Mayo employees Kirsty Pratley and Cathy Murray presented information on the pandemic flu community planning effort. Piscataquis County Emergency Management is engaging medical providers and community members in preparing for the outbreak of a new virus that is highly pathogenic and effectively transmitted from human to human on a global scale.

If the pandemic flu strikes our area, the healthcare system will be overwhelmed as the flu “attack rate" affects up to 35% of the population. Maine could see 5,000 to 7,500 deaths in the most severe scenario, and there will be profound social disruption as the pandemic impacts work places, schools and the overall economy.

A national pandemic flu plan has been prepared, yet due to the nature of the new virus, vaccines will not be available until 3-6 months after the pandemic starts. Even when the vaccine is ready, it will be in short supply and given only on a priority basis. To slow the spread of flu, the plan encourages social distancing, hand washing and covering coughs; once the flu strikes, people will be encouraged to stay home if they are ill.

Mayo is working on a hospital surge plan for handling a high patient census, but if the flu is severe the hospital will be swamped and alternative care sites will need to be established at schools in Milo, Dover-Foxcroft, Guilford and Greenville.

The county has until Aug. 1 to submit a pandemic flu plan to the state, with components covering medical, community and emergency management issues.

PPHC members are invited to help in the community planning, and Robin Mayo has scheduled a June 30 meeting with school nurses to discuss student surveillance and tracking of flu cases in the schools. The PPHC will also be involved in communicating information to the public on preparation measures.

Updates on PPHC/HMP projects:

• Two "Super Size Me" videos, both the uncut and educational versions, are available for loan. Mayo dietician Marion McLellan is running youth nutrition classes this summer.
• PPHC helped send representatives from the YMCA and Sangerville Fitness to become trained in "A Matter of Balance," a senior exercise program to reduce falls.
• PPHC approved a $3,000 minigrant to support the Every 15 Minutes program held at Foxcroft Academy May 24-25. The program, aimed at preventing drinking and driving by teens, was very well received by the community.
• Robin reported that Sharon Shorette, who is an experienced occupational health nurse, has been contracted on a part-time basis to work one day each week with small business owners to promote worksite wellness initiatives and to develop a worksite wellness network.
• The next PPHC meeting on Sept. 20 will be a celebration dinner at Foxcroft Academy to recognize "local heroes" who have helped promote wellness and health in our schools and communities. Each school district will be asked to develop a display that highlights their achievements.
• The PPHC is collaborating with Mayo's marketing department on a radio campaign to highlight healthy behavior messages relating to breast feeding, diabetes awareness, sun protection, stroke awareness, 5-2-1-0, heart attack awareness, worksite wellness, etc. The announcements will run on 5 radio stations: Q106 and four others in the Cumulus network, with 27 spots per station each month.

• Got a Minute? Prevention Through Parenting Campaign. All SHCs and MOOSE coordinators will be asked to implement this program within their schools.
• Other new areas include sun protection, asthma individual plans/education, worksite wellness, youth access to alcohol, colon cancer awareness.
• The No Butts! program will target cigarette retailers and educate store employees on not selling to minors.
• Tobacco Free Recreation areas.
• Tobacco cessation efforts, including a focus on women. Tobacco cessation basic skills training will be offered at Mayo in September, and the hospital continues to provide monthly cessation sessions, with the next one scheduled for July 13.
• Diabetes awareness, in collaboration with Mayo's Diabetes & Nutrition program.

Next meeting: Wednesday, Sept. 20, 4:30-6:30 p.m. celebration dinner at Foxcroft Academy. Individuals will be asked to RSVP to assist with the meal planning.

Minutes submitted by Tom Lizotte