Elmo says wash your hands: H1N1 flu preventive tips and some swine flu advice

I’ve already told the kids they will be getting the two shots needed to prevent swine flu this year. Of course, this prompted lots of “no ways” and “I hate shots” drama from them. Tough, I figure a few shots won’t be such a big deal if I promise a trip to Dairy Queen for a cone afterwards.

Besides the shots, which won’t protect you 100% from the H1N1 flu, what else can you do to prevent getting sick? Elmo’s advice about washing hands, not touching your face and mouth, and sneezing into your elbow (all things I need to practice) are easy to do for both kids and adults. Here are a few more tips

Advice from Dr. Erika Schwartz, Medical Director of Cinergy Health

Get eight hours of sleep every night.
Eat three meals a day that balance complex carbohydrates, protein and are chock full of fruit and vegetables. Stay away from prepared and preserved foods.
Drink six glasses of water and two cups of green tea a day.
Exercise six days a week to feel better, not to exhaustion.
Stay away from sick people and don’t go to work if you are sick. If we care for each other we won’t be spreading the flu.
Address stressors in your life and limit their impact.

Dr. Schwartz seems to be advising that you build up your immune system, eat healthfully, take care of your body and brain by exercising, and eliminate stress. All good advice to avoid getting sick (or reducing the time you’re sick) from swine flu or the common cold.

My “I’m not a doctor, just a mom who’s a bit of a worry wart” advice

Keep a supply of all the things you like to drink and eat when you’re sick, especially cans of soup and bottles of juice to keep you hydrated. (I particularly like butternut squash soup and V8 juices. My kids and their dad like ramen noodles and Campbell’s Chicken Noodle soup.) Keep some easy to make or heat up meals in the freezer or pantry, too.
Make sure you have a working thermometer to take everyone’s temperature.
Stock up on over the counter fever reducers and pain relievers. Ask your doctor what s/he advises you take. Make sure you have enough for a couple of weeks as well as the children’s versions of the medications.
Stock up on disinfecting wipes, alcohol-based hand sanitizers or antibacterial hand wipes, too. Get the kids to help you wipe down counters, sinks, door handles, the phone and your car’s interior a few times a week or more.
Encourage the kids to wash their hands after play dates, using the playground, and before all meals. If the kids can’t get to the bathroom at school, most teachers keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the classroom. An alternative is Wet Ones® Antibacterial Wipes, which clean hands and kill 99.99% of germs. They’re just as effective in killing germs as a gel hand sanitizer, but also clean away dirt. Plus, they don’t dry out your skin like alcohol-based sanitizers. Kids can keep a packet in their backpacks, cubbies or desks. Talk to the teacher about supplying the classroom with them, too.
Bring wipes or sanitizer to the gym! Remember to wash your hands after working out, too.
Find out if your grocery store delivers or if there is a food delivery service available in your area. If not, there may be a local milk delivery service that offers online ordering. Besides milk, they usually deliver yogurt, eggs, cottage cheese, and juice, so at least you’ll have some food coming in.
Don’t forget about your pet’s needs. Make sure to have enough of their food and medication on hand in case you can’t leave the house for awhile.
Find out your company’s or university’s policies regarding the swine flu. Do they have a plan? (If not, they should!) Are they advising you to stay home if you’re sick? Do you need a doctor’s note? If you’re enrolled in school, can you get assignments online or via email?
For the kids, what is their school’s policy regarding H1N1 flu? Do they want you to keep kids home if they have a fever? How soon can you bring them back? Is homework and class assignments available on the school’s website or via email from their teachers?
If you’re sick, do you have someone to watch the kids, take over the school carpool, get groceries, pick up the mail, etc.? Make sure you have backup and all their contact info. However, if one of you is sick, the whole family may have to stay home, too. You may want to stash away some special games, crafts, books or videos to keep the kids entertained while you’re camped out on the couch.
It’s scary when mom or dad is sick. Know what to say to your kids when that happens. Reassure them that you’ll be fine.
You may need the older kids to help out and take care of their siblings, too, so make sure they can reach what they need. (You might want to put some dishes and glasses out on the counter or give them a lesson on how to change the toddler’s pull up.) Explain that they cannot use the stove. Show them how to safely use the microwave, if they’re old enough. You know the drill.
Go over (again) with the kids on how to call 911 if there is an emergency. Kids always seem to get into trouble when mom is upstairs sleeping.
To learn more about how to stay healthy go to www.flu.gov.