Influenza Pandemic Passport

Emergencies and disasters can happen anywhere and at anytime. Natural disasters and industrial or environmental accidents can happen in our everyday lives. Ottawa has determined the top ten large scale emergencies that the city could face. Of these, an infectious disease outbreak, such as an influenza pandemic, is the number one threat! The following is a list of emergencies, from most likely to least likely, that could occur in Ottawa:

An infectious disease outbreak
An earthquake
A radiation-related emergency
Water contamination
A lifeline (sewer system) failure
An ice storm
An act of terrorism
An explosion
A demonstration or riot
A hazardous material spill

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How to prepare for an emergency

The City of Ottawa is prepared. Are you?

While the City is doing its part, you need to be ready to take care of yourself, and those around you, for up to three days. Being prepared and knowing what to do is your best protection in an emergency; this will help you to better control the situation and to recover more quickly.

Do you have an emergency plan? Does every family member know what to do in an emergency? Do you know where to get information in an emergency? (See the Red Pages of your phone book). Here are some tips to help you develop your emergency plan:

Create an emergency communication plan.
Decide on a meeting place.
Put together an emergency preparedness kit.
Learn about your community emergency plans and who is in charge.
Know the emergency plan at your children’s school or daycare centre.
Learn basic first-aid techniques.
If you live in a high-rise building, learn when and how to evacuate.

Things to consider
Think about who might look after your children or your pets if you were ill.
Who could you call for help to get groceries if you were too sick to get out of bed?
Gather important documents and telephone numbers you might need during an emergency.
Call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergency only

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Tips to create your own emergency preparedness kit

Your emergency preparedness kit should contain enough supplies to keep you and your family self-sufficient in your home for at least three days. Keep supplies in a portable container and store it in an easily accessible location. Your kit should contain:

Emergency supplies, such as candles, battery-operated or crank radio, cash, rope, shovel, blankets, disinfectant, chlorine bleach, whistle, etc.
Important family documents, such as passports, insurance policies, bank account numbers, social insurance numbers, important telephone numbers, birth certificates and photos of family members in case you get separated, etc.
An emergency food and water kit, such as a three-day supply of canned food, dry goods and non-perishable milk products for everyone in your family. It is recommended that you store four litres of bottled water per person, per day; and always have extra water for food preparation and hygiene. Children, nursing mothers and people who are ill will need extra water.
An emergency car kit, such as booster cables, road maps, flares, flashlight, sand, a tow chain, etc. Keep your gas tank at least half full at all times.
An emergency first aid kit, such as sterile adhesive bandages, gauze, triangular bandages (for a sling), adhesive tape, scissors, antiseptic, thermometer, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, pain reliever medication, etc. You should have prescription drugs to last you at least one to two weeks.

Obtain a detailed checklist to assemble your emergency preparedness kit. Update your kit twice yearly.

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An influenza pandemic is one type of emergency that could affect Ottawa residents.

What is a pandemic?

It usually describes an infectious disease that spreads throughout the whole world.
The influenza virus is always changing and can develop into a new virus strain.
If this new virus is very infectious from human to human, it could spread rapidly around the world, causing an influenza pandemic.
Pandemics happen on average three times each century. There were three pandemics in the last century: the Hong Kong Flu (1968), the Asian Flu (1957) and the Spanish Flu (1918) and we are overdue for another.

How is the influenza virus spread?

Influenza is spread through droplets that have been coughed or sneezed into the air by someone who has influenza.
You can get influenza by breathing in these droplets through your nose or mouth, or by the droplets landing directly into your eyes.
If a person with influenza coughs or sneezes in his or her hands, the virus droplets in his or her hands are then transmitted to other people through shaking hands or by touching surfaces that have been touched by an infected person.
The influenza virus lives on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours.

How could an influenza pandemic affect Ottawa?

If an influenza pandemic comes to Ottawa, one out of every three people could become ill.
Experts predict that each week during the peak pandemic period, there could be 30,000 new cases, 16,000 people seeking medical help, 350 people needing to be in a hospital and 80 deaths in Ottawa¹.
This virus would likely affect people differently. Some might get a serious “flu” and get better; others could have complications like pneumonia and some may die.
Most people infected with influenza would need to stay at home and could be quite sick for up to three weeks.

¹ Numbers are rounded estimates from the Ontario Health Plan for an Influenza Pandemic, June 2005 (Assumptions: An Ottawa population of 830,000, a median attack rate of 25% and a duration of seven weeks).

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How would the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Public Health keep you informed?

A phone line would be set up to answer questions and to give health advice.
If necessary, special influenza assessment and treatment centres would be set up.
There would be regular updates in the newspapers, on the radio and television, and at ottawa.ca informing residents about what is happening and what to do.

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Healthy habits to prevent the spread of infectious diseases

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds before eating, and after coughing or sneezing.
If soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizer is just as effective; it kills over 99% of viruses.
Cough and sneeze in your upper sleeve or in a tissue, NOT IN YOUR HANDS!
Get your annual flu shot every year.

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Where to find additional information related to general emergencies.

Emergency Preparedness for residents of Ottawa
Pandemic Information

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