Palmetto Parent 2009 November Issue : Page 21
“What makes H1N1 ‘novel’ is that it is new and different,” Berry said. “It hasn’t been seen before, so no one has immunity to it. H1N1 will become another strain that we see on a regular basis.” But facing the first winter of the new strain’s widespread impact has families searching for answers. “A lot of the guidance we are giving parents about H1N1 is the same as regular seasonal flu,” Berry said. His first recommendation is for two flu vaccinations — the seasonal flu vaccine, which is widely available, and a vaccine against the H1N1 strain, which is expected to be available in sufficient amounts. “Don’t stop at one,” Berry said. “You need protection from the regular flu that we know is coming and then a separate specific vaccine for the H1N1 strain. It’s not a case of one and done.” Parents of children younger than age 10 may be advised to get more than one dose of each vaccine for their children. Artealia Gilliard, a spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, said vaccinations will be a critical component in halting the spread of both kinds of flu. “The single best thing you can do is to receive the flu vaccine — the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine when it is available,” she said. Beyond vaccinations, prevention mea- 10 symptoms of the flu For up-to-date information on the spread of flu, symptoms and recommendations, visit www.flu. gov. Updates are also available on Facebook and Twitter. The Centers for Disease Control say key indicators of the flu can include: n fever (though not everyone will have a fever) n cough n sore throat n runny or stuffy nose n body aches n headache n chills n fatigue n diarrhea n vomiting November 2009 www.palmettoparent.com sures are quite basic, but effective. “Wash your hands frequently with soap and water,” Berry said. “Rub your hands to- gether for at least 20 seconds or the amount of time it takes to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. Hand sanitizers are effective if soap and water isn’t readily available.” In addition to hand washing, Richards also encourages overall health maintenance to boost children’s immunity. “Good nutrition and plenty of sleep,” she said. “Make sure children eat healthy.” If the flu does strike, take steps to avoid sharing it with others. “If you are sick, stay home,” Berry said. “All of us have this ethic built in that we need to go to work or my child needs to go to school.Don’t take you child to day care if he is sick, especially if he has a fever.” Richards said children will be able to make up missed work and they should stay home if they have the flu. “If they have a temperature that is 100 degrees or higher,we want them to stay home until it is normal for 24 hours without something to bring it down,” she said. If children are taking fever reducers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, Richards said parents are unable to be sure their fever is normal. School absences or even the potential for school closings in the event of a large outbreak must be planned for in advance, Gilliard said. “We know it’s hard on the family finan- cially, but we call it shared responsibility,” she said. “You are not just responsible for your children’s health; children with preexisting conditions could have it much worse.” And adding a little extra cleaning during flu season can also help. Berry advises extra It’s an emergency when… According to the Centers for Disease Control, the following may be indicators of an emergency situ- ation. If any of the following symptoms appear in children seek emergency care immediately: n Fast breathing or trouble breathing n Bluish skin color n Not drinking enough fluids n Not waking up or not interacting n Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held n Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough n Fever with a rash In adults, seek emergency care for: n Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath n Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen n Sudden dizziness n Confusion n Severe or persistent vomiting sanitizing of common surfaces such as door knobs, tables, faucets, computer keyboards, phones, shopping cart handles and exercise equipment. Parents should also teach children to cough and sneeze into their elbow or a tis- sue rather than into their hands. “As soon as you can thereafter, throw away the tissue and wash your hands,” Berry said. ] SaleS PoSition oPen Palmetto Parent is looking for an experienced advertising sales person with lots of energy and and creativity. Must be computer savvy, have the ability to work under deadline pressure and be very organized. Please forward your resume to LoriC@palmettoparent.com. Palmetto Parent 21
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