The swine flu is here. Prevention and treatment strategies are essential in combating what is being called a pandemic by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). For students in special education and mainstream classrooms, knowing what to do to prevent sickness is vital and proactive.
During the latest flu season, there is a pandemic flu virus that has manufacturers of vaccines and the CDC scrambling to address an increasing number of flu cases and flu deaths. Prevention is key in protecting against any flu viral transmission. The most important prevention is getting a flu vaccine for the H1N1 swine flu. In addition, there are other strategies that can help in prevention and treatment of viruses that cause the flu illnesses that are being seen in students in special education and mainstream classrooms.
- Get a flu vaccine.
- Cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm. If you miss your arm, cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze. Make sure if you use your hand to cover, a tissue or a cloth napkin that you wash, dispose and wash the items you have used to prevent others from touching live viruses if you have swine flu or any flu viral activity going on in your body fluids.
- Remember to keep your hands away from open areas like your mouth, nose or eyes where viral germs can easily be transmitted internally. Wash your hands immediately or use alcohol wipes or sanitizers to destroy germs. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water to get rid of flu germs.
- If someone is sick, keep your distance and try not to put your hands on surfaces or objects that the sick person has been in contact with to avoid viral transmission. Remember a person with swine flu can be infectious from the first day to the 7th day of infection and full blown symptoms.
- If you or someone you are caregiver to is sick with flu-like symptoms, the CDC recommendation is that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your flu symptoms have subsided and you are fever free.
- Construct a flu bag that contains all of the supplies you will need during your time at home dealing with the flu. Your bag should contain Kleenex, wipes, sanitizer liquid, medicines (prescribed and fever-reducing), liquids, soups and a healing CD for relaxation.
- Clean surfaces that may be contaminated with the virus since live viruses can remain on surfaces and objects from 2-8 hours from deposit by an infected person. Remember flu viruses are destroyed by high heat and chlorine, detergents and other chemical disinfectants.
- Treatment drugs include antiviral drugs that are used to treat any seasonal and swine flu viruses, so people who are showing signs of flu-like symptoms that include fever, headache, vomiting, difficulty breathing, coughing and others should seek medical intervention immediately.
- Download the CDC flyer if you have flu-like symptoms that could be the H1N1 swine flu: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/2009-10/pdf/what_to_do_if_get_sick.pdf .
Read the article: Study Guide: H1N1 Swine Flu Facts vs. Fiction for Special Education Students to learn more about what's real and what's not in today's swine flu pandemic.
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/2009-10/pdf/what_to_do_if_get_sick.pdf . A CDC guide for people who are sick with H1N1 swine flu. Retrieved from the Internet on October 31, 2009.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm . CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). 2009 H1N1 Flu ("Swine Flu") and You. Retrieved from the Internet on October 30, 2009.