Preparing for an emergency

Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. Families can - and do - cope with disaster by preparing in advance and working together as a team. Knowing what to do is your best protection and your responsibility.

Follow these simple steps to better prepare yourself for an emergency.

1. Find out what kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made, are most likely to occur in your area
2. Make an Emergency Supply Kit for you home and car
3. Make a Family Disaster Plan

For more information on how to prepare you and your family for an emergency, visit the Public Health Emergency Preparedness webpages on the Southern Nevada Health District website.

Pandemic Flu

A pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of disease. It is difficult to predict when the next influenza pandemic will occur or how severe it will be. But it is recommended that you follow these precautions to prevent any type of flu:

Cover Your Cough

Stop the spread of germs that make you and others sick by covering your cough or sneeze. Follow these simple steps to protect yourself and others:

• Don’t cough or sneeze into your hands. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or cough or sneeze into the upper sleeve of your shirt.
• Throw your tissue in the waste basket. Don't carry it around in your pocket or handbag.
• Wash your hands after coughing or sneezing with soap and water or clean with an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

Download the Cover Your Cough PDF (160 kb/1 page) flyer and help educate others on how to prevent the spread of germs this flu season.

Wash Your Hands

Proper hand washing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Follow these five simple steps to wash your hands:

1. Turn on the faucet to start the warm running water. Wet your hands.
2. Apply soap and lather well, scrubbing between fingers, wrists, backs of hands and under nails for at least 20 seconds.
3. Rinse with warm water running from your wrist down to your fingertips, then into the sink.
4. With the water still running, dry your hands well. Disposable towels or air hand dryers are required in public restrooms.
5. Using the disposable towel, turn off the sink faucet and then dispose. Keep washed hands covered to prevent recontamination.

Once you have properly washed your hands, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be used. Use hand lotion if dry skin becomes a problem.

For more information, visit the Hand Washing webpage on our Southern Nevada Health District website.

Stay at Home

Stay home from work or school when you are sick, and talk to your doctor if symptoms are severe or last for more than a few days.

For more information, visit the Influenza, Avian Flu, and Pandemic Flu webpages on the Southern Nevada Health District website.