Canada Preppers

CBC 'The Current' discussed Ontario Pandemic Triage today

Anybody happen to catch Anna Maria Tremonti this a.m.?
She interviewed several people about the new Ontario 'triage' system to be used in a pandemic (we discussed this paper on the Old Forum briefly) Essentially if you are over 85 dont expect anything more than palliative care for pandemic flu - likewise over 60 if you suffer from other life threatening or wasting diseases like ALZ,ALS,cancer, stroke, cognitive impairment and so on. One of the authors of the paper ?Dr Christian said, well doctors make these life/death decisions all the time anyway - (I got the impression that they just arent written down anywhere formal) The next interview was with a medical ethicist who may have been shellshocked still if only recent realization of the whole nightmare, so didnt say much. Third was our hero Dr Allison McGirr - who was very practical and straightforward, said it would be very tough - the few resources wd be quickly overwhelmed and triage the only sensible route.
That's all I am able to recall - anybody else hear it or have any comments?

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by: gharris @ Wed Nov 29, 2006 at 03:51:44 AM UTC

New Bulletin from Canada Public Safety re BF

Just now received an email 'alert' from Health Canada (I subscribe to their 'e-alert' system giving the following info - I have checked out a bit of it but doesnt seem to contain anything dramatically new - however, for whatever it is worth copy below - perhaps we should be sending them a copy of the ATSHO conference notes re Gov't transparency/honesty - seems they dont have the message yet!!

Emergencies and Disasters
--------------------------------------
Pandemic Preparedness
Human Health and Bird Flu  -  Ontario  -  Avian influenza is a viral infection that can spread easily and quickly among birds. There are at least 15 types of avian flu. They are all caused by various strains of type A influenza virus.
http://www.safecanad...

Health Protection
--------------------------------------
Animal Diseases
Bird Flu and You!  -  Ontario  -  Avian Influenza (AI) viruses can be classified into two categories: low pathogenic (LPAI) and high pathogenic (HPAI) based on the severity of the illness caused in birds, with HPAI causing the greatest number of deaths in birds. Most AI viruses are low pathogenic and typically cause little or no clinical signs in infected birds.
http://www.safecanad...
Pandemic Preparedness
Human Health and Bird Flu  -  Ontario  -  Avian influenza is a viral infection that can spread easily and quickly among birds. There are at least 15 types of avian flu. They are all caused by various strains of type A influenza virus.
http://www.safecanad...

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by: gharris @ Wed Nov 29, 2006 at 05:13:21 AM UTC

Canadian Government Flu Watch Web Site

This site monitors Flu Activity in Canada. If you scroll to the bottom of this page, you will find a listing of Flu Watch Reports by week in PDF format. Each report includes a table which lists flu activity by province for the period covered by the report as well as comparable data for the same period the previous year.

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by: Irene @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 02:22:23 AM UTC

Map of Canadian Flu Activity

This page allows you to select a map of flu activity by time frame and by geographic area of Canada: Flu Activity Map

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by: Irene @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 02:24:05 AM UTC

Canadian Federal gov't releases latest pandemic plan

http://www.newfluwik...

cross posted in news.

You want perspective. I want perspective. Let's talk. We don't have to agree on every thing. If we do, one of us is redundant.

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by: anon.yyz @ Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 04:52:17 AM UTC

Ontario: Province creating own centre for infectious disease control in wake of SARS

cross-posted from today's news thread.

TORONTO (CP) - Ontario is creating a centre for disease control so it can be better prepared for another SARS outbreak or flu pandemic, The Canadian Press has learned.

The provincial government is set to introduce legislation Tuesday that would create the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, roughly similar to the Centers for Disease Control in the United States, government sources say.

The arm's-length agency will research infectious diseases and could be called upon to help in a public health emergency like a disease outbreak.

The centre would also be responsible for health promotion and environmental health to reduce the potential for a public health emergency.

"While we hope we never face an outbreak or public health emergency, we have to be prepared," a government source said. "By bringing together experts to focus on health research, Ontario families will be better protected against future outbreaks and emergencies."

Details of the centre - including a budget and location - still have to be finalized. The government hopes to pass legislation establishing the centre by the spring.

