07Feb / 2023

10 Practical Skills to Learn Before an Emergency

A close-up of hands performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a person lying on the ground.

Personal health preparedness isn’t only about collecting supplies. Level up your emergency preparedness. Learn practical skills you can use to help yourself and others. Here are 10 skills you can learn to prepare for an emergency, in no particular order.

How to wash your hands the right way. Washing your hands is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Clean hands can help stop the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections from one person to another. Follow these five steps to wash your hands the right way every day, including during an emergency.
How to administer CPR. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can help save a person’s life if their breathing or heart stops. You don’t need a special certification or formal training to perform CPR, but you do need education. Hands-only CPR is simple to learn and easy to remember.
How to work an automated external defibrillator (AED). AEDs give step-by-step voice instructions, but training is still recommended. Classes can teach you how to recognize the signs of a sudden cardiac arrest, when to call emergency medical services, how to administer CPR, and how to use an AED.
How to use a portable generator. Portable generators produce a poison gas called carbon monoxide (CO). The risk of CO poisoning increases after an emergency. Sixteen of the 129 Hurricane Irma-related deaths in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina were because of CO poisoning.(1) If using a generator during a power outage, remember to always
- place it outdoors at least 20 feet away from any window, door, or vent.
- operate it in a dry area.
- use a battery-powered or battery back-up CO detector.
How to perform first aid. The risk for injury during and after an emergency like a natural disaster is high. Prompt first aid can help heal small wounds and prevent infection. It is important to know how to care for cuts, burns, and other kinds of injuries. Keep a well-stocked and maintained first-aid kit that includes an emergency first-aid reference guide.
How to stop severe bleeding. Serious injuries can cause heavy bleeding. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes. If you are a bystander to a medical emergency, you are the help until professional help arrives. Learning what to do in a bleeding emergency, including how to apply a tourniquet, can save a person’s life. A tourniquet is a last resort if applying pressure does not stop the bleeding.
How to help someone who is choking. Fast action can save the life of someone who is choking. Young children are at especially high risk of choking. They can choke on foods like hot dogs and grapes, and small objects like toy pieces and coins. Learn when and how to do back blows and perform abdominal thrusts.
How to turn off utilities. Household utilities can pose potential health and safety threats after an emergency. Know where and how to turn them off in the aftermath of a natural disaster like an earthquake. Contact your utility providers with questions.
How to use a fire extinguisher. Use fire extinguishers on small fires only. When operating a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym PASS:
- Pull the pin.
- Aim low at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
- Sweep the nozzle from side to side.(2)
How to call 9-1-1. While making the call is easy, you may not know what to expect when you call. Prepare to answer questions about yourself and the emergency. Your answers help the call-taker get the right kind of help to you. Also, don’t hang up until the call-taker instructs you to do so. Many 911 centers can tell you how to help until professional help arrives.(3)

Honorable mentions include learning how to keep food safe after an emergency, how to make water safe, how to administer naloxone, and how to perform seizure first aid.

Resources

References

Thanks in advance for your questions and comments on this Public Health Matters post. Please note that CDC does not give personal medical advice. If you are concerned you have a disease or condition, talk to your doctor.

Have a question for CDC? CDC-INFO (https://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/index.html) offers live agents by phone and email to help you find the latest, reliable, and science-based health information on more than 750 health topics.

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04Jan / 2023

Resolve to Be Ready, Part II

A calendar with the year 2023 circled in red marker.

January is the time many of us make resolutions for the new year. Sometimes resolutions feel too big and long drawn out. As a result, our motivation to see them through can peter out before the end of the year.

Last year, we suggested 12 micro-resolutions to help you prepare your health for emergencies. Here are a dozen more ways to resolve to be ready this year.

January

Be prepared to prevent data loss. Data loss happens more often than you might think.

This month’s micro-resolution is to back up your important files. These include medical records, financial documents, family photos, and emails. Save at least one extra copy of your files to an external storage device or the cloud. This ensures you can still access the information if the original is lost, damaged, or destroyed.

February

February is National Canned Food Month. Canned goods are an emergency preparedness staple. And for good reason. They are reasonably affordable, require little to no preparation, and have a long shelf life.

As often as people buy and cook with canned goods, some can find food labels confusing. This month’s micro-resolution is to improve your food label literacy. One way to do that is to get the FoodKeeper app to help you maximize the freshness and quality of the items in your emergency food supply.

