Health officials are coordinating efforts across the region and reaching out to the public with information regarding the arrival of the H1N1 “swine flu” in New Hampshire.

“A lot of it is education,” said Brian Lockard, Salem’s health officer. “Education is probably the best thing we can do. We don’t want people to be in fear or to panic, we want them to be aware.”

Lockard posted informational fliers throughout the community last week, ranging from proper handwashing techniques to tips for staying healthy. Lockard has also posted a link to the Center for Disease Control on the town’s Web site.

Judging from the phone calls he has handled since the swine flu emerged in Mexico late last month, being able to stay informed and updated is exactly what residents want, Lockard said.

“I’ve been getting a number of calls. I don’t think people are panicking, they’re looking for information,” he said.

Lockard participated in a coordination meeting this morning with local health and emergency officials from surrounding communities. The Southern New Hampshire Public Health Emergency team met to streamline efforts across the region to disseminate information to the public and coordinate resources in the event officials had to activate their emergency response actions to combat the spread of swine flu, Lockard said.

Were the flu virus to reach a pandemic level in New Hampshire, Lockard said local officials are preparing to set up multiple “points of distribution” locations, or PODs, to get antivirals or vaccines out to the public.

According to Fire Chief Kevin Breen, who doubles as the town’s emergency management director, officials at the community level are monitoring the situation, keeping a close eye out for potential outbreaks and reviewing their preparations.

“Right now we’re in a monitoring stage ... Everybody is reviewing their support activities and should this escalate, people are prepared,” Breen said.

Many of the health emergency plans local officials are now revisiting to aid in the prevention of the spread of swine flu have been in existence for years. While updated regularly to reflect each new potential threat, Lockard can remember when it was known simply as the “smallpox plan.” Now, after the anthrax attacks and concern over the avian flu, Lockard said the plans have come to be known as an all-hazard plan and can be tailored to any potential public health emergency.

For the time being, Lockard is still focusing on coordinating plans with neighboring communities, communicating with state and federal officials and relaying public health information to residents.

“If (residents) take measures to prevent the spread of swine flu, that will go along way into preventing any serious issues,” Lockard said.