It seems that this disease is here to stay and that we must be on the watch for it. Suppose that you did everything to prevent the disease; hand washing, rest and boosting your Immune System via healthy habits, but you caught Swine Flu anyway. Perhaps you were lax and forgot to wash your hands that one time and put them in your mouth, maybe someone sneezed on you, you were snatched by a quirk of fate or the fickle finger of fate. What ever the reason you like me contracted the disease. The people at risk for complications from the disease according to medical experts are:

1. Those who suffer from Asthma
2. Have lung disorders
3. Have Heart Disease
4. Diabetics
5. Are pregnant
6. Are Obese

When someone is felled by a disease it is a medical crisis. As someone trained in the behavioral sciences a crisis is defined as an upheaval in the normal operations of daily living which does not last over six weeks; if it does it is a disorder; This is a psychological definition. In the medical world there are two types of diseases/ crisis acute and chronic, the former is of short duration and possible quick onset the the latter may take a lifetime to develop and will last a lifetime. i.e. think of the flu as acute , diabetes as chronic. Whatever the length of time the best way to have a fighting chance is to be prepared.

For this epidemic we should get into the pre crisis mode, and that is simply adequate preparation with maybe a modest rehearsal of the bad possibilities. While we are still well we should take steps to be on the ready for the onset of the disease. This is not prevention mode where we cut somersaults to try to avoid it, but rather it is like Boot Camp before the war. And this may determine whether we live or die. The following are steps we must take while we are not ill.

Pre Crisis Mode

1. Where is the nearest Emergency Room?- You may have difficulty breathing if you catch Swine Flu and this may be deadly if left unchecked. Thus you must go to the hospital.
2. Is This Emergency Room Any Good?-Don't wait to the last minute to find out that the hospital has been sited for violations in the Emergency Room; this may endanger your life
3. Write down a list of all the medications you are taking and keep it on your person-If you become unconscious this information may save your life when you're in the hospital.
4. How Are You Going To Get To The Hospital?-By ambulance or car? It's important to know this for time is of the essence.
5. Who is going to take care of your pets/or children if you become incapacitated? Who will take care of you if you are bed written.
6. What is your normal temperature?-the average is 97.0 to 100.00. What is yours? Don't wait to catch something and don't know.
7. Make sure you have an up-to-date  First Aid Kit with a working thermometer.

You are now squared away in the pre crisis mode and are prepared for the medical emergency. Now the onset of the disease has begun and you are now in a medical crisis. The experts maintain that there is a window to take Tamiflu when it is most effective and that is at the onset of symptoms. The following is key when you have the disease:

CRISIS MODE

1. See a physician and take all medications prescribed for the flu and any other illness.
2. Stay hydrated-drink plenty of fluids- decaffeinated-this will bring the fever down and will keep the water balance in your body.
3. Rest
4. If there is any hint that you have difficulty breathing i.e. shortness of breath go to the emergency room immediately
5. Take you temperature every hour-if it is above 100.4 and/or way over what is considered normal for you go back to the doctor

Swine Flu is no joke-it can be deadly but time and knowledge may be of the essence to survive-getting treatment at the onset of the disease is important and knowing the general state of your health is important for it will help you battle this disease. In part 2 I will tell you what happened when I contracted the disease and how it helped me spiritually to become a better person-religion hasn't  anything  to do with being spiritual even though there are people who are religious and spiritual.