| The worldwide flu news headlines on the outbreak of | | | | That should do it.) The more you wash, the safer |
| the new virus - formerly known as swine influenza - | | | | you are. |
| are enough to scare a small child. | | | | 2 Teach kids to sneeze or cough into a tissue and |
| Throw in the World Health Organization's elevating | | | | then throw the tissue away. And then wash their |
| the worldwide pandemic alert level to 5 last week - | | | | hands again! |
| just one step below full pandemic - and it's enough to | | | | 3 Get a Flu Shot. If flu shots are available, make sure |
| understandably send frightened grown-ups into | | | | everyone in your family who is old enough gets one. |
| defensive action mode. | | | | 4 Don't Share. Tell you kids not to drink after other |
| But what exactly is it that we at home can do to | | | | kids or share food. And warn your daughters not to |
| prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu virus? | | | | share lip-gloss. |
| There's No Place Like Home | | | | 5 Disinfect Your Home.What's the most germ-laden |
| President Felipe Calderon of Mexico put it best in his | | | | room of your house? Nope, it's not the bathroom. It's |
| first televised address this week since the outbreak | | | | the kitchen -- especially the sink area. And the worst |
| started: "There is no safer place than your own | | | | germ-breeding object in your house? The kitchen |
| home to avoid being infected with the flu virus," | | | | sponge or dishrag. The moistness in sponges creates |
| Calderon said. | | | | an ideal growing environment for these nasty little |
| And once we're there, the better we know how to | | | | creatures. Disinfect sponges periodically by wetting |
| keep a virus from taking root or spreading in our | | | | them and popping them into the microwave for two |
| home, the safer our home and the family members | | | | minutes; replace them at least once a week. Change |
| inside will be. | | | | dishrags daily. |
| This is especially important for parents, because as | | | | 6 Clean surfaces that may harbor germs with a good |
| we know, the flu hits younger children harder | | | | virus-killing disinfectant, such as Clorox or Lysol. |
| because they haven't built up many immunities. | | | | Regularly clean doorknobs, faucets, countertops, |
| Worse, the flu vaccine is in short supply in many | | | | keyboards, telephone receivers and any other |
| places and babies can't take it, anyway. | | | | frequently touched surface. |
| It helps to remember the reason why we usually get | | | | 7 Take Care of yourself. Cold germs are around all |
| colds and flu this time of year. Not because of the | | | | the time. So why aren't we sick all the time? Usually, |
| weather - but because we're all cooped up with each | | | | healthy, well-nourished, well-rested people can fend |
| other (and each other's germs) indoors. | | | | off many germs. And if you do get sick, good health |
| Rhinoviruses can survive up to three hours on skin | | | | usually helps you recover faster. So make sure your |
| and inanimate objects. That means when little Johnny | | | | family gets at least eight hours of sleep, eats healthy |
| hacks away without covering his mouth at preschool, | | | | meals (lots of fruit and vegetables) and exercises |
| your little Annie has ample opportunity to come in | | | | daily. All the good stuff you should be doing, anyway! |
| contact with his germs. And to bring them home | | | | 8 Keep the Flu at Home. If you or your child is |
| alive. | | | | running a temperature, stay home! Do not go out |
| According to the Centers for Disease Control, spread | | | | and infect others. And if you have younger kids, |
| of the swine influenza A H1N1 virus is thought to | | | | think twice before sending them to indoor |
| occur the same way: mainly from person to person | | | | amusement parks where toddlers may have been |
| through the coughing or sneezing of people with | | | | drooling over plastic balls, etc. And avoid people who |
| influenza. | | | | have been sick. Adults are contagious up to seven |
| Additionally, sometimes people may become infected | | | | days after experiencing symptoms. And kids are |
| by touching something with viruses on it and then | | | | contagious longer than that. Parents may want to |
| touching his nose or mouth. | | | | consider talking to his or her employer about working |
| So What's a Mom to Do? | | | | from home. |
| While we can't do much about the worldwide spread | | | | 9 If you do get the flu, start antiviral prescription |
| of influenza, there are 10 simple but effective things | | | | medications such as oseltamivir or zanamivir right |
| we can do inside our home: | | | | away. If you take these drugs within the first 48 |
| 1 Wash Your Hands. And make your kids wash their | | | | hours of symptoms, they can lessen the severity. |
| hands. A lot. (Tell them they can finally play in water.) | | | | Otherwise, all you can do is drink a lot of liquids and |
| Avoid the anti-bacterial soaps that may actually cause | | | | try to sleep through it. If your symptoms are severe |
| more viruses in the long run by making germs | | | | - and particularly if you have difficulty breathing - see |
| resistant. Unless kids' hands are visibly dirty, | | | | a doctor. |
| encourage them to use the alcohol-based cleansers | | | | 10 Finally, call a family meeting to discuss your family's |
| that clean without water. These cleansers kill germs | | | | plans for a pandemic. Who will care for the kids if |
| by dehydration. You can buy small bottles and pack | | | | mom and dad are both sick? Be sure to stock up on |
| them in your kids' backpacks for use at school. If | | | | cleaning supplies, such as soap and alcohol-based hand |
| they need soap and water, they must scrub | | | | wash, fever reducers, lots of water or other |
| vigorously for at least 30 seconds to kill germs. (Tell | | | | hydrating fluids, and plenty of tissues. |
| Annie to wash while she sings the Alphabet Song. | | | | |