August 26th, 2009 by MWilhelm

Tips for caring for yourself and your kids in the face of H1N1

When it comes to our kids, we really like to be prepared for that worst-case-scenario, whatever it is this week. With swine flu on our minds, let’s take a look at what we can do to be prepared for a theoretical absolutely big-time flu disaster.

Remember – this is the equivalent of always wearing clean underwear just in case you get into a car accident. So far, the swine flu has been fairly mild and can be kept at bay by washing our hands a lot and keeping sick kids home from their weekly play group when they’ve got the sniffles.

But it’s always good to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Your Family’s Swine Flu Emergency Preparedness Plan

• School closure plan – Decide what you’re going to do if your schools close due to a flu outbreak. Will parents have to stay home from work? Can other relatives step in instead? Usually day care centers won’t be available to pick up the slack for you, since the point is to keep kids from congregating in groups where they can swap germs. Don’t be caught off guard with no plan for how to handle this situation in your own household.
• Keep a stash of medical supplies – Don’t let the fancy title fool you. We’re talking about such mundane things as tissues, not Tamiflu. Prescription drugs like that can be expensive and only work after someone has a definite case of the flu and usually have expiration dates that make them unsuitable for long-term storage.

• • Over the counter cold and flu remedies – these can be great to have on hand for treating minor cases of the flu, but watch their expiration dates as well.
  • Other prescription drugs and vitamins your family uses regularly – try to get refills as soon as you can, so you’re not down to your last pill when the crisis comes.
  • Fluids with electrolytes – these can help keep sick people hydrated properly so they can recover faster and with fewer complications.
  • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer – this is great for keeping your hands cleaner when soap and water aren’t convenient. Clean hands are the best way to keep from spreading any infection to healthy family members.
  • Child-specific fever reducers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen – fever is a major component of any kind of flu, and being able to keep it under control can be beneficial.
  • Surgical masks – these are just in case you’re caring for someone in your home with a highly-contagious flu like swine flu. They can help keep the caregivers and visitors from getting sick themselves.

So here’s what you should store in your stash:

• Keep a stash of food and household requirements that would last you two weeks – Businesses may close, just as schools do, and you don’t want to be caught with no toilet paper in the house. Plan ahead for staying snugly in your own home for a while and being self-sufficient.
• Keep up with health news – Your local health department and schools may be able to add you to a list to receive email alerts about swine flu in your area, and the CDC has a great website with an overview of the current nation-wide situation: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
• Stay home if you’re sick, and keep your kids home if they’re sick – Aside from the societal benefits of not spreading potential flu to other people, you’re more likely to catch infections from other people if your immune system is busy fighting off something else. So do yourself a favor and stay home when you’re sick (and keep your kids at home when you’re sick too). You’ll recover faster if you rest, and will be less likely to get a secondary infection.
• Prepare to care for sick kids at home – The CDC recommends caring for kids with the flu in a separate room with good ventilation – keep the windows open if you can keep the room warm enough while doing so. They need lots of rest and plenty of fluids. And check in with the CDC’s up-to-date recommendations on their website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/parents.htm
• Make it a habit to wash your hands! – Every scientific study confirms that by far the best way to avoid infection by any virus or bacteria is to wash your hands often. Take this on as your newest, best habit and teach your kids the same thing. It’s easier now with alcohol-based hand sanitizer you can carry in your bag or keep at your desk.

There’s no need to panic about how to hunker down during a flu pandemic, but it makes sense to be aware of what smart steps you can take just in case. You never know when your mother’s insistence that you prepare for the worst will turn out to be one of the best things she taught you.

http://www.kfsm.com/sns-health-swine-flu-family-safety,0,5414429.story