: Tips to prevent the spread of germs from coughing; information about Personal Protective Equipment; demonstrates the sequences for donning and...

Workplace Planning: Includes flyers and posters, in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Chinese...

Seasonal Flu Information for Workplaces & Employees : Resources for Workplaces & Employees.

Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Tools for Professionals : Resources to help hospital administrators and state and local health officials prepare for an influenza pandemic.

Patient Education Materials: This season's materials reflect outreach to high-risk groups, including caregivers and parents of infants .

* School Materials and Posters *

Germ Stopper Materials
"Be a Germ Stopper" posters and screensavers. Simple reminders for good hygiene for use in classrooms, cafeterias or laminated for bathrooms.
See the Stop the Spread of Germs site at www.cdc.gov/germstopper.

Cover Your Cough Materials
See the Cover Your Cough page on this site for poster and flyer formatted for use in schools.

"It's a SNAP" Toolkit
Program materials to help prevent school absenteeism
Activities for school administrators, teachers, students and others can do to help stop the spread of germs in schools.
See the handcleaning section of the "It's a SNAP" site at www.itsasnap.org/snap/about.asp.

Scrub Club
Kids can learn about health and hygiene and become members of the Scrub Club(Tm) at http://www.scrubclub.org/ The site features a fun and educational animated Webisode with seven "soaper-heros" who battle nasty villains who represent germs and bacteria. Kids learn the six key steps to proper handwashing through a webisode, handwashing song, interactive games, and activities for kids, and educational materials for teachers are also available to download.