March

Severe weather, including tornadoes, can happen at any time of year. They are, however, more likely to happen in most places during the spring months(1)

This month’s micro-resolution is to take a SKYWARN® Storm Spotter Program class. You’ll learn:

Basics of thunderstorm development
Fundamentals of storm structure
Identifying potential severe weather features
Information to report
How to report information
Basic severe weather safety

Classes are free and open to the public.

Storm spotters are volunteers. They help keep their local communities safe by providing timely and accurate reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

April

April is National Financial Literacy Month.

Developing a habit of putting money aside—even if it is a small amount—is the easiest way to develop an emergency fund and build financial resiliency. Without savings, the financial shock of an emergency could affect you, your family, and your community.

This month’s micro-resolution is to download and fill out the “Your Disaster Checklist” (available in multiple languages). Use it to help you keep track of account numbers, valuables, medical information, and more.

May

May 5 is World Hand Hygiene Day. Effective handwashing is a practical skill that you can easily learn, teach to others, and use every day to help prevent the spread of illness and disease.

This month’s micro-resolution is for parents and caretakers. Teach the children in your care when and how to wash their hands.

June

June is Pet Preparedness Month. It’s also the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. What better time of year to practice evacuating with your pet:

Train your pets to get in and stay in their carriers by making it a comfortable place.
Take your pets for rides in a car like one you would evacuate in.
Know where your pet might hide when stressed or scared. Practice catching your pet, if needed.

Have your entire family practice evacuating with your pets so everyone knows what to take, where to find the pets, and where to meet.

July

Most locations in the contiguous United States will experience their hottest day of the year between July 15-31.(2) Hot weather—regardless of when it happens and how long it lasts—can cause heat-related illness.

This month’s micro-resolution is to learn the symptoms of heat-related illness what to do if someone shows signs of heat stroke, exhaustion, or cramps.

August

August 20 is National Radio Day. Radio is one of many ways you can stay informed before, during, and after an emergency. Other ways include local television, social media, and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs).

WEAs look like text messages. They are designed to get your attention with a unique sound and vibration repeated twice. This month’s micro-resolution is to check the settings on your mobile device to make sure you are receiving WEAs.

September

September is not just National Preparedness Month. It is also National Self-Care Awareness Month. Emergencies, including disease outbreaks and natural disasters, can cause increased stress. You and others might feel fear, anxiety, and other strong emotions. It’s important to take care of your family and friends, but it should be balanced with care for yourself.

This month’s micro-resolution is to find one small way each day to care for yourself. Yours might include:

connecting with friends and family. Talking with people you trust about your feelings and concerns can relieve stress.
showing kindness to others. According to researchers, helping others release hormones that boost your mood and wellbeing
practicing relaxation techniques like meditation and deep breathing exercises. Relaxation techniques can help slow your breathing, lower blood pressure, and reduce muscle tension and stress.

October

October is Health Literacy Month. People need information they can find, understand, and use to make the best decisions for their health every day. The same is true during an emergency when there’s usually an increase in the amount of information and speed at which it comes out.

One thing you can do to improve your health literacy is to ask questions of healthcare professionals. For example, your pharmacist is trained to help you manage and improve your health every day. They can give you patient-centered answers to questions on many topics, including emergency preparedness. Ask your pharmacist these questions the next time you visit the pharmacy.

November

Winter is coming. It may arrive in some parts of the country before the month end.

This month’s micro-resolution is to prepare your car for winter. Now is a good time to equip your vehicle with a roadside emergency kit. Winterize your ride with the following items:

Food and water
Ice scraper and a folding shovel
A flashlight and batteries
Car and portable chargers for your cellphone
First-aid supplies
Winter clothes, blankets, and sleeping bags
Road flares
Jumper cables

December

December is Hi Neighbor Month. Neighbors can be an important source of assistance in the hours, days, and weeks after an emergency. Because they live close—maybe even next door—neighbors might be your first and best option for help after a tornado or during a power outage.

This month’s micro-resolution is to find a way to get involved with your neighbors. Ways to get involved include

offering to help your neighbors, especially people who are older, live alone or with a disability, or rely on electricity-dependent equipment, prepare for emergencies.
involving trusted neighbors in your emergency action planning.
joining an organization active in disaster, such as your local Medical Reserve Corps Unit or Community Emergency Response Team.