If the legislation passes, Ontario will be one of the few provinces with its own centre of disease control. British Columbia has one based at the University of British Columbia, while Quebec also has its own public health institute..."

http://www.cp.org/en...

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

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by: MaMa @ Mon Dec 11, 2006 at 04:41:46 AM UTC

Ottawa' Helpful List?

Just received this helpful list of 'guides' from Ottawa which covers various disaster events - I dont see the word 'pandemic' listed - I guess they dont figure we might need to know what to do??

http://www.safecanad...

  Emergencies and Disasters > Emergency Preparedness at Home  Emergency Preparedness at Home 
20 Weeks to Personal Preparedness - British Columbia
26 Weeks to Family Emergency Preparedness - British Columbia
72 Hours ... Is Your Family Prepared? - Your Emergency Preparedness Guide 
A Home Fire Escape Plan Can Prevent Tragedy - British Columbia 
After the Emergency - Calgary 
Agricultural Disaster Management - Alberta
Are you prepared in case of DISASTER? 
Are You Prepared? Prepare Your Family With the 72 Hour Emergency Kit - Richmond Hill 
Are you ready for a tornado? - Alberta
Are You Ready for a Tornado? - Ontario
Are You Ready? What To Do When A Disaster Strikes - Edmonton 
Basic kit
Be Prepared for Every Emergency - British Columbia 
Be Prepared, Not Scared
Be Prepared: Make a Plan - Ontario 
Before a Disaster Strikes
Before Flooding - Alberta 
Build a kit
Car kit - Regina
Car kit
Car Mobile Emergency Kit - Vancouver
Car Preparedness: Planning BEFORE Disaster Strikes - Halifax (Regional Municipality of)
Disaster Preparedness - Ontario
Disaster Supplies Kit - Clothing/Bedding
Disaster Supplies Kit - First Aid Supplies
Disaster Supplies Kit - Food
Disaster Supplies Kit - Special Items
Disaster Supplies Kit - Tools/Emergency Supplies
Disaster Supplies Kit - Water
Earthquake and Tsunami Smart Manual - A Guide for Protecting Your Family - British Columbia 
Earthquakes
Earthquakes - Getting Ready - Quebec
Emergency Disaster Preparedness - Edmonton 
Emergency Kits - Ontario
Emergency Planning for Agriculture - Langley
Emergency Planning: Be Prepared... - Toronto 
Emergency Preparedness Checklist - Nova Scotia
Emergency Preparedness Checklist - Leduc
Emergency Preparedness Checklists - Halifax (Regional Municipality of)
Emergency Preparedness for Ottawa Rural Residents - Ottawa
Emergency Preparedness for Residents of Ottawa - Overview - Ottawa
Emergency Preparedness for Winter - Nova Scotia
Emergency Preparedness Week
Emergency Preparedness: Food and Water Supply - Halifax (Regional Municipality of)
Emergency Preparedness: Out-of-Area Contact Card - Halifax (Regional Municipality of)
Emergency Repair Program (ERP)
Emergency Stores - Charlottetown
Emergency Supplies Checklist - British Columbia 
Emergency Survival Kit - Ontario
Emotional Reactions - Brandon
Evacuation orders
Evacuation Plans - Charlottetown
Evacuation strategies for occupants with disabilities
Family Emergency Contact Information - Edmonton
Family Emergency Handbook - Manitoba
Fire Escape Planning At Work, At Home
Fire escape planning for apartment dwellers - Alberta
Fire escape planning for older adults - Alberta
Fire escape planning for people with disabilities - Alberta
Fire Escape Planning: At work, at home - New Brunswick 
Flood Disaster: Detailed information about what to do before, during and after flooding - Alberta 
Flood Precautions for Homeowners - British Columbia
Flood Proofing Your Home - Yukon 
Flood Proofing Your Home - Minimize Damage if a Flood Strikes Your Family's Home - British Columbia
Floods
Food & water emergency kit - Regina
