Swine Flu (A H1N1) Education - part 4

How do you Reduce the Chances of Spreading Influenza?

* Practice good personal hygiene as listed in part 3

* Don't share eating utensils and drinking glasses

* Clean utensils used by sick people or surfaces they touch with warm, soapy water or disinfectant.

* Avoid crowded situations that place you in close contact with others.

* Don't smoke, Smoking make it easier to catch influenza and increases the likehood of serious complications.

* Stay home if sick with fever or cough.

How Do you Care for Yourself and Others?

Caring for yourself

The following are few of the things you or those you are caring for can do to help influenza symptoms. Of course, if the influenza appears to more severe, you should consult doctor immediately.

-> Measures your temperature, If it is not above 39 degree Celsius (100.4F), you probably don't have influenza.

-> Rest and avoid rigorous exercise.
-> Avoid contact with others.
-> Stay at home.

-> Drink plenty of fluids (glass of water of juices every hour).
-> Take paracetamol to reduce fever and relieve pain ( it wont kill the virus but makes you feel better).

-> Gargle with warm water to ease sore throat.
-> Use salt solution nose drops to help relieve a stuffed nose.

-> Keep your nose clean with disposable tissue paper and throw the used tissue papers in the right place and don't forget to wash hands after wards.

-> Don't smoke

Caring for others

Most patients with pandemic influenza will be able to remain at home during the course of their illness and can be cared for by other family members or others who live in the household. Anyone residing in a household with an influenza patient during the incubation period and illness is at risk for developing influenza. A key objective in the setting to lime in transmission of the pandemic influenza within outside the home. Even though there is a risk of transmitting the virus, people are going to hve to take care of each other if they got sick.

Management of Influenza Patient

Physically separate the patient with influenza from non-ill persons lint in the same home as much as possible. It would be nice if you have separate room for the sick person to isolate. Consider also how would you ventilate the room, It is important that the air from the room is expelled to the outside of the house and not back into the house.

* To minimize the risk of spreading the virus, only the caregiver should only be the one to visit the sick person room. and be reminded to always wash hands, wearing a mask is suggested.

* Patient should not leave the home during the period when they are most likely to be infectious to others ( 7 days from the onset of symptoms for adults or until 24-48hours after resolution of symptoms, whichever is longer). If necessary to leave home for medical care, patient should follow respiratory etiquette (cover mouth when coughing, sneezing or wear surgical mask)

* If the patient choose to wear a mask, place it over the nose, mouth and chin and secure in place with either elastic bands provided. Make sure to properly dispose that surgical mask after use.

How do you Reduce the Risk of Exposure During Transport to Work.

Public transport should be avoided. Options for transport to workplace, In order of preference from a risk perspective are the following.

-> Travel alone with you vehicle - under such circumstances, no special protective measures are required.

-> Travel alone in a rented vehicle - On the first acquisition of the vehicle, commonly touched surfaces (door handles, driving controls surfaces in immediate vicinity of seating should be wiped down with a recommended disinfectant solution). Hands should be washed any wipe down procedure.

-> Shared travel where passengers come within 1 meter of one another - vehicle occupants are advised to wear surgical mask while in the vehicle. Commonly touched surfaces should be wiped down with recommended disinfectant solution before each use of the vehicle. All occupants should wash hands soon after leaving the vehicle, and avoid touching their faces during transport. Hands should be washed after any wipe down procedure.

Information taken from the following:

http://www.un.org/staff/pandemic/
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
and reading materials gathered from my office, from hospitals and health centers

Kindly check the the first three part for more information:

Swine Flu (A H1N1) Education - part 1
Swine Flu (A H1N1) Education - part 2
Swine Flu (A H1N1) Education - part 3