Resources

Public Health Matters: Resolve to Be Ready
Resolve to be Ready Social Media Toolkit (FEMA)

References

Have a question for CDC? CDC-INFO (http://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info) offers live agents by phone and email to help you find the latest, reliable, and science-based health information on more than 750 health topics.

31Oct / 2022

10 Ways to Show Kindness During Emergencies

Two people holding hands across a table.

November 13 is World Kindness Day

Kindness is good for you. According to researchers, helping others release hormones that boost your mood and wellbeing.(1, 2)

Kindness is most beneficial to you and others when it’s made part of your routine. Acts of kindness take on increased meaning during an emergency when people need care, concern, and consideration.

Here are 10 ways you can show kindness to yourself and others before, during, and after an emergency.

Join someone’s personal support network. A personal support network is a group of people who volunteer to help a family member, friend, neighbor, etc. living with an impairment, activity limitation, or participation restriction that can affect their ability to prepare for and respond to emergencies.
Care for yourself in at least one small way each day. Fear and anxiety can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions. It’s important to take care of your family and friends, but it should be balanced with care for yourself. Self-care during an emergency will help your long-term healing.
Volunteer responsibly. Don’t self-deploy to disaster areas. Trusted organizations operating in the affected area know where volunteers are needed. By working with an established non-profit organization, the appropriate safety, training, and skills can be considered. Recovery lasts longer than media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often many years, after the disaster. Your help often is needed long after a disaster.(3)
Donate wisely. A financial contribution to a recognized volunteer organization active in disaster is the most effective donation you can make to support survivors. Organizations on the ground know what items and quantities are needed, often buy in bulk with discounts, and try to purchase through local businesses.(3)
Shop responsibly during emergencies. Buy what your family needs and leave some for others. Do not buy more supplies than you need to prepare for or in response to an emergency.
Be a helper to others in need. Help friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, etc. prepare for and respond to emergencies. For example, you can offer to help them
- refill and organize prescription medicines.
- shop for emergency supplies.
- create personal needs kits for them and their pets.
- collect, check, and protect their important paperwork.
- evacuate if they don’t own a vehicle.
- register for evacuation assistance.
Feed your neighbors. Stock (or start) a little free pantry, donation bin, or community fridge to help meet the personal needs of others. Personal needs are the things you will need to keep your family healthy, safe, calm, and comfortable during an emergency. They include safe food and water, personal hygiene items, diapers, and other necessities.
Listen with compassion. Call, text, or email family and friends to ask how they are doing during an emergency. If someone you care about is feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feels like they want to harm themselves or others, call 911. People can also call the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 (TTY 1-800-846-8517).
Give a caregiver a break. Respite care is provided by family, friends, a nonprofit group, or a government agency. Respite care affords caregivers time off from their caregiving Short breaks can help caregivers maintain their health. Research shows that even a few hours of respite a week can improve a caregiver’s well-being.(4)
Learn a new practical skill and share what you’ve learned with others. Practical skills are self-help and life-saving skills and lessons that can help you protect your and others’ health in an emergency. Most do not require special certification or formal training to perform, but you do need education. Examples of practical skills include learning how to make water safe in an emergency, how to wash your hands, and how to use a portable generator safely during a power outage.

Make a habit of showing kindness to yourself and others in at least one small way each day. There are many ways to do that, including many that are simple and free. Find ways that work for you.

Resources

How Right Now (CDC)
How to Donate Wisely and Avoid Charity Scams (Federal Trade Commission)
Tips for Preparing to Deploy (SAMHSA)
Taking Care of Yourself: Tips for Caregivers (National Institute on Aging)

References

17Feb / 2021

Threats Unseen: Beware of Norovirus During an Emergency

Woman clutches her stomach as if feeling nauseous

Natural disasters are unpredictable. Often, we don’t know when or where they will happen or if we will have to leave our homes because of them. Evacuations for hurricanes and wildfires can force people into emergency shelters, where close quarters, shared spaces, and high-touch surfaces can make it easy for norovirus to spread. Graphic that defines norovirus. Text also in body of article.

Norovirus outbreaks occurred in most evacuation shelters in Butte and Glenn counties, Calif., during the Camp Fire in November 2018. Public-health officials identified 292 people ill with acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus.(1)

A norovirus outbreak among evacuees from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was also reported in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. That outbreak might have affected approximately 1,000 evacuees and relief workers.(2)

What is Norovirus?

Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Most “stomach bugs” are likely norovirus infections because it’s a relatively common virus. Anyone can catch norovirus from direct contact with an infected person, touching a contaminated surface, or eating contaminated food. It only takes a very small amount of virus particles to make
you sick. The number of particles that could fit on the head of a pin is enough to infect more than 1,000 people.

A person infected with norovirus usually starts to feel ill 12 to 48 hours after they’ve been exposed. The most common symptoms of norovirus infection are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. But it can cause fever, headache, and body aches, too.

Be Prepared

Follow the guidance of local officials when going to an emergency shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. They will tell you when and where to take shelter and what to bring with you.

Act now to prepare “go kits” for family members. Include everyday personal items you cannot do without and other personal protective supplies, such as hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, bar or liquid soap, disinfectant wipes and spray, and at least two masks per person age 2 or older in your household.

If your Emergency Action Plan is to go to a shelter in an evacuation, your kit might also include plenty of nonperishable food, mess kits (e.g., reusable cups, plates, bowls utensils). Also, pack paper towels and disposable plastic gloves to clean up after a sick family member. If you are cleaning up after someone vomits or has diarrhea, use a bleach-based cleaner to prevent the spread of norovirus.

Wash Your Hands

Clean hands are essential to health, whether in an emergency or day-to-day life. Handwashing can keep you healthy and prevent the spread of respiratory and diarrheal infections, like norovirus, from one person to the next. Unseen woman washing her hands with soap in a sink.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water especially after using the toilet or changing diapers; always before eating, preparing, or handling food; and before giving yourself or someone else medicine. Here’s how:

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under the water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

You can use alcohol-based hand sanitizers in addition to hand washing. But you should not use hand sanitizer as a substitute for washing your hands with soap and water. Hand sanitizers aren’t as effective at removing norovirus particles as washing hands with soap and water.

If you start to feel sick, continue to wash your hands often with soap and water and try to avoid direct contact with others. You should not prepare food for others or provide health care while you are sick, and for at least 2 days after symptoms stop.

Learn More

CDC and state and local health departments help to raise awareness among healthcare providers and the public about norovirus and how to prevent it. Learn more about how they work to prevent and stop norovirus outbreaks.

For more suggestions on how to prepare your health for emergencies, visit https://www.cdc.gov/prepyourhealth/.

Resources

References

Thanks in advance for your questions and comments on this Public Health Matters post. Please note that the CDC does not give personal medical advice. If you are concerned you have a disease or condition, talk to your doctor.

Have a question for CDC? CDC-INFO (http://www.cdc.gov/cdc-info/index.html) offers live agents by phone and email to help you find the latest, reliable, and science-based health information on more than 750 health topics.

15Oct / 2018

3 Reasons Why Handwashing Should Matter to You

Unseen woman washing her hands with soap in a sink.

Most of us are familiar with the parental-like voice in the back of our minds that helps guide our decision-making—asking us questions like, “Have you called your grandmother lately?” For many that voice serves as a gentle, yet constant reminder to wash our hands.

Handwashing with soap and water is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to loved ones. Many diseases are spread by not cleaning your hands properly after touching contaminated objects or surfaces. And although not all germs are bad, illness can occur when harmful germs enter our bodies through the eyes, nose, and mouth. That’s why it is critical to wash hands at key times, such as after a flood or during a flu pandemic, when germs can be passed from person to person and make others sick.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them, however during a disaster clean, running water may not be available. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.

Here are three key reasons why you should always care about handwashing:

Handwashing can keep children healthy and in school. Handwashing education can reduce the number of young children who get sick and help prevent school absenteeism.
Handwashing can help prevent illness. Getting a yearly flu vaccine is the most important action you can take to protect yourself from flu. Besides getting a flu vaccine, CDC recommends everyday preventive actions including frequent handwashing with soap and water.
Handwashing is easy! Effective handwashing is a practical skill that you can easily learn, teach to others, and practice every day to prepare for an emergency. It takes around 20 seconds, and can be done in five simple steps:
1. Wet your hands with clean, running water, turn off the tap, and apply soap
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air-dry them

Promote Handwashing in Your Community

Global Handwashing Day is celebrated annually on October 15 to promote handwashing with soap as an easy and affordable way to prevent disease in communities around the world. This year’s theme, “Clean Hands—A Recipe for Health,” calls attention to the importance of handwashing at key times, such as before eating or feeding others, and before, during, and after preparing food.

