Now that America has declared a state of swine flu public health emergency, you may be asking yourself--what am Isupposed to do?
Now
that
America
has
declared
a
state
of
swine
flu
public
health
emergency
,
you
may
be
asking
yourself
--
what
am
Isupposed
to
do
?
Here is a list of practical steps you can take to prepare and protect yourself and your family.
Here
is
a
list
of
practical
steps
you
can
take
to
prepare
and
protect
yourself
and
your
family
.
1) Know the symptoms--Here are some of the symptoms that sound like swine flu--fevers over 100 degrees (37.8degC), body aches, cough, runny nose, and sometimes, nausea and diarrhea.
1
)
Know
the
symptoms
--
Here
are
some
of
the
symptoms
that
sound
like
swine
flu
--
fevers
over
100
degrees
(
37.8degC
)
,
body
aches
,
cough
,
runny
nose
,
and
sometimes
,
nausea
and
diarrhea
.
It's also useful to know if you might have had an exposure either by recent travel to Mexico, or to the areas of known cases so far in America--specific areas of California, Texas, New York, Ohio and Kansas.
It
's
also
useful
to
know
if
you
might
have
had
an
exposure
either
by
recent
travel
to
Mexico
,
or
to
the
areas
of
known
cases
so
far
in
America
--
specific
areas
of
California
,
Texas
,
New
York
,
Ohio
and
Kansas
.
Or you may have been exposed to a sick person who came from those areas.
Or
you
may
have
been
exposed
to
a
sick
person
who
came
from
those
areas
.
2) Don't panic--If you have symptoms that sound like swine flu, do not rush to hospitals.
2
)
Do
n't
panic
--
If
you
have
symptoms
that
sound
like
swine
flu
,
do
not
rush
to
hospitals
.
Not only is this difficult for the healthcare system, it can also be potentially dangerous for everyone.
Not
only
is
this
difficult
for
the
healthcare
system
,
it
can
also
be
potentially
dangerous
for
everyone
.
Call your doctor or local public health clinic before going in.
Call
your
doctor
or
local
public
health
clinic
before
going
in
.
3) Contain the illness--Hand-washing works.
3
)
Contain
the
illness
--
Hand-washing
works
.
Wash, wash and wash.
Wash
,
wash
and
wash
.
Invest in some hand sanitizer for the whole family.
Invest
in
some
hand
sanitizer
for
the
whole
family
.
Avoid hugs and kisses of well-wishers, and do not share telephone handsets or computers.
Avoid
hugs
and
kisses
of
well-wishers
,
and
do
not
share
telephone
handsets
or
computers
.
Be especially careful to always cough into the elbow of your arm (yes!
Be
especially
careful
to
always
cough
into
the
elbow
of
your
arm
(
yes
!
the elbow, not your hand!).
the
elbow
,
not
your
hand
!
)
.
Cover your cough and sneeze to protect others.
Cover
your
cough
and
sneeze
to
protect
others
.
4) What about a mask?
4
)
What
about
a
mask
?
-- The data shows that masks do work--as long asthere is a tight seal about the mouth and nose.
--
The
data
shows
that
masks
do
work
--
as
long
asthere
is
a
tight
seal
about
the
mouth
and
nose
.
5) Eat the pork (if you want)--Swine flu gets its name because pigs can get the infection and spread it to each other--as well as to humans.
5
)
Eat
the
pork
(
if
you
want
)
--
Swine
flu
gets
its
name
because
pigs
can
get
the
infection
and
spread
it
to
each
other
--
as
well
as
to
humans
.
This latest virus contains pieces that indicate it evolved from swine flu virus, and can now spread from person to person.
This
latest
virus
contains
pieces
that
indicate
it
evolved
from
swine
flu
virus
,
and
can
now
spread
from
person
to
person
.
Swine flu is not spread by properly prepared and cooked pork products.
Swine
flu
is
not
spread
by
properly
prepared
and
cooked
pork
products
.
So if you want to eat pork, you can.
So
if
you
want
to
eat
pork
,
you
can
.
6) Getting sick?
6
)
Getting
sick
?
Stay home!
Stay
home
!
-- In our go-go-go culture and these severe economic times, it can be very hard to call a boss and cancel a day's work.
--
In
our
go-go-go
culture
and
these
severe
economic
times
,
it
can
be
very
hard
to
call
a
boss
and
cancel
a
day
's
work
.
Now, however, if you or your loved ones are feeling like there's a flu coming on, stay home.
Now
,
however
,
if
you
or
your
loved
ones
are
feeling
like
there
's
a
flu
coming
on
,
stay
home
.
7) Stockpile?
7
)
Stockpile
?
-- Right now, it's too early for any of us to become a Swine Flu Shut-In, but the public health department recommends that each home have two weeks of supplies, in case we must stay home--either for illness or to help contain transmission.
--
Right
now
,
it
's
too
early
for
any
of
us
to
become
a
Swine
Flu
Shut-In
,
but
the
public
health
department
recommends
that
each
home
have
two
weeks
of
supplies
,
in
case
we
must
stay
home
--
either
for
illness
or
to
help
contain
transmission
.
That means two weeks of food for everyone in your home, two weeks of all medications, and, if you're like most people, two weeks of books and DVDs.
That
means
two
weeks
of
food
for
everyone
in
your
home
,
two
weeks
of
all
medications
,
and
,
if
you
're
like
most
people
,
two
weeks
of
books
and
DVDs
.
Now that America has declared a state of swine flu public health emergency, you may be asking yourself--what am Isupposed to do? Here is a list of practical steps you can take to prepare and protect yourself and your family.  1) Know the symptoms--Here are some of the symptoms that sound like swine flu--fevers over 100 degrees (37.8degC), body aches, cough, runny nose, and sometimes, nausea and diarrhea. It's also useful to know if you might have had an exposure either by recent travel to Mexico, or to the areas of known cases so far in America--specific areas of California, Texas, New York, Ohio and Kansas. Or you may have been exposed to a sick person who came from those areas.  2) Don't panic--If you have symptoms that sound like swine flu, do not rush to hospitals. Not only is this difficult for the healthcare system, it can also be potentially dangerous for everyone. Call your doctor or local public health clinic before going in.  3) Contain the illness--Hand-washing works. Wash, wash and wash. Invest in some hand sanitizer for the whole family. Avoid hugs and kisses of well-wishers, and do not share telephone handsets or computers. Be especially careful to always cough into the elbow of your arm (yes! the elbow, not your hand!). Cover your cough and sneeze to protect others.  4) What about a mask? -- The data shows that masks do work--as long asthere is a tight seal about the mouth and nose.  5) Eat the pork (if you want)--Swine flu gets its name because pigs can get the infection and spread it to each other--as well as to humans. This latest virus contains pieces that indicate it evolved from swine flu virus, and can now spread from person to person. Swine flu is not spread by properly prepared and cooked pork products. So if you want to eat pork, you can.  6) Getting sick? Stay home! -- In our go-go-go culture and these severe economic times, it can be very hard to call a boss and cancel a day's work. Now, however, if you or your loved ones are feeling like there's a flu coming on, stay home.  7) Stockpile? -- Right now, it's too early for any of us to become a Swine Flu Shut-In, but the public health department recommends that each home have two weeks of supplies, in case we must stay home--either for illness or to help contain transmission. That means two weeks of food for everyone in your home, two weeks of all medications, and, if you're like most people, two weeks of books and DVDs.