Avoid Swine Flu: Practice Good Personal and Social Hygiene to Avoid the Swine Flu
Build a H1N1 Swine Flu Survival Kit
How to Avoid Catching the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus
As American and foreign media continue to warn about the possibility of a massive H1N1 swine flu epidemic this winter, good hygiene must become a focus for those who are concerned about catching the swine flu.
While the H1N1 swine flu strain is ever changing, according to the Center for Disease Control, simple good hygiene and social practices can provide a moderate amount of protection from catching the swine flue.
- Cover that Face. Feel the tingle of a sneeze or a cough coming on? Respiratory droplets carrying the H1N1 virus strain are cited as a likely culprit to the spread of the swine flu between humans. Cover your nose and mouth, preferably with a tissue. Then, dispose of your used tissues properly or wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap for at least 25 seconds.
- Wash Your Hands. The ultimate insurance against catching the swine flu is remembering to practice good hygine by washing your hands throroughly on a regular basis throughout the day.
- Keep Your Distance. Remember in grade school learning about personal space? Keep your distance wheneven possible and consider skipping events in which large numbers of people will be confined in a closed space for too long.
- Exercise and Take Your Vitamins. Over one-half of swine flu fatalities and those hospitalized with the swine flu had underlying health problems to begin with. Protect your health by getting at least seven hours of sleep, 30 minutes of exercise a day and taking vitamins, especially Vitamin C and D, to help boost your immune system.
- Watch for Travel Advisories. Keep tabs of your travel plans for advisories from U.S. government officials and international agencies for swine flu activity. If an advisory is issues, consider rescheduling or canceling travel plans to the region until the advisory is cleared.
- Do Not Go to Work. When you feel symptomatic, that is. If you or your children become ill with symptoms parallel to those reported with the swine flu, keep quarantined in your bedroom at home and help prevent the spread of the swine flu.
- Hand Sanitizer isn't Fool Proof. While many folks use antibacterial hand santizers to protect themselves from bacteria and viruses, many of these topical solutions kill up to 50 percent of germs. Additionally, after each application during the day, effectiveness decreases. Use hand sanitizers in conjunction with antibacterial soap and water throughout the day.
Swine Flu Information
What are the symptoms of the swine flu? Swine flu symptoms are similar to the seasonal flu, including fever, sneezing, sore throat, coughs, headache and muscle or joint pain.
Who should be most concerned about the swine flu? While traditionally, the very young and elderly should be concerned about the seasonal flu, the swine flu is an equal-opportunity virus. People who are classified as obese, or are diagnosed with asthma, diabetes, with heart disease or a weakened immune system are most likely to be hospitalized, according to the CDC.