Learn how you can get involved and promote handwashing at home, your child’s school or daycare, and your local community:

Watch a CDC expert give a handwashing demonstration on how to properly wash hands with soap and water.
Join CDC’s handwashing social media campaign. Post a photo of yourself or others showing your clean hands. Use the hashtags #HandwashingHeroes and #PrepYourHealth.
Promote on social media. Create your own messages or share some our sample social media messages. Use the #GlobalHandwashingDay hashtag.
Share health promotion resources. CDC has developed a variety of shareable promotion materials, including web-ready buttons, animated images, and fact sheets on handwashing.
Order free posters. Display handwashing posters in highly visible areas, such as schools, work areas, and restrooms.
Use web content syndication. Add the latest content from CDC’s Handwashing website to your organization’s website. The content is automatically updated when CDC updates it, so your content will always be accurate and current.

10Sep / 2018

Personal Protective Actions You Can Take in a Flu Pandemic

Every fall and winter the United States experiences epidemics of seasonal influenza (flu). Sometimes a flu pandemic occurs due to a new flu virus that spreads and causes illnesses around the world. We cannot predict when a flu pandemic will occur, but over the past 100 years, we have documented four flu pandemics resulting in close to 1 million deaths in the United States alone.¹

When a flu pandemic happens, it can take up to 6 months before a vaccine against a new flu virus is available. Antiviral drugs can help manage the symptoms of the flu, shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days, and prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia. But, there may be a limited supply of these medications during a pandemic so nonpharmaceutical interventions (or NPIs) may be the only prevention tools available during the early stages of a pandemic.

There are things you can do, apart from getting vaccinated and taking medications, to help slow the spread of a flu pandemic. NPIs, also known as “community mitigation measures,” are important because they will be the first line of defense in the absence of a pandemic vaccine. NPIs may be more effective when used early and in a layered approach (i.e., using more than one measure at a time). During the 1918 pandemic, cities that put NPIs in place quickly reported fewer deaths.^2,3 NPIs may be used in different settings, including homes, schools, workplaces, and places where people gather (e.g., parks, theaters, and sports arenas).

Personal protective measures to prevent flu at all times

CDC recommends using some NPIs to prevent seasonal flu and other respiratory infections. To help prevent the flu, you should always:

Stay home when sick and away from others as much as possible,
Stay away from people who are sick as much as possible,
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue,
Wash your hands often with soap and water,
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and
Regularly clean surfaces and objects that you use a lot.

Personal protective measures to prevent flu during a pandemic

Many of these NPIs would still be recommended during a pandemic, but some would be reserved for use during a flu pandemic. Depending on the severity of a pandemic, CDC might recommend:

Stay home if exposed to a sick household member,
Use a face mask when sick and out in crowded community settings, and
Implement community measures to reduce exposure to pandemic flu (coordinating school closures, limiting face-to-face contact in workplaces, and postponing or canceling mass gatherings).

CDC is preparing for a flu pandemic

There is always a threat that a flu pandemic will arise, so CDC is taking steps to prepare. In 2017, CDC issued updated community mitigation guidelines to help state and local public health departments and their community partners make plans before the next pandemic happens. Visit www.cdc.gov/npi to access the updated guidelines; plain-language planning guides for the general public and community settings; and additional NPI communication, education, and training materials. You can find more information about seasonal and pandemic flu at www.cdc.gov/flu and at www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic.

Footnotes:

¹Past Pandemics: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/basics/past-pandemics.html

² Hatchett RJ, Mecher CE, Lipsitch M. Public health interventions and epidemic intensity during the 1918 influenza pandemic. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007; 104:7582-7.

³ Markel H, Lipman HB, Navarro JA, et al. Nonpharmaceutical interventions implemented by US cities during the 1918–1919 influenza pandemic. JAMA. 2007; 298:644-54.

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07May / 2018

4 Tips to Stay Healthy Around Your Pet

Pets, whether covered in fur, feathers, or scales, are an important part of our lives—most American households own at least one pet. Many people see their pet as a member of the family that brings joy and amusement to their life. But did you know that having a pet can even help improve your health? Having a pet can decrease your blood pressure, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and feelings of loneliness. Pets can also encourage you to be active and get outside, and provide opportunities to socialize.

