CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

[AlaskaDenise]

Blogs and other social networking sites might be useful for helping people feel connected if social distancing measures are needed to reduce the spread of the disease, she said.

Blogs and Web sites might also be useful for people mourning the loss of loved ones if funerals are prohibited or discouraged in the name of social distancing.

FT has their work cut out for them.

.

[vinny]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

if or when the pandemic happens,someone said on another thread cant remember where,but you might have to restrict membership at some point to stop the sight from crashing,or would it be able to cope with lots of new members.?

[Snowy Owl]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

Salutation Vinny,

Flu Trackers has 3 sites, h5n1experts.org wich will be for experts, Health Officers, Journalists and gov, diseasetrackerkers.org will focus on virulent emerging diseases around the world and we have Flutrackers.com that will be our public site full of hints and tips.

As for the upsurging traffic, we will have to make sure that posters will respect our policies and if we do have an off moderators we will be wide open as long as possible.

We have embraced a Mission that is reduce morbidity and mortality and we keep the focus on it the best we can.

[DRJJ]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

Critical incident debriefing practices, which are designed to support normal people during highly traumatic abnormal events, may prove useful at all sites. Dedicated flutrackers, health offical, journalists, etc. may be considered 1st responders in the event of a pandemic...not unlike the people on the street who assisted after Oklahoma City, Hurricane Andrew and 9/11. First responders are subject to very identifiable risks, many of which can persist for years. It is very easy to get a type of traumatic stress disorder when you are a 1st responder, faced with the overwhelming chaos and the irreversible and profound losses and excruciating choices which accompany disaster response.

We should add a thread to the Prep section which articulates the principles of CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) and provides guidance and assistence to individuals who undertake support of greiving public. It is not responsible to allow are members to provide support during a disaster without educating them to the personal dangers and the management of those dangers.

Stated very incompletely and very informally, some of the points made would go like this:

1.) It is normal to have highly abnormal reactions to an abnormal situation. You aren't loosing your mind. Hallucinations, flash backs, derealization (no feelings, the shakes, avoidance, hysterical laughter, profound denial are normal reactions at times of great stress. It is the minds way of processing the inconceivable.

2.) It is safe and appropriate to keep functioning for as long as you can do so reasonably well. If you can stay out of emotion until the crisis is past, do so. Do not encourage individuals to get into their feelings, if avoidable, until the crisis is past and it is safe for them to loose functioning for a while.

3) If an individual is approaching a breaking point, stop them before they break. It is much harder to put humpty dumpty back together than it is to prevent the break in the first place.

4) Sleeping and eating are important to maintaining balance. However, it is important to avoid excessive alcohol consumption in order to sleep. Sleeping very long hours is a normal recupperative process. Very little, highly disturbed sleep is also very normal, but it leaves the individual much less resilent. Sleeping aids are useful in an emergency to prolong the period during which the individual can function.

5) Group debriefing, after the crisis is past, is most helpful because it allows the individual to place his horror, flashbacks and excruciating choices in context with the horror of others and see his emotional reaction in relationship to the emotional reactions of other group members. An appropriate time for group debriefings would be after a wave has passed.

Lots more, but you get the idea....Our members need info on how to protect themselves while acting as 1st responders during the pandemic.

My CISD training was 8 years ago. I need to brush up on the latest practices. Are there any other CISD trained individuals out there?

[Dark Horse]

Online funerals

FT has their work cut out for them.

.

Grim thought, but YouTube is pretty well set up for this and MySpace wouldn't be far behind. You could have a podcast of the preacher's words, a photo of the coffin (if one can be found or borrowed) with flowers, many photos of the deceased, video clips of the deceased during happier times and audio of various speakers (relatives, friends) who would normally speak at a funeral, plus lots of comments from friends and family about how much they miss the deceased and anecdotes from them as well.

[Jeremy]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

There is a message that needs to be stressed to people that I am not sure is going to get out there.

The message of tuning out to the global events of the pandemic.

Think of what happened with 9/11.

The news media kept playing the video of planes crashing into the towers, over and over, as if they needed to do that so that people would tune in to watch their shows.

