With President Obama's October 24, 2009 Emergency Declaration for H1N1 Flu, and with notable evidence of flu in our schools and communities, here is some local information for you to consider:
http://www.flu.gov/ provides considerable information for organizations and individuals for managing wider spread outbreaks.
http://www.h1n1inpa.com/ is the Pennsylvania Department of Health's official H1N1 information resource.
Follow this link for extensive information put out by the ELCA for specific information for congregations: http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/Disaster-Response/Ongoing-Responses/Pandemic-Flu.aspx
Finally, the Pennsylvania Office of Public Health-Preparedness has issued a request for volunters to help run mass vaccinations sites for later on in the year (Mid November-mid December). Volunteers are needed in the medical arena (LPN, RN and Paramedic, mainly individuals that can give injections) and non-medical that would be screeners, opening band aids, and runners—just to name a few positions. All volunteers will receive in-time training at the sites. More inforamtion can be found at https://www.servpa.state.pa.us/.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
How are congregations thinking about swine flu?
What, if anything is your congregations doing in light of the 2009 Swine-Flu?
Swine Flu - Resources for congregations
Swine Flu – Thinking about Congregational Life
In the last few days, we’ve been seeing health alerts from various interfaith groups, county health departments, national news outlets and more about swine flu. All schools are temporarily closed throughout Mexico. Concern seems to be less about severity, but more about uncertainties, like how quickly this virus might spread.
In any case, this is a good time for congregations to think about how to minister in the face of situations that might arise out of any pandemic, like suggested or mandated social distancing.
Some tips to be cognizant of if the impact of swine flu progresses:
Limit exposure
• Consider how communion is administered; think about how to minimize person to person contact.
• Sharing the peace…consider “sharing the Purell” as well.
• Limit pot-lucks, and other non-essential large gatherings.
• Give permission to not shake hands.
Creative ways to worship
• Make use of Eucharistic ministers to do more small group visits and communion.
• Hold worship on-line…include a worship outline, sermon, music…maybe use Power Point.
To think about now
• Make best use of your website.
• Think about ways to hold conference calls for meetings.
• Pull out your congregational calling tree and test your email distribution list.
• Research blogging, and other means of online communicating.
Other resources:
The ELCA has resources to help congregations plan for and respond to a pandemic at their website.
Faith-Based and Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Checklist
In the last few days, we’ve been seeing health alerts from various interfaith groups, county health departments, national news outlets and more about swine flu. All schools are temporarily closed throughout Mexico. Concern seems to be less about severity, but more about uncertainties, like how quickly this virus might spread.
In any case, this is a good time for congregations to think about how to minister in the face of situations that might arise out of any pandemic, like suggested or mandated social distancing.
Some tips to be cognizant of if the impact of swine flu progresses:
Limit exposure
• Consider how communion is administered; think about how to minimize person to person contact.
• Sharing the peace…consider “sharing the Purell” as well.
• Limit pot-lucks, and other non-essential large gatherings.
• Give permission to not shake hands.
Creative ways to worship
• Make use of Eucharistic ministers to do more small group visits and communion.
• Hold worship on-line…include a worship outline, sermon, music…maybe use Power Point.
To think about now
• Make best use of your website.
• Think about ways to hold conference calls for meetings.
• Pull out your congregational calling tree and test your email distribution list.
• Research blogging, and other means of online communicating.
Other resources:
The ELCA has resources to help congregations plan for and respond to a pandemic at their website.
Faith-Based and Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Checklist
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