Here are Nine ways to proactively prepare for the upcoming flu season. With the return of the H1N1 flu, Swine Flu, are you ready? (Additional CDC Tips, Click here) Swine flu has become the world’s dominant strain of influenza and the World Health Organization predicts that within two years, nearly one-third of the world’s population will have caught the swine flu.

Consider taking these 9 steps now, before you or your family comes down with swine flu.

1. Make a plan. Both medical and workplace experts suggest you create your plan now; know your company or child’s school flu policy.  Schools and workplace will be stricter in preventing the spread of illness.  Don’t be surprised later due to poor planning.  Does your company have a leave policy? How to keep up with class work?

2. Do you recognize the signs of illness? The CDC recommends you stay at least 6 feet away from people with flu-like symptoms, and you stay the same distance if you become ill. In fact, avoid others until you’ve been free of fever for 24 hours.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Have your doctor’s phone number and current medication easily located.

Children should get medical attention if they:

• Have fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Have bluish or gray skin color
• Are not drinking enough fluid
• Are not waking up or not interacting
• Have severe or persistent vomiting
• Are so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Have flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and a worse cough
• Have fever with a rash

Adults should seek urgent medical attention if they have:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then come back with worsening fever or cough

3. Stock up now. Get in the habit of taking your laptop home daily.  Do you and your children have portable sanitizers to use when washing is not available?  They are available at local drug stores. (These sanitizers are drying, so make sure to also carry lotion!) Stock up now with food supplies and comfort foods – electrolyte drinks, household cleaners, soft foods, pudding cups, extra canned soups, tissues and toilet paper.  Also make sure you have a thermometer to take your temperature. Here is the link to the Pandemic Mask.

4. Decide who the care-giver is if/when children become ill. One parent to take care of the ill, one to maintain normal household duties. If you live alone, fatten up your social network now and create “flu-buddies”

5. Don’t Go to Work Sick or Send Sick Children to school. Always be ready to work from home. DVD, magazines and Books - keep a few light, uncomplicated diversions for the down time.

6. Preventive steps: Get vaccinated. Get the regular seasonal flu shot and the swine flu shot when available.  Check your local listings for availability.

7. Don’t touch your face.  The virus enters the body through the eyes, nose and mouth. Keeping your hands clean is a huge preventive step.

8. Be healthy, take vitamins, eat healthy, exercise and reduce stress.
9. Enjoy time in a sauna a couple of times a week, the steam and heat can supposedly kill off viruses (if it’s over 80 degrees).

Although the outbreak may be milder than anticipated, it would be irresponsible to completely ignore all the warnings.  One of my favorite quotes is: “Four steps to achievement: plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively, pursue persistently.” William A. Ward

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