The risk of getting a disease from a pet is low for most people, but some groups are more likely to get sick from the germs spread by pets, and their illness may be more severe. Young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to certain zoonotic infections. While there are many benefits to pet ownership, animals can sometimes carry germs that make us sick. Zoonotic diseases can spread between people and animals—even our pets. In the past decade, we’ve seen outbreaks of illness in people linked to pets such as puppies, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, turtles, lizards, geckos, hedgehogs, and even water frogs.

You might not realize that the everyday activities involved in caring for your pet can result in the spread of germs from pets to people. Handling pet food and toys, cleaning cages, and yes, even kissing your pet, can pass germs from the pet to you. Pets can spread germs even if they look clean and healthy.

All of this may sound scary, but knowing about zoonotic diseases and the simple things you can do to reduce the risk will help you enjoy your pets and stay healthy. Adopt these four simple habits to help you, your family, and your pets stay healthy and happy.

Choose the right pet
Not all pets are right for all people. In addition to thinking about the pet’s needs, consider who will be around the pet at home. Are there young kids in the house, or maybe a relative over 65? Certain pets, including reptiles, amphibians, and rodents, are not recommended for children 5 years of age and younger, adults 65 years of age and older, and people with weakened immune systems because they’re more likely to get sick. Rodents and cats can carry diseases that cause birth defects, so think about waiting to adopt one of these pets if you or someone in your home is pregnant. Talk to your veterinarian about choosing the right pet.
Keep your pet healthy
Keeping your pet healthy helps to keep you healthy. Make sure pets get a good diet, fresh water, shelter, and exercise. Regular veterinary care is also important for your pet. Many pets need routine vaccinations, de-worming, and flea and tick control to protect them, and their owners, from certain diseases. Every pet—whether it’s a dog, cat, hamster, ferret, or iguana—should receive life-long veterinary care. If you think your pet might be sick, talk to your veterinarian. Also, remember to include your pets in your emergency preparedness plans so you can keep them safe and healthy in an emergency.
Practice good hygiene
Washing your hands is one of the best ways to stay healthy around pets and can also protect you against other diseases. Always wash your hands after playing with, feeding, or cleaning up after your pet. Pets can contaminate surfaces in your home with germs—you don’t have to touch your pets to get sick from the germs they might be carrying. Keep your pets away from people food and areas where food and drink are prepared, served, consumed, or stored. Always clean up dog feces (poop) from your yard and public areas to prevent the spread of parasites and other germs to people. If you’re pregnant and have a cat, avoid changing the litter box.
Supervise kids around pets
Always supervise young children around pets, even trusted family pets. Children, especially those 5 years of age and younger, can be at higher risk for pet-related illnesses because they often touch surfaces that may be contaminated, put objects in their mouths, and are less likely to wash their hands. Children are often the victims of bites and scratches and are more likely to get seriously ill from certain diseases spread from pets. Don’t let kids kiss pets or put their hands or objects in their mouths after playing with pets. Help them to wash their hands after they interact with any animal.

We all love our pets, but it’s important to know the risks that come with any animal contact, especially for people who are more vulnerable to certain diseases. Practicing healthy pet habits can help you enjoy your pets while staying healthy.

You can learn more about pets on CDC’s Healthy Pets Healthy People website, and be sure to check out this feature for more tips on staying healthy around pets.

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30Jan / 2018

Four Health and Safety Tips for Mass Gatherings

Berlin, Germany - April 5, 2015: People are watching a shop on the amphitheater's terrace at Mauerpark Berlin. The Wall Park is a park in Berlin. Its name dates back to the Berlin Wall , built in 1961 , the border between the then districts of Prenzlauer Berg and Wedding formed at this point.

There is strength in numbers – both in public health and in public safety. The more people who take action to protect themselves, the better prepared a community is for an emergency.

Communities take different forms. At a mass gathering like the Super Bowl, the Olympics, or in a public place like the airport, the community includes people you do not know, but whose actions could help prevent a catastrophe or save your life. Here are four things you can do to prepare yourself and protect others when traveling to, and attending, a mass gathering event.

“If You See Something, Say Something®”

Public health and safety are the shared responsibilities of the whole community. Everyone has to play their part to keep our neighborhoods, communities, and the nation safe.

