Pandemic Influenza Guidance For Homeless Shelters and Homeless Service Providers
Description:
Homeless shelters and other homeless service sites continue to play an important part in protecting the health of the people they serve. People using homeless services depend on providers to maintain healthy living environments and to take measures to decrease the risk of influenza transmission. Homeless persons may bear particular risk of contracting influenza because of crowded and unsanitary living conditions, stressed immune systems, and close contact with highly transient persons. This is also the case for other communicable diseases, but the rapidly developing H1N1 epidemic calls for increased precautions and vigilance.
Maintaining the health of an entire population who are at higher risk of influenza transmission is a significant task for organizations with limited resources and staff capacity. For this reason, pandemic influenza planning and response requires that homeless service providers collaborate with local, state, national, tribal, and territorial efforts.
The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance for homeless shelters and other homeless service providers to plan for and to respond to the special needs of homeless individuals during the influenza season. Different facilities will need to tailor the guidance to meet the needs of their staff and the people they serve. This manual consolidates a number of materials developed by credible authorities.
Information found in this manual includes:
■ General information about the 2009–2010 seasonal influenza and H1N1 (“swine flu”) influenza
■ Symptoms of influenza
■ Influenza transmission
■ Methods to decrease the spread of influenza among residents, clients, staff, volunteers, and visitors to homeless shelters and other homeless service sites
■ Caring for clients who have influenza or influenza-like illness
■ The importance of working with local, state, tribal, territorial, and national agencies
Type of Resource:
Guides/Manuals
Publication Date:
2009
Location:
Nashville