Swine Flu Outbreak: How families can prepare by Amber Watson-Tardiff Monday April 27, 2009, 5:16 PM http://www.nj.com/parenting/amber_watsontardiff/index.ssf/2009/04/swine_flu_outbreak_how_familie.html Is your family prepared for a swine flu outbreak? For those of you following the Swine Flu outbreak, Mayor Michael Bloomberg just confirmed that 28 cases of the virus have been found in a NYC area school.
That's practically in our backyard, New Jersey.
And while you don't need to panic , there are some common sense things that you and your family can do in advance of a potential swine flu outbreak.
The CDC actually has tips on avoiding the epidemic listed on their website, but here is what I am personally doing to prepare:
1. We've purchased at least 3 weeks worth of non-perishable food and bottled water just in case our area should ever fall under a quarantine.
2. We've started taking Elderberry Extract. You can find more information on this natural remedy for the swine flu here, but in short, Elderberry has been shown in some studies to be effective against bird flu and other strains of influenza. It's also proven to be safe for infant and young children.
3. We've decided to eat at home for the next few weeks to avoid any unecessary contact with servers, cooks and patrons (plus its good for our wallet!).
4. We are being extra cautious about washing our hands thoroughly with soap and water (which is sufficient by the way--antibacterial gels are not necessary).
Now compare my list to that of a virtual friend and medical blogger, Kristie McNealy, MD. Here are some of the things she me told on Twitter regarding her own preparation for Swine Flu:
"We are sticking to fresh, home prepared foods with plenty of fruit and veggies as usual, getting black elderberry, picking up N100 masks just in case and normal flu prevention stuff."
I hadn't thought of getting masks until I talked to her (and maybe I felt crazy even thinking about it), but apparently they are already flying off the shelves in most local supply stores.
And of course I realize Swine Flu may turn out to be an over-hyped dud like SARS or the first bird flu, but I'm still approaching it like a snow storm with a "better safe than sorry if I'm gonna be trapped in my house" mentality.
Yet this blog is meant to share ideas among parents. We want to hear what YOU are doing to prepare your family for a potential swine flu outbreak (if you are doing anything at all). Please weigh in below with your thoughts on this nerve-wracking situation.
Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons artist sarihuella
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