H1N1 Flu Topics   IDPH Home   Travel   Keeping Healthy   School   Day Care   Business   Emergency Responders   Q and As   ABCs of SNS   Health Care Providers   Newsroom   En Español   Other Languages SNS Guidance Utilization Memo (May 1, 2009) Guidance for State Employees (May 1, 2009)

Flu Hotline for non-medical questions 866-848-2094 (English) 866-241-2138 (Español) 6am - 10pm daily Flu Hotline Info Public Service Announcements English(1) PSA English(2) PSA Español PSA

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What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

Stay informed. This website will be updated regularly as information becomes available. Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. Take everyday actions to stay healthy. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures. Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies. Symptoms of swine flu are similar to regular human flu and include: Fever Cough Sore throat Body aches Headache Chills Fatigue Some people also have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. For people who have flu-like symptoms and have traveled to areas where swine flu has been confirmed, they should seek medical attention. However, if a person has flu-like symptoms but has not traveled to areas where swine flu has been confirmed, they should stay home and contact a doctor to see if they should go in for testing.

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State, National and International Links

• Illinois Department of Public Health
  • Swine Flu Information
• Centers for Disease Control Swine Influenza
  • Swine Flu Information or call 1-800-CDC-INFO
• World Health Organization
  • Swine Influenza Information
  • WHO Pandemic Alert Phase
• Office of Emergency Management and Communication
  • AlertChicago.com
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Frequently Asked Questions about H1N1
• Local and Area EMA and Social Service Organizations
  • Use the map below to locate Organizations.

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Personal and Family Preparedness

There are basic steps you can take to ensure you are prepared at home, in your vehicle, and at work. By building an emergency kit, you and your family will have the basic survival items that are necessary during an emergency.

• Download the Disaster Kit brochure for an easy-to-use checklist of items suggested for your kit(s).
  • Disaster Kit - English version [PDF, 371KB]
  • Disaster Kit - Spanish version [PDF, 391KB]
• Gather the supplies that are listed. You may need them if your family is confined at home or evacuated.
• Keep the items you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container (Go Bag), such as a camping backpack or a duffle bag.

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For Additional Personal and Family Preparedness Information

• Get Prepared - American Red Cross
• Ready.gov - U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Emergency Planning Brochure
  • Emergency Planning (English version) [PDF, 530KB]
  • Emergency Planning (Spanish version) [PDF, 533KB]
• Illinois Insurance Facts - IDFPR Division of Insurance
• Public Service Announcements
  • Fear Not Public Service Announcement      English   Spanish
  • Your House Public Service Announcement   English   Spanish

Illinois' first-ever Statewide Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP) was approved by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and has been officially accepted by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Illinois State Police, Illinois Terrorism Task Force, Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Emergency Services Management Association, Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System, Mutual Aid Box Alarm System, and Chicago/Cook County Urban Area.

The plan identifies a statewide strategy that focuses on establishing a single platform so all public safety agencies can share emergency information. The development of the SCIP was a cooperative effort by a consortium of federal, state, and local public safety practitioners working through the Illinois Terrorism Task Force’s Communications Committee and the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee. Annual reviews/updates to the SCIP will be conducted under the auspices of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Tornadoes can strike at anytime, day or night, but can be especially deadly in the middle of the night when many people are asleep.  The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) are reminding people that weather radios save lives by providing round-the-clock alerts of imminent dangers.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) has developed a Severe Weather Preparedness document with tips on staying safe during the severe weather months.

Severe Weather Preparedness Week Press Release.

The Illinois Terrorism Task Force has developed a training program for governmental and private sector employees on basic safety procedures to follow when faced with a suspicious piece of mail or a bomb. The program includes a threat checklist brochure, a sample action plan for dealing with suspicious packages, and a downloadable 30-minute media presentation with audio narrative. For more information, please visit the Terrorism page of the Ready Illinois website.

Being prepared for disasters and emergencies is important for everyone, but it can be even more critical for special needs individuals, who may rely on the assistance of others during an emergency. A new publication developed by a team of emergency management and health professionals addresses the unique preparedness considerations of individuals with functional needs and their caregivers. "Emergency Preparedness Tips for Those with Functional Needs" offers preparedness tips for people with visual, cognitive, or mobility impairments; citizens who are deaf or hard of hearing; those who utilize service animals or life support systems; and seniors. Please click here for more information.