“If You See Something, Say Something®” is the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s national campaign that raises public awareness of the indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime, as well as the importance of reporting suspicious activity to state and local law enforcement. In other words, if you see something you know should not be there or observe behavior that does not seem quite right, say something.

The “If You See Something, Say Something®” campaign encourages people to follow their intuition and report suspicious activity, but leave it to law enforcement to decide whether an observed activity or behavior merits investigation. To report suspicious activity, contact local law enforcement, and describe in as much detail as possible what you saw, including:

Who or what you saw;
When you saw it;
Where it occurred; and
Why it’s suspicious.

If there is an emergency, call 9–1–1.

For more information about the “If You See Something, Say Something®” campaign and to view Public Service Announcement videos, please visit https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something

Know before you go

Think back to the last time you planned a vacation or weekend getaway, and how much time you spent shopping for airfare and comparing hotel rates. Not surprisingly, most people invest much less effort into gathering safety information about their final destination—and all points in between—before they get there.

Do your homework. Research the seasonal health and natural hazards. Monitor the local forecast up until the day you leave, and pack accordingly. Check for S. Department of State travel warnings and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel health notices if traveling overseas.
Be informed. Create a Twitter List for your trip that includes local public health, emergency management, and law enforcement agencies. Add the phone number for local law enforcement to your phone.
Share the details of your trip. Identify an emergency contact and make sure they have the itinerary for your trip, including your airplane and hotel reservations.
Identify an emergency meeting place. Wherever you go—the airport, the hotel, the stadium, etc. — make sure everyone in your group knows where to meet in case you get separated in an emergency.

Create a travel-size emergency kit

Emergency kits come in all shapes and sizes from large 72-hour family supply kits to smaller “go kits” for use in an evacuation. CDC recommends that anyone who travels—from daily commuters to world business travelers—also prepare a travel health kit that includes:

First-aid supplies, including a first aid reference card, bandages, antiseptic, aloe, and a thermometer
Important papers, including hardcopies of passports, medical insurance cards, and prescriptions
Personal needs, including prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines for diarrhea, allergies, asthma, motion sickness
Items specific to your destination, the time of year, and your planned activities, including water purification tablets, sunscreen, and insect repellent

Wash your hands.

When many people are gathered in one place, germs that are highly contagious, like influenza and norovirus, can easily spread person-to-person and on shared surfaces like airplane tray tables, restaurant menus, and restroom door handles. As a result, you or a loved one may bring home more than a lousy t-shirt to your friends and family.

Washing your hands with soap and water is one of (if not the) best ways to protect yourself from getting sick. Follow these five steps to wash your hands the right way every time.

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air-dry them.

In addition to washing your hands and avoiding close contact with people who are sick, the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year by the end of October, if possible.

Sources

Department of Homeland Security: “If You See Something, Say Something®”
CDC: Infection Control Guidance for Community Evacuation Centers Following Disasters
CDC: Mass Gathering Preparedness
CDC: Flu Prevention at a Mass Gathering

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04Dec / 2017

Norovirus Illness is Messy – Clean Up Right Away

Hand in pink protective glove wiping tiles with rag in the bathroom.

When norovirus strikes in your own home, you can be prepared by having the supplies you need to immediately clean up after a loved one vomits or has diarrhea.

Norovirus is a tiny germ that spreads quickly and easily. It causes vomiting and diarrhea that come on suddenly. A very small amount of norovirus can make you sick. The number of virus particles that fit on the head of a pin is enough to infect over 1,000 people.

You can get norovirus if poop or vomit from an infected person gets into your mouth. You can get it by:

Caring for a person who is infected with norovirus and then touching your hands to your mouth
Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus
Touching surfaces or objects with norovirus on them and then putting your hands in your mouth

Clean up the splatter!

Vomiting and diarrhea are messy, especially with norovirus. If you get sick from norovirus, drops of vomit or poop might splatter for many feet in all directions.

It’s extremely important to clean up the entire area immediately after you or someone else vomits or has diarrhea. You must be very thorough so you don’t miss any drops of vomit or poop that you can’t see.