In the days following 9/11 the news media was bombarded with requests for them to stop replaying the video of the towers being hit. Kids were getting scared, they thought that the US was getting attacked again and again. Adults had also had enough.

I hope the media has learned from there mistakes, but I doubt it. Once the pandemic begins they will bombard the public with images of death and disease from around the world.

People will also go online, only to find more images and discussion of death and disease from around the world.

Eventually the death and disease will reach them, where they will have to deal with more images of death and disease.

All of those images and talk of death and disease over and extended period can not be healthly for ones pysche.

So I believe there should always be a constant reminder to people, once the pandemic starts, that they should spend some time tuning out to some of the events.

I wonder what some of the doctors and media professional on this site think in regards to what I am proposing.

[T. Modesto,PhD]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

CIDS may be helpful for those who must re-enter into intensified multiple disaster situation to provide continued critical incident service. It is IMPORTANT to understand that from a THANOSTIC (dying, death and bereavement / grief) POINT OF REFERECE CISD is NOT a way to help with complex and compounded mourning and grief particularly in mass fatality situations. In fact CISD may help during the initial or presenting crisis BUT it may intensify and complicate the post traumatic grief process experience tremendously in that those who must rely on it due to a high level critical incident situation. CISD and the critical incident itself can result in a delayed grief response and thus the individual will be out of 'sync' with those who are grieving additinally beond the critical incident response community which then can cause a complicated, dysfunctional chain reaction as to grief recovery. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
That delayed grief response can be one of the reasons for the New York emergency responders situation currently including extremely high levels of disability retirement, spouse / partner & child abuse, violent acting out, substance abuse etc. Due to the situation of 9-11, many were not able the luxury of 'current time grief'. This will happen again should a pandemic occur.
<o:p> </o:p>
My understanding is that what happened internationally during and after the 1918 pandemic which caused SEVERE thanostic related dysfunction that has endured for many their entire lifetimes and now impacts generations thanosticly 88-89 years later in so many ways including how we currently deal with grief or should I say how we do NOT deal well and healthy with grief.
<o:p> </o:p>
My concern is that those who are not WELL TRAINED in both CISD and CRITICAL INCIDENT THANATOLOGY will use CISD an d possibly other modalities as a quick fix and easy formula for omitting the grief process just like Elizabeth Kubler-Ross?s famous work on Grief Stages was used and still is used inappropriately for everything from divorce to a missed phone call. This can have an impact for millions of people which I can not even imagine what that could do to the complications of social and individual recovery which will also be compounded by other social and health issues. We need to encourage those who are in critical incident leadership and the primary responders ( these would be health care professionals) and secondary responders ( which are classified as journalists, law and order personnel, public utilities workers, etc) to learn both ways to help their teams to cope with critical incidents events as they unfold with different approaches for different facets of the critical incident as well as to help them to cope with the thanostic fall out that will also occur in immediate and extended terms so that all aspects of the spectrum can be addressed. . We also need to continue to be resource educators in where to find qualified and certified CISD and critical incident thanatologist to help in that process.
<o:p> </o:p>
In a critical incident there are so many folk that pop up that become ?instant experts? on everything, just look at 1918 as an example. The literature demonstrates the expanse of such ?instant experts? during that situation. My concern is that ?instant experts? will pop up and do more harm than any good, utilizing methodologies and approaches that they are not qualified to use. There is a certificate program in CISD as well as a rigorous certification process in thanatology. Dealing with individuals and their emotions is a very sensitive, complex and important service and the actions taken can have lifelong and beyond affects for generations to come. When one thinks about it, it is really MIND BLOWING the impact such services have on individuals, families, and the communities at large!!!
<o:p> </o:p>
CISD is a specialized method of support service and is offered by International Critical Incident Stress Foundation - ICISF, in certified programs that insures quality of that practice modality. Their services have helped numerous persons. It is much more than what can be leaned over a web page without proper instruction. CISD is also I believe a copyrighted and trade protected non-profit organizational support service that should be kept in mind as well The site for more information is: www.icisf.org/
<o:p> </o:p>
I would be happy to design an information sheet that can explain suggestions on how to cope with a mass fatality situation in ways that may be beneficial and a healthy approach for primary and secondary responders adn the general community member faced with the trauma and devestation of death experience in a critical incident situation. I will be happy to have it posted as an excerpt from my next book slated for publishing Fall 2007 is on this subject in depth. I will have it to you as fast as I can.


