Pandemic Influenza, Business and Benefits of 360 Degrees of Preparedness

by Sean G. Kaufman, MPH, CHES, Chief Public Health Officer at Preparis Inc. and IFMA Management Summit Speaker

In my work, usually I am hit immediately with three questions. Do you think there will be a pandemic? When I answer yes, the next question asked is, “What can I do to protect myself and family?” Undoubtedly, work comes up in the discussion of protection and people begin asking what the role of the organization they work for is during a pandemic situation. So the third question typically is, “What do you see businesses doing today to prepare for a pandemic situation?”

No expert knows when or how bad the next pandemic will be, but they are recommending we do things today to prepare for the next pandemic event. Many people are just now beginning to understand that a pandemic is a world-wide outbreak, affecting communities, states, and continents within very short periods of time. This phenomenon causes resources to be used quickly, leading to an increased need with little ability to maintain supply. Without supplies and information people begin behaving drastically, sometimes sacrificing the good of a community for their own personal benefit. The good news is majority of businesses are planning for pandemic influenza. Businesses today are developing plans, distributing information to their workforce, and stocking resources needed during pandemic situations. Unfortunately, these efforts comprise approximately 50 percent of a pandemic solution.

The remaining 50 percent of the solution is preparing people to practice appropriate behaviors during a pandemic situation. Pandemics involve illnesses which can be spread from one person to another. Behaviors will either minimize or maximize the spread of illness. It is estimated for one person who becomes ill with influenza; they will in turn spread the illness to two others. Outbreaks on cruise ships provide a microscopic view of how if behaviors are not controlled a pandemic situation could spread quickly throughout a confined community. Preparedness plans which are called “all-hazard” approaches do not take into account the specific behaviors needed to minimize the spread of illness during a pandemic situation. For example, a pandemic of influenza may be a difficult challenge because someone can look, feel, and believe they are healthy – while unknowingly spreading the illness to multiple individuals. A SARS pandemic on the other hand is different because most people spread it after they feel sick.

The first step in preparing people is providing them with the knowledge of the threat and benefits received by practicing appropriate behaviors. When an influenza pandemic occurs, people should know the specific facts about the illness – including the incubation period, symptoms of illness, how the illness is spread, how the illness is treated, and how to minimize the symptoms of illness. After the facts, people must understand their behavior will either increase or decrease their personal risk of becoming sick. Without information and understanding of risk, people will feel no need to listen to recommendations (even during a pandemic situation).

The second step in preparing people is providing resources needed during a pandemic situation. If a pandemic situation occurs, people will be asked to wash their hands frequently, stand at least 3 feet away from others, stay home when sick, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of fluids, and adhere to public health recommendations. All of these are behaviors in which people will need resources. For example, people can’t wash their hands if there is no place to do so or cannot stay home if they don’t have sick leave and need money. Parents can’t keep their kids at home and go to work. Without resources, behaviors needed to minimize the spread of an illness will not occur – causing an increase of illness. People are going to want permission to take care of themselves during a pandemic situation and will need the resources to do it. Providing information and resources alone is incomplete. People will need to practice and develop the skills needed to practice appropriate behaviors during a pandemic situation.

Someone once said, “Give someone a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach someone how to fish and you feed them for the rest of their lives.” People must have information, resources, and skills to protect themselves during a pandemic situation. Teaching people the skills needed during a pandemic situation will increase the likelihood of appropriate behaviors occurring during a pandemic situation. Exercises which focus on behaviors versus policies build skills which are needed when minimizing risks associated with illness during a pandemic situation. People should practice social distancing, hand sanitizing, and other infection control practices – until they become comfortable and can successfully demonstrate appropriate behaviors. As equally important to information, resources, and skills – is the belief you can practice behaviors which do minimize your risk of illness. If people don’t believe they have the ability to practice protective behaviors and work in an environment which fails to encourage staff to adhere to healthy behaviors –people may have the information, resources, and skills, but they won’t practice the protective behavior because they believe they can’t.

Businesses today are investing in plans and procedures, attempting to prepare for a pandemic situation. Enormous gaps exist and businesses today can do more to prepare for pandemic influenza. Businesses leaders must begin investing in their workforce. Leaders can do this by providing information and increasing communication surrounding the behavioral expectations a business has on the members of the workforce. Business leaders can begin explaining the organization’s plan and clarify the roles and responsibilities of members in the workforce. Business leaders must shift more focus from preparedness to recovery efforts to minimize loss and maximize the likelihood of a business surviving a pandemic event. Finally, businesses need to create a culture of preparedness, response, and recovery – for all 21st Century Threats and not just pandemic influenza.

The world we live in is very different, with the threats of terrorism and natural disasters. People, families, and communities benefit from healthy businesses. Businesses benefit from healthy people, families, and communities. If businesses can be the school of appropriate behavior during emergency situations, everyone will benefit. This is the 360 degrees of preparedness – with businesses serving as the keystone for a healthy community.