Houston Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Nov 2009: Feature - H1N1, Prepare to Battle with Swine Flu Combat Kit

The Centers for Disease Control warns that 2009 could be the worst flu season the nation has seen in years, thanks to the infamous Novel H1N1 virus or “swine flu.” Some doctors say that last year’s flu season never really ended with outbreak of the swine flu. Regardless, the CDC expects flu activity to rise again, ahead of the regular flu season, as 55 million students and 7 million staffers head back to the nation ’s 130,000 schools.

The “Swine Flu Combat Kit,” which can be assembled for just under $20, is recommended to avoid spread of the disease. Swine flu may infect half the U.S. population this year, hospitalize 1.8 million patients and lead to as many as 90,000 deaths, more than twice the number killed in a typical seasonal flu, the White House has advised.

The Swine Flu Combat Kit should include:

•Temple Touch Thermometer – Advised are noninvasive, digital forehead thermometers, like the Temple Touch thermometer available at Walmart for under $10. These thermometers do not cross-contaminate dangerous germs like traditional digital stick thermometers.

•Hand Sanitizer – Pocket-size bottles can easily be kept in book bags and lockers, briefcases and desks and can be purchased at any drug store.

•Soap and Water – You should keep these items handy at sinks. School children should wash their hands every hour at school.

•Baby Wipes – Parents and students should use these to wipe down hands, lunchboxes, notebooks and all other school supplies daily.

•Tissues – Use to cover coughs and sneezes.

Other suggestions for the combat kit can be found at www.Flu.gov.

To keep panic and the spread of the contagious disease at a minimum, many school systems are advising students, and businesses are warning employees, to stay away for seven days if they exhibit any flu symptoms.

Symptoms include: fever (The number-one symptom of any flu is a fever. Although, there are many similarities between the common cold and the flu, the key difference between the two is running a fever. According to the Mayo Clinic, more children miss school over the common cold than any other illness. To avoid a misdiagnosis, you should look out for a fever and then heed warnings to stay at home if a fever is detected.); cough; sore throat; runny or stuffy nose; body aches; headache; chills; fatigue; diarrhea*; vomiting*.

*Only reported in some cases.

Additional Swine Flu Facts:

•Any child who has been sick should be fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the aid of medications) before returning to school.

•Trials involving about 2,800 people are under way for a Swine Flu vaccine, with officials hoping to have 160 million doses available starting in mid-October.

•In its flu surveillance report for the week ending June 11, the CDC said nine states reported widespread activity: California, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey and New York.