Could this posting also be included under the dying,death and bereavement sub forum as well?


T.Modesto, PhD

Critical incident debriefing practices, which are designed to support normal people during highly traumatic abnormal events, may prove useful at all sites. Dedicated flutrackers, health offical, journalists, etc. may be considered 1st responders in the event of a pandemic...not unlike the people on the street who assisted after Oklahoma City, Hurricane Andrew and 9/11. First responders are subject to very identifiable risks, many of which can persist for years. It is very easy to get a type of traumatic stress disorder when you are a 1st responder, faced with the overwhelming chaos and the irreversible and profound losses and excruciating choices which accompany disaster response.

We should add a thread to the Prep section which articulates the principles of CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing) and provides guidance and assistence to individuals who undertake support of greiving public. It is not responsible to allow are members to provide support during a disaster without educating them to the personal dangers and the management of those dangers.

Stated very incompletely and very informally, some of the points made would go like this:

1.) It is normal to have highly abnormal reactions to an abnormal situation. You aren't loosing your mind. Hallucinations, flash backs, derealization (no feelings, the shakes, avoidance, hysterical laughter, profound denial are normal reactions at times of great stress. It is the minds way of processing the inconceivable.

2.) It is safe and appropriate to keep functioning for as long as you can do so reasonably well. If you can stay out of emotion until the crisis is past, do so. Do not encourage individuals to get into their feelings, if avoidable, until the crisis is past and it is safe for them to loose functioning for a while.

3) If an individual is approaching a breaking point, stop them before they break. It is much harder to put humpty dumpty back together than it is to prevent the break in the first place.

4) Sleeping and eating are important to maintaining balance. However, it is important to avoid excessive alcohol consumption in order to sleep. Sleeping very long hours is a normal recupperative process. Very little, highly disturbed sleep is also very normal, but it leaves the individual much less resilent. Sleeping aids are useful in an emergency to prolong the period during which the individual can function.

5) Group debriefing, after the crisis is past, is most helpful because it allows the individual to place his horror, flashbacks and excruciating choices in context with the horror of others and see his emotional reaction in relationship to the emotional reactions of other group members. An appropriate time for group debriefings would be after a wave has passed.

Lots more, but you get the idea....Our members need info on how to protect themselves while acting as 1st responders during the pandemic.

My CISD training was 8 years ago. I need to brush up on the latest practices. Are there any other CISD trained individuals out there?

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

I agree with the initial post here. The points were pertinent and initial statements are clearly opening a dialogue here at FT. None of this is news to long time participants but it does allow newcomers to see what is driving many of us to keep the public informed. The consequences of a pandemic may well be almost too much to comprehend. Therefore, we need to make preparations now for learning the best way to share the news and coping mechanisms following catastrophe if and when it actually occurs. An informed public has time to prepare both physically and mentally if not emotionally. Some will never allow such a dire prognostication to modify their behavior but a significant number will if given facts rather than placating messages.

It is up to us to take this list and address each issue. Mental health professionals should be encouraged to discuss and verify the possible solutions. We are lucky here at ft to have a few who regularly post.

[sharon sanders]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

"Don't worry about grammar or punctuation,"


Snowy - Why did you bold this?

[sharon sanders]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

"Could this posting also be included under the dying,death and bereavement sub forum as well?"



Sure.

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

Sigh, because some of us have problems even seeing the mistakes. I just corrected two punctuation errors on my post and have undoubtedly missed others. At least I am not alone although others have much better excuses than dyslexia. English is my first language.

"Don't worry about grammar or punctuation,"


Snowy - Why did you bold this?

</IMG></IMG>

[T. Modesto,PhD]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

Thank you

"Could this posting also be included under the dying,death and bereavement sub forum as well?"



Sure.

