Further, the release said, :The Red Cross also has steps people can take to prevent the spread of the flu virus during flu season. "
Here are the tips posted unedited here as a public service:
STEPS TO PREVENT FLU The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older as the first and most important step in protecting someone against flu viruses. In addition to getting vaccinated, the Red Cross has some simple steps people can take to help prevent the spread of the flu virus. Parents can also practice these things with their kids to help keep them well:
·
Cover the nose and mouth with a tissue
or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throw the tissue away after use. If a
tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into the elbow, not the hands.
·
Wash hands often, especially after
coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based
hand-rub.
·
Avoid touching the eyes, nose or
mouth.
·
Avoid close contact with people who
are sick.
·
Stay home if sick.
SIGNS OF THE FLU How does someone know they have the flu? The common signs of influenza are high fever, severe body aches, headache, being extremely tired, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and vomiting and/or diarrhea (more common in children).
If someone in the
household does come down with the flu, the Red Cross wants everyone to know the
best
way to care for them:
·
Designate one person as the caregiver
and have the other household members avoid close contact with that person so
they won’t become sick.
·
Make sure the person stays at home and
rests until 24 hours after the fever is gone.
·
Designate a sick room for
the person if possible. If there is more than one sick person, they can share
the sick room if needed. If there is more than one bathroom, designate one for
those who are sick to use. Give each sick person their own drinking glass,
washcloth and towel.
·
Keep the following either in the sick
room or near the person: tissues, a trash can lined with a plastic trash bag,
alcohol-based hand rub, a cooler or pitcher with ice and drinks, a thermometer
and a cup with straw or squeeze bottle to help with drinking. A humidifier will
provide extra moisture, making it easier for the sick person to breathe. Sick
people should wear a facemask, if available, when they leave the sick room or
are around others.
·
Give plenty of liquids (water and
other clear liquids) at the first sign of flu and continue throughout the
illness. People
with the flu need to drink extra fluids to keep from getting dehydrated.
·
Treat fever and cough with medicines
that can be purchased at the store. Remember, when children are ill they should
never be given aspirin or products containing aspirin - especially with the
flu.
·
If the person gets very sick, is
pregnant or has a medical condition (like asthma) that puts them at higher risk
of flu complications, call their doctor. They may need to be examined and might
need antiviral medicine to treat the flu.
-more-
Red Cross Offers Flu
Care Tips – Page 2
·
Keep everyone’s personal items
separate. All household members should avoid
sharing pens, papers, clothes, towels, sheets, blankets, food or eating utensils unless cleaned between uses.
·
Disinfect doorknobs, switches,
handles, computers, telephones, bedside
tables, bathroom sinks, toilets, counters, toys and other surfaces that are commonly touched around the home or workplace.
·
Wash everyone’s dishes in the
dishwasher or by hand using very hot water and
soap.
·
Wash everyone’s clothes in a standard washing machine. Use detergent and very hot water,
tumble dry on a hot dryer setting and wash hands
after handling dirty laundry.
·
Wear disposable gloves when in contact with or cleaning up body fluids.
CALL THE DOCTOR If someone thinks
they have the flu, their health-care provider should be consulted. Seek medical
care immediately if the person develops any of the following symptoms:
·
Fast breathing, trouble breathing or
bluish skin color.
·
Pain or pressure in the chest or
abdomen (adults).
·
Confusion or sudden dizziness.
·
Not drinking enough fluids, not being
able to eat, or severe or persistent vomiting.
·
Flu-like symptoms that improve but
then return with fever and worse cough.
·
Not waking up, being so irritable that
the child does not want to be held or not interacting (children).
·
Fever with a rash (children).
·
No tears when crying or significantly
fewer wet diapers than normal (children).
More information
about how to help protect loved ones during this flu season is available on redcross.org.
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