By Concord's Neighborhood Network, a local organization whose goal is to promote a strong community though regular, positive, and non-partisan interaction of its citizens.

Federal, state and local government have started to make the public aware of a flu pandemic's potential and strongly urge municipalities to prepare. Along with other cities and towns around the country, Concord is developing an emergency plan to respond to a possible future flu pandemic.

But how does a flu pandemic differ from just having the flu? What is a pandemic like? How can individuals start to prepare themselves, their families and their neighborhoods to weather such an event? We hope to start to answer these questions in this article, and over time in other local media, including on Concord's Neighborhood Network's Website.

Are We Expecting a Pandemic Any Time Soon?
There is no word that we are expecting a flu pandemic this year or any other particular year. We do know historically that flu pandemics occur every 10-30 years, and it has been more than 30 years since the last one. It is considered just a matter of time before one occurs again.

Hand Washing, 101 Donna Norton, RN reminds us to be aware of the importance of hand-washing, especially when preparing food, after caring for the sick, or after sneezing, coughing, and nose-blowing. While it seems like everyone knows how to wash their hands, not everyone knows how to do it correctly. According to Norton, here's how: First wet your hands Add soap and lather vigorously for 10-15 seconds Make sure you use friction, rubbing well Rinse hands well Dry with a clean towel BEFORE turning off water Use towel you've dried your hands with to turn off water (keeps from recontaminating hands with dirty faucet handles)

What is a Flu Pandemic?
According to Donna Norton, RN, the infection control nurse for Emerson Hospital, a flu pandemic is preceded by several factors. First of all, the strain of flu must be particularly severe. It must also be one that passes easily from human to human. (Some flus pass easily from animals to humans, but have poor human-to-human contagion and are therefore less dangerous.)

The strain must also be fairly unique and therefore significantly different than previous strains. When the current strain is not all that different from last year's, we may have partial immunity to it and therefore it may not affect us severely.

Once the factors above are all present, a flu pandemic may develop -- an intense and potentially devastating event during which up to a third of our population may fall ill. There might be many hospitalizations and a number of deaths, often from a secondary infection like pneumonia. It would likely last for 6-8 weeks, and after it dies down, there could be a second wave a few weeks later.

Won't a Flu Shot Prevent a Flu Pandemic?
Concord's Public Health Administrator, Michael Moore recommends people receive a flu vaccine. But, because they take many months to develop, he says it is probable that this new, pandemic-causing strain would not be part of available vaccines. By the time another vaccine were developed, it would probably not be available soon enough or in enough quantity to prevent a pandemic.

Why is Planning Needed?
Concord's Emergency Management Agency estimates that in a flu pandemic, up to 6,512 of Concord's 17,599 population may become ill. Of those, 2,992 will require out-patient care, 70 will need to be hospitalized, an estimated 18 could likely die.

Given that Emerson serves 20 towns, all with similar needs for service, in the case of a pandemic our local medical system would quickly become overwhelmed with tens of thousands of patients. Basic supplies and services (medicine, food, workers) could also become scarce quickly.

Clearly, creative thinking, advance planning, and involvement by many individuals, neighborhoods, organizations, agencies, and businesses is needed to meet this challenge. Already, plans are underway by several groups both private and governmental. If you would like to join Concord's Neighborhood Network's planning effort, contact Jimi Two Feathers at 978 371-2502 or email webmaster@concordma.com.

What Can You Do?
There are some very basic, sensible things you can do to help yourself, your family, and neighborhood both reduce contagion and recover better from the flu.

Stay Hydrated. Keeping well hydrated is very important. Norton suggests you always keep some clear liquids such as juices, broth, or teas in storage to keep up fluids. She suggests milk be avoided. Kevin Gregg, DC, from Healing Essence in West Concord agrees, but adds that electrolyte balancing powder as is sold in many health food stores also be kept on hand. He says that you should drink .5 oz/pound of body weight per day (for example, a 150 lb person should drink 75 oz liquid daily). If there is vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever, significantly more may be needed so have plenty on hand.

Sleep and Rest. Making sure you have enough rest is very important. Gregg says that even losing two hours sleep during the night can significantly affect the immune system's strength. As soon as you believe you have been exposed to an infection like the flu, going to be early should be a priority.

Pay Attention and Respond Quickly. Dr. Gregg encourages us to pay attention to the earliest signs of illness. Don't neglect responding to them with rest and adequate hydration immediately.

Prevention and Treatment of Symptoms. The mainstream and holistic medical words can sometimes depart with one another about treatment of symptoms like those from the flu; it is important for you to decide for yourself which protocol -- or which parts of both -- you'd like to be prepared to follow. Norton recommends you have on hand an analgesic fever reducer, an antihistamine, two cough syrups (one with expectorant for day; one with a suppressant for night). Some sort of inhalant rub is good, too, as is use of a humidifier.

Gregg feels it's important to not reduce fever, but to allow it to do its job of fighting infection -- as long as it doesn't get too high and you keep up hydration. If a fever gets above 102 or a lower grade one lingers, consult with your health care practitioner. He also recommends having garlic capsules on hand (about 100 per adult; fewer for children), as they can be used both at initial exposure as well as during the illness. The same is true of extra zinc in either tablets or lozenges.

The homeopathic remedy oscillococcinum is specific for flu, and is available in health food stores. It can be used preventively, like health administrator Moore does in his family, or also during the illness as Dr. Gregg recommends.

Other Considerations. Make sure you have in storage sufficient facial tissues. And remember that hand washing is extremely important and needs to be done well and frequently (see sidebar above right with specifics). Keep hands away from face and eyes to reduce transmission of illness.

How Can Neighborhoods Prepare?
Beyond personal care, it's important to plan with your neighbors how you would help one another if more than a third of your block -- maybe entire families -- were sick at the same time. What resources could you share? Could you cooperatively care for the sick, prepare food, or do childcare to ease each other's burdens?

CNN will begin holding neighborhood meetings again on a variety of topics, including planning for emergencies such as blizzards, ice storms, flu, etc. Get in touch with your own Neighborhood Contact or CNN to find out more.

Images: Hometown Websmith and ArtToday.