Food for Emergencies 
Food Safety Emergency Preparedness/Power Failure
Food Safety Facts on Flooding
Getting Back on Track After an Emergency - Ottawa
Guide to Family Emergency Preparedness - Regina 
HELP / OK Sign Set - British Columbia 
Helping Persons With Disabilities During Disasters - Edmonton
Home Disaster Safety Kit - Edmonton
Home Emergency Kits - Vancouver
Home Escape Plan
Home Fire Escape Planning - Alberta
Home Fire Escape Planning - Alberta 
Home generators
Home Hazards
Home Heating Oil Tanks - New Brunswick
Homeowner's Guide to Heating Oil Tank Systems - Nova Scotia 
Household Emergency Plan
Household Preparedness - Planning BEFORE Disaster Strikes - Halifax (Regional Municipality of)
How to Cope with the Unexpected - Regina
How to Prepare for a Winter Power Failure - Nova Scotia
How to Prepare for Disasters at Home - Edmonton
How would your home stand up?
Let's Plan for the Unexpected 
Listen for warnings
Make a plan
Make A Plan
Mobile homes
Notice to Boil Water - Health Protection above All - Quebec 
Personal and Family Checklist - Alberta 
Personal Emergency Kit Checklists - Ontario 
Personal Preparedness Tips for People with Disabilities - British Columbia 
Personal Services 
Pesticide Emergencies - Emergency Contacts - British Columbia
Pesticide Emergencies - Environmental Emergencies - British Columbia
Prepare for Tsunamis in Coastal British Columbia - British Columbia
Prepare for Volcano Hazards in British Columbia - British Columbia
Preparing for a Flood - Nova Scotia
Preparing for a flood
Preparing for a storm surge
Preparing for Hurricanes - Nova Scotia
Preparing for severe storms
Preparing for winter power failures
Preparing Pets For an Emergency - Nova Scotia
Preparing Your Family for an Emergency
Preparing your home for an earthquake
Preparing Your Pets for Disasters - Edmonton
Preventing Hurricane Damage - Nova Scotia
Protect Propane and Natural Gas Equipment in the Event of a Flood - British Columbia
Responding to Stressful Events: Helping Children Cope
Responding to Stressful Events: Helping Teens Cope
Safe Communities Kit - Be Safe - British Columbia 
Self-Assessment Checklist - British Columbia 
Seniors during emergencies and disasters: Vulnerable, yet resilient
Severe storms
Severe Weather Emergency Kit
Shutting off electricity
Shutting Off Your Gas
Signs for Help or OK - Winnipeg 
Survival kit - Regina
Taking Care of Ourselves, Our Families and Our Communities - Responding to the Stress of Terrorism and Armed Conflicts
Taking Care of Pets After an Emergency - Nova Scotia
Taking Care of Pets During an Emergency - Nova Scotia
The Home Owners Fire Smart Manual - British Columbia 
The Home Owners FireSmart Manual - Ontario
The Home Owners Firesmart Manual - Northwest Territories 
The Seniors’ Emergency Home Repair Program - Prince Edward Island 
Time to Prepare - Winnipeg 
Tips for People with Communication and Speech Related Disabilities - British Columbia 
Tips for People with Mobility Disabilities - British Columbia 
Tips for People With Visual Disabilities - British Columbia 
Tips for Service Animals and Pet Owners - British Columbia 
Tips for the Hearing Impaired - British Columbia 
Tips on Preparing for Hazardous Winter Weather
Together We're Prepared - An Emergency Preparedness Guide For Residents of Ottawa - Ottawa 
What Can You Do in the Event of a Major Disaster? - Quebec
What I Need to Know About Domestic Fuel Spills : Homeowner's Guide to Oil Tank Safety - Newfoundland and Labrador 
What is a home escape plan?
When disaster strikes!
When Seconds Count: Conducting Your Fire Escape Drill - New Brunswick 
Where to buy a kit
Your Personal Emergency Plan - Leduc
Your Pets and Emergency Preparedness - Manitoba 

