Monday, November 02, 2009

Seasonal and H1N1 2009 information

With the seasonal flu and H1N1 2009 flu epidemic sure to get worse as flu season draws closer and peaks, I thought I would share my presentation (for work) with all of you too.

Influenza is spread from person to person via droplets...AKA: sneezes and coughs. The virus spreads when a contaminated droplet lands or is transfered to an object. This can be salt and pepper shakers, door knobs, shopping cart buggies, bathroom doors...you get the point. Then we touch our face. The nose, mouth and eyes are entry points to our bodies.

Some higher risk groups of people should be vaccinated first. These people are, children, people greater than 65 years of age, people who have chronic disease such as COPD, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or weakened immune systems and their caregivers.

Some signs and symptoms you may have the flu are fever (but not in everyone), cough (this is worse with H1N1), sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, chills, extreme fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children).
Not every one should seek Emergent Care. If you are not ill with the flu you have a good chance of getting it while you are at the emergency room. Some reasons to seek immediate emergent care are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe and persistent vomiting, flu like symptoms improving and then returning with a fever or worsening cough. In addition in children watch for not wanting to be held, not waking or interacting well, any fever with a rash, bluish color skin or not drinking.

The only treatment for the flu are antivirals (call your doctor to see if these are right for you), they can reduce symptoms and shorten the course by 1-2 days. The other medication is to simply treat the symptoms. Tylenol, ibuprofen and aleve may help ease fever and aches.

How do you lesson the spread of seasonal flu and H1N1 2009?
1) keep the sick person at home.
2) remind the sick person to cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue
3) use hand sanitizer and wash hands frequently.
4) have everyone in the home to stay away from the sick person (at least 6 feet if possible)
5) consider wearing a face mask or having the ill person wear a mask (if they are in a common area of the home).
6) if possible have the ill person use a separate bathroom.
7) stay home 24 hours after the fever has gone (this is without medication)
8) NO VISITORS
9) have only one person take care of the ill person
10) pregnant women should not care for the ill person if possible.
11) wash hands often and use paper towels to dry.
12) wash eating utensils and plates in hot soapy water.
13) avoid face to face contact.
14) if possible open windows for good ventilation.

Stay healthy everyone

4 comments:

Cecelia---Sis---Mom said...

I followed these to a "T" when my oldest, Steven, had H1N1. So far the rest of the family has remained healthy. Thanks for sharing the information.

Cece

Cindy said...

Great information, Bev, H1N1 been on the news non-stop for months now. I think it is beginning to scare people, though. The deaths are so sudden and so sad! My gff in BC, here in Canada got H1N1 quite unexpectedly. We can't be too cautious, though. Hugs, Cindy S.

Suzy said...

Great,informative report.(round of applause)!

Kerri said...

THANK YOU!!! Being a person with a compromised immune system, it is just plain scary for me. I cannot get flu shots.... LONG story. It's SO important to wash, wash, wash those hands!!!