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Your Best Defense Against the Flu
By CoffeeMom | October 16, 2009
After spending much time on the phone this week speaking with a Wellness program that our insurance offers for disease management, I was relieved to have some direction and advice.
Both of my daughters have been diagnosed with asthma. If you’ve heard anything in the news about H1N1 and the children who have suffered the most and actually died from the H1N1 virus – many of them have had an underlying condition, including asthma.
As a mom, I’ll admit that it’s had an impact on my thinking and concerns about this strain of influenza. No mother wants their child to be sick, but the idea of your child becoming seriously ill (or worse) from something like a flu bug is concerning. Flu shots are debatable these days and have to be a decision parents make in conjunction with physicians.
Measures of Defense
After speaking with a nurse on the subject and asking her a few questions, here is what she shared with me:
The best defense against H1N1 or any other virus for that matter, is HANDWASHING. Now with a 4 year old and a 2 year old, soap can be a pretty fascinating thing. My girls love to “wash” their hands – translation: squirt as much soap onto their hands and immediately stick their hands under the running water while the soap slides down the drain, splashing as much on the floor and each other as they can manage.
So that’s not the kind of handwashing the nurse was talking about. She said it was important to teach them HOW to wash their hands and to make sure that it becomes a real habit for them. Here is what the Mayo Clinic has to say about handwashing:
Good hand-washing techniques include washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Antimicrobial wipes or towelettes are just as effective as soap and water in cleaning your hands but aren’t as good as alcohol-based sanitizers.
Basically, use warm water, lather with soap and rub hands together without rinsing for 15-20 seconds. Scrub all surfaces (as if you were prepping for surgery) and be sure to address fingertips and fingernails thoroughly. Rinse well and dry with towel.
Using an alcohol based sanitizer was the second recommendation she made, although she wasn’t sure how the 2 year old would manage it. I keep the hand sanitizer in a place where it either can’t be reached, or it is in my pocket or right next to me. It is absolutely NECESSARY to keep alcohol based sanitizer out of the reach of small children, as consumption – accidental or intentional – (even just a little bit) can be very dangerous because of the concentration of alcohol in the product. You want to use a product containing at least 60% alcohol to effectively kill germs.
The third recommendation goes without saying, but still must be said – stay away from sick people. This may seem obvious but it can actually be difficult to do. You don’t always know if someone is sick – and with holidays approaching – more people shopping – more family get togethers – it is critical to avoid exposure to sick people. It is hard to avoid family get togethers when you haven’t seen family members in some time – but if you are sick or you know your child is sick – it is best for you to avoid being around others who may catch what you have. And if a family member seems sick – or even admits to being sick – do what you can to avoid close contact with them and wash hands as often as necessary to prevent germ contamination!
If you are sick – your very best treatment – after you consult with your physician – is REST. I have been known to call on my mother in law (who lives about 2 minutes from our house) when I’ve woken up sick – and asked her to take the girls so I can both get rest and avoid spreading my germs to them. Little ones don’t care if mommy is sick – they still want all the love and cuddles and attention they normally get – and my girls especially love to play a “game” called “drink as much from mommy’s cup as I can.”
Sleeping, or just resting, is an amazing treatment for almost any illness – and sometimes it can be hard to come by – but ask for help if you can and allow your body do what it was designed to do when illness comes.
Support it with lots of fluids – clear fluids (not soda pop or coffee…) – like lemon-lime soda, juices, broth, even black or herbal teas. Tea can be a great soother for sore throats and coughing, especially when sweetened with honey. Soups are a great option for anyone under the weather. (A homemade chicken noodle soup can do wonders for stuffy noses, coughs, or the flu). Stock up now on canned soups and broths, juice and your favorite lemon lime soda – if nobody in your family gets sick, you’ll have plenty of welcome ingredients for holiday gatherings!
Don’t hesitate to call your doctor if you or a family member is showing signs of sickness. Most physicians expect the calls this time of year – and look forward to helping you avoid serious illness by identifying your symptoms early and starting treatment (whether that means rest or an antibiotic) as soon as possible.
Talk to your doctor about the flu, pneumonia, and H1N1 vaccines. If you trust his or her judgment, then you can easily make a decision for you and your family regarding whether or not to seek vaccination against these health concerns.
Typical Symptoms of H1N1:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore Throat
- Body Aches
- Chills
- Fatigue
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms begin appearing 3-5 days after exposure to the virus. These symptoms are not different from basic influenza, and that’s why so many doctors are recommending vaccination against both H1N1 and influenza.
I’m not a doctor. I cannot give you advice on any medical condition, and if you have any questions regarding you or another family’s medical condition, please consult your family physician. These are just tips and guidelines to get you started on your best defense agains the flu!
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Topics: Coffee, Family & Kids, Hot Topics, In the News, On the Home Front | 3 Comments »
October 16th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
[...] Here is the original post: Your Best Defense Against the Flu [...]
October 17th, 2009 at 1:35 am
These are great suggestions. I have asthma too, and I asked my doctor if I was “doomed” if I got the H1N1 flu and fortunately he said no, lol! My friend’s son has athma and he got it and came thru just fine!
If you want to see what I mean, try and leave a comment on your personal blog. I assume you will have the same problem. Anyway, just thought your comment about Tara fixing hair was sooo funny and came over to tell you so!
October 17th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Debbie…
Just wanted to say thank you for participating at the Internet Cafe. Thanks for sharing your story too..
Blessings, Kim