 

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by: gharris @ Fri Dec 22, 2006 at 05:49:16 AM UTC

INDEPTH: FLU, Fighting the flu, Updated Dec. 22, 2006

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...

Mostly about seasonal flu. It is useful for educating the masses on how to avoid getting infected.  Links to 1918 for Canadians.

You want perspective. I want perspective. Let's talk. We don't have to agree on every thing. If we do, one of us is redundant.

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by: anon.yyz @ Sun Dec 24, 2006 at 03:17:27 AM UTC

Canada: Cities and towns ill-prepared for emergencies: municipalities

Thanks to MaMa for posting this on the news diary:

http://www.newfluwik...

http://www.cbc.ca/ca...

QUOTE

Sherbrooke, Que., Mayor Jean Perrault said his community is already working on an action plan in case of a pandemic, one that the province has already signed on to but the federal government has not.

END QUOTE

The Federal Government is spending too much resources in PR and communications to down play the threat, as if spin would push the problem into outer space.

At least the U.S. CDC recommends 2 weeks personal stockpile to mitigate the effects of a pandemic.  The Canadian federal government recommends special for pandemic preparedness, only 72 hours of supplies to handle any emergency.

The first public appearance for the Health Minister Tony Clement was at a Chicken Farmers Conference speaking on how safe it was to eat Canadian chickens.  That's not even the job of the Health Minister, it would be Canadian Food Inspection Agency or Agriculture Canada.  That shows the Minister doesn't care about Health, only about serving business interests.  This wasn't the first time. Tony Clement was Health Minister for Ontario during SARS and he spent more time lobbying the WHO to remove travel advisory against Toronto than serving the Health Care portfolio. He's since been touting how much was learned from his SARS experience and other countries can learn from us on how to manage public communication.  The only thing he learned was how to control the dissemination of information.  As a result of his 'work', Canada now has Unified Communication Strategy for flu pandemic.  All levels of governments must clear with the Canadian Public Health Agency to ensure the message is consistent. In the last few months of 2006, the latest Pandemic Plan came out that read like a CYA, finally admitting to a possibility of a milder 1918 like scenario, but planning assumptions are still based on 1957/68. Fortunately, even the business sector is picking up on the obvious inadequacy of Canadian preparedness, as is evident from the recent efforts of Ontario Chamber of Commerce to warn it's members. 

My thanks go to the few municipalities that at least try to advise the public to do something but they are restrained by the Canadian Public Health Agency (which acts like and therefore I would like to rename Canadian Health Public Relations Agency).

Kudos to Elgin St. Thomas Health Unit:

https://www.elginhea...

Ask your county what they are going to do about it.

You want perspective. I want perspective. Let's talk. We don't have to agree on every thing. If we do, one of us is redundant.

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by: anon.yyz @ Tue Jan 16, 2007 at 17:48:46 PM UTC

Ottawa: Flu pandemic could overwhelm hospitals

cross-posted to today's news Diary

- "When the next flu pandemic hits, Ottawa will get through it successfully only if people avoid turning to hospitals en masse, the city's medical officer of health told a conference on emergency preparedness Tuesday.
Dr. David Salisbury said that in a flu pandemic, according to a worst-case scenario, the city could see as many as 35,000 cases weekly, with 3,500 people seeking medical care, 350 hospitalized and 80 deaths..."

..."In a flu pandemic, the great majority of sick people will be "the walking well," who will be able to get through the illness at home.
"Very few of the large number of people who will be sick actually need medical care," said Dr. Salisbury. "But they're sick enough that they could be infectious."
He said one of his biggest challenges as medical officer for the city is to convince people to stop "depending" on government and to think and act for themselves..."

..."Dr. Salisbury said Ottawa has made a lot of preparations for a pandemic, but one of his big challenges is that there's no way for him to get the federal government to follow municipal health procedures. He noted that the federal government is a huge landowner, and the city's biggest employer, but it tends to talk to the provincial government, rather than municipal government, and follow its own procedures and standards. He said part of the problem is that there are so many different branches.
"If I want to talk to the federal government, who do I call?" said Dr. Salisbury."

http://www.canada.co...

there is a fair bit more, you should really read the whole thing.

While I am tremendously pleased to see more media attention on pandemic preparation in our country, I feel that our govt's idea of 'worse-case-scenario' is sadly lacking.

The federal govt. needs to take some action at some point to co-ordinate with lowere levels of govt.- IMO and very soon.

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little- Edmund Burke

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by: MaMa @ Wed Jan 17, 2007 at 05:06:15 AM UTC

You don't get hospital bed, you are considered walking well.

QUOTE

Dr. Salisbury said that more than 90 per cent of flu victims don't need medical help.