If you find yourself in this situation, follow these steps from start to finish to protect other people from getting sick with norovirus:

Step 1 – Put on disposable plastic gloves and a face mask

Step 2 – Wipe up vomit and poop with paper towels and throw them away

Step 3 – Clean all surfaces thoroughly with a bleach cleaner, or make your own solution (¾ cup of bleach plus 1 gallon of water)

Step 4 – Clean all surfaces again with hot water and soap

Step 5 – Remove your gloves, throw them away, and take out the trash

Step 6 – Wash all laundry that may have vomit or poop on them with hot water and soap

Step 7 – Wash your hands with soap and water

Thorough clean up helps prevent norovirus outbreaks

Cleaning-up immediately after someone with norovirus vomits or has diarrhea protects others from getting sick, and prevents norovirus outbreaks. It’s important for everyone to know the clean-up steps and other ways to prevent norovirus.

CDC and state and local health departments help to raise awareness among healthcare providers and the general public about norovirus and how to prevent it. Learn more about how health departments, CDC, and other agencies work to prevent and stop norovirus outbreaks.

To learn more about norovirus, see CDC’s norovirus website and infographics, videos, and other resources, and state and local health department websites.

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18Aug / 2017

Safety Tips Every Contact Lens Wearer Should Know

close up of a woman putting contact lens in her eye

Are you one of the 45 million people in the United States who wear contact lenses to correct your vision? Eye infections related to improper contact lens wear and care are serious and can lead to long-lasting damage, but they are often preventable.

This year, in observance of Contact Lens Health Week, you can learn the science behind some of the important contact lens wear and care recommendations:

Replace your contact lens case regularly.

A significant number of people who wear contact lenses report not replacing their lens case regularly. Even when cleaned properly (by rubbing and rinsing the case with disinfecting solution), contact lens cases can become contaminated over time with germs that can cause infections when they come into contact with your eyes.

Don’t sleep or nap in your contact lenses.

Sleeping while wearing contact lenses increases the risk of eye infection by 6–8 times. Out of every 10,000 people who sleep in their contact lenses overnight, 18–20 every year will get an infection of microbial keratitis. This disease causes inflammation of the cornea (the clear dome that covers the colored part of the eye), which, in the worse cases, can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness.

Whitney, Te’, and Ryan tell their personal stories about how their eye infections affected their lives, and how they changed the way they wear and care for contact lenses.

Don’t swim or shower in your contact lenses.

The germs found in water can stick to contact lenses and infect your eyes. Wearing contact lenses can put you at increased risk for Acanthamoeba keratitis, a severe type of eye infection caused by a free-living ameba commonly found in water. These infections can be difficult to treat and extremely painful, and in the worst cases they can cause blindness.

Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your contact lenses.

Germs from your hands can be transferred to your contact lenses and the lens case. Some germs that cause eye infections are found in the water, so it is particularly important that you dry your hands before touching your contact lenses. Wash your hands with soap and water and dry them every time you put in and remove your contact lenses.

Visit your eye doctor every year.

Wearing contact lenses increases your risk for eye infections and complications. Therefore, it is important for you to have a yearly eye exam if you wear contact lenses. Sometimes eye doctors may recommend that their patients have more frequent eye exams.

The week of August 21–25, 2017, marks the fourth annual Contact Lens Health Week. This year’s theme, “Healthy habits mean healthy eyes,” will promote healthy contact lens wear and care practices.

Learn more

MMWR: Risk Behaviors for Contact Lens–Related Eye Infections Among Adults and Adolescents — United States, 2016
CDC: Patient Testimonial Videos
CDC: Contact Lenses
CDC: Contact Lens Health Week

Dr. Jennifer Cope is a medical epidemiologist and infectious disease physician at the CDC in the Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch. Dr. Cope oversees the free-living ameba program, and supports epidemiologic, laboratory, and communication activities related to free-living ameba infections. She also works with the CDC Healthy Contact Lens Program to raise awareness of contact-lens-related eye infections and the healthy habits that can reduce your chances of getting an eye infection.

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Know before you go

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Wash your hands.

Sources

Norovirus Illness is Messy – Clean Up Right Away

Clean up the splatter!

Thorough clean up helps prevent norovirus outbreaks

Safety Tips Every Contact Lens Wearer Should Know

Replace your contact lens case regularly.

Don’t sleep or nap in your contact lenses.

Don’t swim or shower in your contact lenses.

Wash your hands with soap and water before touching your contact lenses.

Visit your eye doctor every year.

Learn more

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