What You Can Do To Beat The Flu

December 11, 2009  
Filed under News

Like Santa Claus, it comes every year, scheduled right on time. But unlike the jolly fellow in red, this character brings a different gift, a destructive gift that leaves in its wake ill feelings such as coughing, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and fever.

The enigma? Influenza virus, commonly known as the flu. This has been an especially hazardous year because not only is there the new annual mutation of the virus, but a close relative has also been spread worldwide gaining international attention, the H1N1 virus. This disease is also called “Swine Flu” although it is a sort of misnomer for the disease. Aside from diarrhea, shortness of breath, and loss of appetite the symptoms are exactly the same as the common flu.

Both the common flu and the H1N1 virus have been able to get to the farthest reaches of the earth, and yet the impact these flus had on Como Park Senior High was a lot smaller than expected. This was because of a thorough warning from many sources including most national news stations, both television and radio, as well as government sponsored messages from the Centers for Disease Control. A more than adequate time for preparation was also key to Como Park’s triumph over influenza and the H1N1 virus.

Students and staff alike partook in prevention methods and recount the some of the procedures they found most effective.

“I don’t know anyone who got the swine flu this year which is probably why I didn’t catch it. Whenever I can I use hand sanitizer to prevent catching anything, but other than that I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary,” said student Nic Sveiven.

“I’ve washed my hands as often as I could. Very important! Especially after touching pets and handling money. I know some of my relatives forgot to wash their hands and ended up catching the flu. Remember to wash your hands with soap and water!”
said teacher Teng Lo.

“My little brother got sick, but I didn’t [laughs]! I rub it in his face all the time now, because he had to stay locked in his room all day and he hated it. I didn’t talk to him very often and when I did I had to wear a mask,”
said student Tou Xiong.

The Center for Disease Control as well as the official government sponsored informative website (flu.gov) have come to a consensus on the most effective tactic for preventing the flu which would be by vaccinating oneself beforehand. Appointments to get the two flu shots at your clinic or doctors office should be made as soon as possible. If you are not able to afford a flu shot it is still possible to get vaccinated at the free clinic. (For more information about the free clinic visit this link.)

Since so many people schedule visits ahead of time with their respective clinics, you may be required to wait for a period of time to get your shot. In this instance there are certain medically approved and recommended ways to drastically reduce the chance of catching the flu before the vaccination date. First and foremost, you should wash your hands with soap and water often, especially after coughing and sneezing into them. If there is no soap and water available with which to wash your hands alcohol-based hand sanitizers are another alternative. Try to limit the use of antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers that claim to kill 99.9% of germs. Doctors are wary of these cleaning agents because they encourage bacterial resistance, in other words that 0.1% of bacteria that survives mutates into a strain that is much harder to kill.

Secondly, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing and sneezing to minimize the spread of germs. When you are done with the tissue throw it in the trash immediately, do not stuff it back in your pocket. By putting used tissues in your pocket it makes it easier for germs to spread onto your hands and from there onto your face. Another important thing to remember is to touch your face as little as possible because it’s the easiest way for germs to enter your body. Germs typically enter your body through the nose, mouth, and eyes and if the contact with these facial parts is limited then the chance of getting sick is greatly reduced.

Last of all try to avoid contact with people that don’t feel well and people that you know are contagious. When there are more people in a smaller area it makes it easier for sickness to pass from one person to another which means you should try to avoid large crowds whenever possible. On the flip side of things if you yourself are not feeling well stay home to avoid spreading it to others.

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