END QUOTE

That's not what we see now, not even close. So they are making the assumption and call it fact that the pandemic is going to be mild, even though they have admitted in the latest pandemic health plan that it could be 10 times as bad as the base assumption used for planning. The Public Health Agency of Canada is spinning again.  They will make sure 90 per cent of flu victims don't need medical help, because there  ain't any for that 90%.

So now they have covered (their a**es). 10% medical help needed based on a mild 1968 scenario, which could be 10 times worse i.e. 100% need medical help.  Either way, "we did warn the public in the pandemic health plan".

You want perspective. I want perspective. Let's talk. We don't have to agree on every thing. If we do, one of us is redundant.

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by: anon.yyz @ Wed Jan 17, 2007 at 05:15:02 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Funeral Service Guide to Pandemic Planning

http://www.funeralbo...

Page 5

Estimated Impact
? 66% of the population may be infected.
? 33% may become seriously ill.
? 16% may require medical attention.
? 0.1% of the population may die.
? In addition, it is estimated that 10% of the population may stay home out of fear.

This is the Canadian plan in October 2006.

The CFR of 0.1% is so mild means that won't be enough supplies and personnel to do the job.

You want perspective. I want perspective. Let's talk. We don't have to agree on every thing. If we do, one of us is redundant.

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by: anon.yyz @ Thu Jan 25, 2007 at 06:10:50 AM UTC

Individual preparedness: public health and public safety ping-pong

On the Public Health web site, I found this page:

http://www.phac-aspc...

which provides a link to this for Emergency Kit:

http://www.getprepar...

which talks about 72 hour kits for all-hazards preparation.

However, when I drilled deeper into this website on

http://www.getprepar...

it provides a link under Other Emergencies - Pandemics

back to the Public Health site:

http://www.influenza...

This indicates that Public Health doesn't want to take responsibility for making a recommendation to the public for individual pandemic preparation.  Neither does Public Safety.

And because nothing's been done, and Public Health knows it's going to be a mess, a new hypothesis is put forward to demonize individual preparation, as in James Young's recent speech in the U.S. (away from Canadian media). 

Where is the Prime Minister?

For our American neighbors, don't think this won't affect you.  The endless obfuscation and misinformation will sip into the awareness of your public health officials. Canada keeps touting how much experience she has with SARS and how that event made Canada the international expert (in a first world nation) on pandemic mitigation.

You want perspective. I want perspective. Let's talk. We don't have to agree on every thing. If we do, one of us is redundant.

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by: anon.yyz @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 19:16:00 PM UTC

Commercial on HGTV

I was quite surprised to see a commerical on HGTV this evening urging to public to have supplies on hand for 72 hours in case of an emergency. The beprepared.ca website was given as a source for additional information.

I've never seen a commercial like that before here in Canada.

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by: Irene @ Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 07:37:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's NOT a government recommended site.

I posted this on the old forum:

http://www.fluwikie2...

ANON-YYZ? - 03 December 2006, 00:01

Country Girl - at 10:43 November 24th

I saw on TV news that the government of Canada has denied being involved with a website you named beprepared.ca

Apparently the government did indeed tell people to prepare and the site is getprepared.ca and does not sell product.

So just be careful.

For those technically inclined:

beprepared.ca is owned by a business:

Search multiple Generic and Country Code Top Level Domains

[whois.cira.ca] Status: EXIST Registrar: Namespro Solutions Inc. Registrar-no: 817195 Registrant-no: 1005587 Domaine-no: 1005587 Subdomain: beprepared.ca Renewal-Date: 2007/06/24 Date-Approved: 2004/06/24 Date-Modified: 2006/12/01
Organization: 1595457 Ontario Inc. O/A Axiom Digital Services Description: Survival supplies and information to help prepare your family for disaster. Admin-Name: Colin Pape Admin-Title: Admin-Postal: 1595457 Ontario Inc. O/A Axiom Digital Services

  555 Bay Street Suite 202 www.axiom.ca 
  Midland ON L4R 1L4 Canada  

Admin-Phone: 705-528-0783 Admin-Fax: Admin-Mailbox: colin@axiom.ca Tech-Name: Colin Pape Tech-Title: Tech-Postal: 1595457 Ontario Inc. O/A Axiom Digital Services

