Family & Consumer Sciences

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

Stay in formed. The Center for Disease Control website will be updated regularly as information becomes available.

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infect ed people.

Take everyday actions to stay healthy.

●Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

●Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

●Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

●Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.

Call 1-800-CDC-INFO for more information.

Be Prepared!

Cold and flu season comes around every year, and the concerns about the H1N1 virus this year mean it is even more important to be prepared.

Family Action Plan:

1. Plan ahead for family illness. Children and adults need to stay home when they are sick.  The Center for Disease Control recommends that you stay away from other people for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.  (That means no fever without taking fever-reducing medicine.)  Decide now what to do if your child gets sick and needs to stay home from school.

2. No school?  If your child’s school is closed due to illness or other reasons, have a plan for who will care for your children while you are at work.

3.  Make a list of important phone numbers like your doctor and pharmacy, so they will be easy to find if someone is ill.

Family Flu Care Kit:

Take a few minutes now to round up the things you will need if someone in your family comes down with a cold or the flu.  You may already have many of the items, and you’ll be able to make a trip to the store to stock up on the rest BEFORE someone is ill.

●Thermometer
●Plenty of tissues for blowing noses.
●Hand soap and alcohol-based hand sanitizer to kill germs.                                                            
●Fever reducing medicine, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.                                                           
●Check with your doctor for suggested types.                   
●Cough drops or cough syrups for older children and adults. Do not give these to young children.  Check with your pediatrician for treating coughs and congestion.                                              
●Electrolyte-replacement drinks or sports drinks to help prevent dehydration.  Powdered mixes to add to water take up less storage space.                                                             
●Canned soups and crackers for simple, warming meals.                                                                  
●Disinfectant household cleaner to kill germs on telephones, doorknobs and other household surfaces.  Coloring books or games for children who need to stay in bed.                                           
●This is one time that a new movie or DVD would be a good idea!

Children and adults who are sick need to stay away from the rest of the family, to avoid spreading germs to others.  Used tissues should be thrown away immediately. Everyone needs to wash their hands often!

Martha Yount
Breathitt County Family & Consumer Science Agent