[sharon sanders]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

Sigh, because some of us have problems even seeing the mistakes. I just corrected two punctuation errors on my post and have undoubtedly missed others. At least I am not alone although others have much better excuses than dyslexia. English is my first language.




</IMG></IMG>

I happen to agree, by the way, that spelling and grammer mistakes are not important. We do not routinely edit members' posts for spelling etc. I think it is more realistic to leave them as the poster wrote it - spelling and grammer mistakes included. It shows our members and lurkers that we are genuine.

[DRJJ]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

from Modesto, above

In a critical incident there are so many folk that pop up that become ?instant experts? on everything, just look at 1918 as an example. The literature demonstrates the expanse of such ?instant experts? during that situation. My concern is that ?instant experts? will pop up and do more harm than any good, utilizing methodologies and approaches that they are not qualified to use. There is a certificate program in CISD as well as a rigorous certification process in thanatology. Dealing with individuals and their emotions is a very sensitive, complex and important service and the actions taken can have lifelong and beyond affects for generations to come. When one thinks about it, it is really MIND BLOWING the impact such services have on individuals, families, and the communities at large!!!

My goodness you are optimistic and ambitious. We are looking at a worldwide disaster of unimaginable magnitude, just a few notches down from nuclear winter. The new head of CDC just made official that the "new" CFR is 70%. Other posting, this day, are seriously discussing the spread of AI through such disease vectors as flies, melting artic ice and household pets. I am hoping, merely, that there will be generations to come.

I thought that we might usefully educate the flutrackers readership that there is a personal cost to providing the grief support services mentioned in the initial article on this thread. I thought that we might give people a heads up to this unexpected source of stress and a few modest pointers on how to manage themselves wisely, if and when they choose to join in grief counseling, a function I had not thought of in connection with flutrackers previously.

This social consequences of this impending disaster is so far beyond an increase in divorce and wife beating that I do not know how to respond to your posting. How many of us will still have families? Do you really believe that you or we can articulate a program which will get us through the grief? I expect that CISD will be just one straw in the wind. A "rigorous certification process in thanatology" will be a pimple on the fanny of an ant for 99.99999% of the individuals affected.

Frankly I am amazed and perhaps, jealous, that you believe your responsible professional practices will get us through this. Did you ever read the Bettleheim book about his incarceration in the Nazi death camps and how little his science armoured him against the unmitigated horror of Dachou, was it?

I believe that we will reap the whirlwind.

[colormyquilt]

Re: CDC offers pandemic communication guidance

[CENTER][B][SIZE=3]
The three most important components to include in messages to the public or employees in the event of a pandemic are empathy, some type of action to take, and respect, she said.

Communicators need to show empathy within the first 30 seconds of a crisis message, she said. "If not, they won't hear your message because they're so overwrought with their emotions,"
Withholding information during a pandemic is risky, Reynolds said, because honesty and openness during a crisis help build the public's trust.

"One of the things we have to be humble about is we're competing to get information out. Credibility is more important than ever," she said.

]

Excellent post.

I found this article sometime ago-and am still processing it.

Apparently, Steven Crimando has several articles printed in Big Medicine- waht I am finding helpful is his very realistic look at the emotional, behavioral, and social effects of a pandemic. To quote, "there are no established predictive models for the behavioral and emotional ...consequences of a pandemic."

What I am taking from this is this is going to be an experience unlike anything most of us has experienced. It is not going to be limited to days of chaos followed by a return to normalcy. It is not going to be something that occurs "over there"- and it won't happen to me. Is it Osterholm who says it will be like Katrinas everywhere.

I believe it is going to be imperative that the emotional, psychological, mental, and spiritual be addressed as realistically as we are capable of doing. The first responders are going to need it. Families at home caring for sick are going to need it. And when it's time to clean up and rebuild, we are all going to need it.

By knowing that this experience will require considerable fortitude does not mean the task is insurmountable. I continually feel we are blessed with time. And as we are prepping for other things, it may be time to be prepping for these types of needs as well.

The link to Crimando's articles (there are several):

https://www.bigmedicine.ca/stevencrimando.htm