  555 Bay Street Suite 202 www.axiom.ca 
  Midland ON L4R 1L4 Canada 

Tech-Phone: 705-528-0783 Tech-Fax: Tech-Mailbox: colin@axiom.ca NS1-Hostname: ns10.optimumdns.com NS1-Netaddress: 67.70.226.27

NS2-Hostname: ns11.optimumdns.com NS2-Netaddress: 67.70.226.26

NS3-Hostname: NS3-Netaddress: NS4-Hostname: NS4-Netaddress: NS5-Hostname: NS5-Netaddress: NS6-Hostname: NS6-Netaddress:

You want perspective. I want perspective. Let's talk. We don't have to agree on every thing. If we do, one of us is redundant.

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by: anon.yyz @ Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 08:23:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

oops sorry, typo

I'm fairly sure the HGTV commerical was for getprepared.ca not beprepared.[b]ca[/b] as what was said in the commercial matched what the getprepared.ca site says and the commercial mentioned no products whatsoever and only mentioned the web site in passing.

I'm not sure why I typed the beprepared name as I actually had just visited the getprepared site before I posted my comment. I have visited the U.S. commercial site beprepared.com a number of times the past and I guess I just got confused.

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by: Irene @ Tue Jan 30, 2007 at 17:19:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

A dialogue on the use of antivirals for prevention

http://www.phac-aspc...

This is a public consultation exercise on preventive use of antivirals. However, it's garbage in, garbage out.  The basic assumption of a CFR of 0.2-0.6% (35% of 33 million sick) is questionable. Canada is proud to have ordered 55 million doses of antivirals, mostly Tamiflu. It looks like planning is based on "business as usual" during a pandemic as the assumption also states 70% of the population will be infected. This might explain why there is no policy to recommend individual preparation. There is also an over dependence on the magic of Tamiflu.  If the virus becomes Tamiflu resistant during a pandemic and the CFR gets 10 times higher (as stated as possible in the Canadian Pandemic Health Plan) which is still only 6% or 10 times lower than where it is now, and 70% of the population gets infected, then the consequences will be catastrophic. The CFR has to go down by a factor of 100 for the Canadian assumptions to be valid. Yes, complacency kills.

Expected Impact

In general, experts believe that a pandemic virus will behave in much the same way as seasonal flu.

  * The time between exposure to the virus and onset of symptoms will be 13
  days.
  * An infected person can be contagious:
  o starting the day before onset of symptoms and for 3 to 5 days after the onset of symptoms; and
  o transmission is more likely when the infected person is coughing.
  * Not everyone who is exposed to the virus will get sick.

It is anticipated that:

  * the pandemic virus will arrive in Canada within 3 months of the time it appears anywhere in the world;
  * the pandemic will likely occur in 2 "waves";
  * each pandemic wave will likely occur over a 6-8 week period in any given area;
  * there will likely be regional differences in the timing of peak pandemic activity;
  * the majority of the population - over 70% - will catch the virus over the course of the pandemic, but only 35% of the population will get sick; and
  * in the first wave (before the vaccine is produced and distributed), up to 25% of the population could be ill enough to miss at least a half day of work/school.

If the pandemic is "moderately severe":

  * Up to 20-25% of workers would be away from their jobs during the peak 2 weeks of the pandemic wave which could affect the delivery of essential services;
  * 110,000 ± 30,000 would be hospitalized and recover, and
  * about 40, 000 people ± 20,000 could die (many of whom would have been hospitalized prior to death). This is about 10 times more than in a regular flu season.

These predictions do not include the impact of vaccines, antivirals or other response measures. An actual pandemic could be more or less severe. 


You want perspective. I want perspective. Let's talk. We don't have to agree on every thing. If we do, one of us is redundant.

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by: anon.yyz @ Mon Jan 29, 2007 at 19:39:37 PM UTC

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: Pandemic Planning

http://www.ccohs.ca/...

Lot's of stuff.

You want perspective. I want perspective. Let's talk. We don't have to agree on every thing. If we do, one of us is redundant.

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by: anon.yyz @ Tue May 08, 2007 at 00:20:34 AM UTC