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How many will race for the vaccine depends partly on confidence in its supply and it’s perceived safety. The last breakout requiring mass inoculations was conducted against a different swine flu, in 1976.

 

The results were made quite grim by reports of a rare paralyzing condition, Guillain-Barre syndrome.

 

What you do and How you Decide to prevent the Spread of the disease may be what saves you or one of your loved ones. Here are some tips to Help:

 

1. Have your child vaccinated. The CDC recommends the flu vaccine for all children ages six months and older. Try to get the vaccine as soon as it's available, usually in early fall.

Your child will need two doses if she is six months to nine years old and is getting the vaccine for the first time. The first dose should be given as early in the flu season as possible, with the second one following about 28 days later. Remember that it takes about two weeks after the second dose for flu protection to begin.

 

2. Know if your child is at high risk. The CDC lists several conditions that call for special precautions when it comes to the flu. Talk to your pediatrician if your child has any of these health problems:

asthma                              chronic kidney disease

heart disease                  HIV/AIDS

diabetes                            suppressed immune system

sickle cell anemia           long-term aspirin therapy

any condition that can reduce lung function

 

3. Teach proper hand washing. Next to getting a flu vaccine, washing your hands often is probably the single best way to prevent the flu. Teach your kids how to do it right: Wash your hands thoroughly with warm soap and water for 20 seconds (that's long enough to sing "Happy Birthday" through twice). Rinse and, in public restrooms, turn the faucet off with a paper towel. Remind children to wash their hands as soon as they come home from school or daycare, before they eat, and after every trip to the bathroom. Pack an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in their backpack for times when soap and water isn't available, and remind them to use it often. The school should keep a good supply on hand, too.

 

4. Cover coughs and sneezes. People most often catch the flu through "droplet spread"—the stuff that comes flying out of your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Teach your child to cover his nose and mouth with a tissue (or the crook of his elbow, if a tissue's not handy) when he coughs or sneezes, and then throw the tissue away and wash his hands.

 

5. It's OK not to share. Flu germs can live on hard surfaces up to two hours or longer. Remind your child not to share food or dishes with friends, and check with the school or daycare to see that toys and other frequently handled surfaces—including desks and computer keyboards—are cleaned daily.

 

6. Keep your child home if she's sick. Flu symptoms in children include fever, chills, muscle aches, tiredness, a dry cough, sore throat, and sometimes nausea. To keep the flu from spreading, you should wait 24 hours after your child's fever is gone before letting her return to school.

 

7 Ways to Flu-Proof Your Home

It happens all the time: one family member gets the flu, and before you know it everyone else has it, too. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu germs can spread even before symptoms appear, and you can infect others up to a week after you first become sick.

 

But by practicing a few simple rules at home, you can help keep your family well and prevent the flu from spreading. Here's what to do:

Get vaccinated. Health experts say it's the single most important thing you can do to prevent the flu. There are two types of seasonal flu vaccine—the flu shot, which is approved for people six months and older, including those who have chronic health conditions; and the nasal spray vaccine, which is approved for healthy people ages 2 to 49 and women under 50 who are not pregnant. Schedule your family's vaccinations in the fall, preferably in October or November.

Cover coughs and sneezes. Flu germs are believed to spread through droplets from the mouth and nose. Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze and throw it away afterward; if there's no tissue handy, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow. Help your kids practice, too.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Experts say flu germs can live up to two hours or longer on hard surfaces. That's why it's so easy to pick up flu germs without knowing it—you touch an infected door knob or light switch, then rub your eyes or bite your nails, and boom!—you're infected. Learning to keep your hands away from your face can be tough, especially for children, but remind them (and yourself) often.

Wash your hands often. Use soap and warm water and scrub for a good 20 seconds, or long enough to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. Stock up on alcohol-based hand sanitizers for areas where sinks aren't available. Remind kids to wash up each time they use the bathroom, before they eat, and after they come home from school or a play date. Remember to set a good example, too.

Limit contact. If someone in your family does get sick, they should stay home to prevent the flu from spreading. Try to limit close contact as much as you can— change sleeping arrangements, if possible, and avoid sharing washcloths, towels, dishes, toys, and utensils.

Clean house. Flu germs and viruses love to lurk on kitchen sponges, dishcloths, cutting boards, home desks, bathroom and kitchen floors, sinks, and toilets. Clean and disinfect these hot spots regularly. You can microwave your kitchen sponge for two minutes to zap germs—or better yet, throw it out.

If someone in your household has the flu, take special care in washing their things. Wash dishes and silverware thoroughly by hand or in the dishwasher. You don't have to do a sick person's laundry separately, but try to avoid scooping up an armload of items and holding them close before washing them. Use laundry soap and dry on a hot setting. Always wash your hands immediately after handling dirty laundry.

Practice healthy habits. Don't forget the power of a healthy lifestyle to fight off sickness. Getting plenty of sleep, eating well, drinking lots of fluids, exercising, and managing stress can go far in keeping your family well this flu season.

 

 

 

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