Things to consider when selecting a sunscreen –
o Broad Spectrum – protects against both UV-A and UV-B rays
o SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher. SPF 15 filters out over 90 percent of the sun’s harmful UV-B rays; SPF 30 ~96 percent and SPF 45 ~98 percent.
o Waterproof when you will be sweating or swimming
o Made in particular for use on your face. This will help to avoid the sunscreen
You can prepare for an influenza pandemic now. You ought to know both the magnitude of what can happen during a pandemic outbreak and what actions you are able to take to help lessen the impact of an influenza pandemic on you and your family. This checklist will help you gather the information and resources you may need in case of a flu pandemic.
1. To plan for a pandemic –
o Store a two week supply of water and food. During a pandemic, if you can’t get to a store, or if stores are out of supplies, it will be important for you to have extra supplies on hand. This can be useful in other types of emergencies, such as power outages and disasters.
o Periodically check your regular prescription drugs to ensure a continuous supply in your home.
o Have any nonprescription drugs and other health supplies on hand, including pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold medicines, fluids with electrolytes, and vitamins.
o Talk with family members and loved ones about how they’d be cared for when they got sick, or what’ll be needed to care for them in your home.
o Volunteer with local groups to prepare and assist with emergency response.
o Get involved in your community as it works to prepare for a flu pandemic.
2. To limit the spread of germs and prevent infection –
o Teach your children to wash hands frequently with soap and water, and model the correct behavior.
o Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues, and make certain to model that behavior.
o Teach your kids to stay away from others as much as possible if they’re sick. Stay home from work and school if sick.
3. Items to have on hand for an extended stay at home –
Examples of food and non-perishables
o Ready-to-eat canned meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, beans, and soups
o Protein or fruit bars
o Dry cereal or granola
o Peanut butter or nuts
o Dried fruit
o Crackers
o Canned juices
o Bottled water
o Canned or jarred baby food and formula
o Pet food
o Other non-perishable items
Examples of medical, health, and emergency supplies
o Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood-pressure monitoring equipment
o Soap and water, or alcohol-based (60-95%) hand wash
o Medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen
o Thermometer
o Anti-diarrheal medication
o Vitamins
o Fluids with electrolytes
o Cleansing agent/soap
o Flashlight
o Batteries
o Portable radio
o Manual can opener
o Garbage bags
o Tissues, toilet paper, disposable diapers
Using smokeless tobacco (also called snuff or spitting tobacco) is a harmful health habit.
Travel Warning – Swine Influenza and Severe Cases of Respiratory Illness in Mexico - Avoid Nonessential Travel to Mexico
As of April 27, 2009, the Government of Mexico has announced 18 laboratory confirmed human cases of swine influenza A/H1N1 infection. Evaluation is continuing to clarify the spread and severity of the disease in Mexico.
Suspect clinical cases have been reported in 19 of the country’s 32 states. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alert and Response Network (GOARN), and the CDC have sent specialists to Mexico to work with health authorities.
CDC has confirmed that seven of 14 respiratory specimens sent to CDC by the Mexican National Influenza Center are positive for swine flu virus and are similar to the swine flu viruses recently identified in the USA.
On April 25, the WHO Director-General declared this event a Public Health Emergency of International Concern below the rules of the International Health Regulations.
CDC and state public and animal health authorities are currently investigating 20 cases of swine flu in humans in California, Texas, Kansas, Ohio, and New York City. Some of the U.S. cases have been linked to travel to Mexico.
Presently, only two of the 20 cases in the U.S. have been hospitalized and all have recovered, but deaths are reported to have occurred in Mexico. CDC is concerned that continued travel by U.S. travelers to Mexico presents a serious risk for further outbreaks of swine flu in the U.S..
CDC Recommendations
At this time, CDC recommends that United States travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico. Changes to this recommendation will be posted at http – //wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/.
Please check this site frequently for updates.
When you have to travel to an area that has announced cases of swine flu –
Stay Informed
o Check updates from the –
o Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
o Secretaria de Salud,
o World Health Organization
o Monitor announcements from Mexico’s Ministry of Health and local government including information about affected areas, as not all areas are equally affected.
o Follow local public health guidelines, including any movement restrictions and avoidance recommendations.
o Be aware that Mexico is checking all exiting airline passengers for signs of swine flu. Exit screening may cause significant delays at airports.
Prepare for your trip before you leave
Antiviral Medications – Travelers from the USA going to Mexico who are at high risk of severe illness from influenza are recommended to take antiviral medications for prevention of swine influenza during travel.
The advised antiviral drugs for swine influenza are oseltamivir (brand name Tamiflu
Hepatitis B is a virus infection you are able to get any age. It’s harmful to the liver. It can even lead to chronic liver illness, liver cancer, and death.
Hepatitis B spreads through contact with infected blood or other body fluids. You can get Hepatitis B if you’ve sex with someone who has it. You can get it by shooting up with used needles. You can get Hepatitis B if you get a tattoo or body piercing after the needles or tools have been used on someone else. When a woman with Hepatitis B is pregnant, the baby can get the illness from her.
There is no cure for Hepatitis B. But there are shots to prevent Hepatitis B. Consult with your primary care provider about getting the Hepatitis B shots when you –
o Live with someone who has Hepatitis B
o Inject illegal drugs and share needles
o Have sex with somebody who has Hepatitis B
o Have sex with more than one individuals
o Are a man who has sex with men
o Have had a recent sexually transmitted infection
o Have HIV infection
o Have liver disease
o Are receiving kidney dialysis
o Have a blood clotting-factor disorder
o Plan to travel to and stay more than 6 months in a country where many people have Hepatitis B
o Make certain to work where you may be exposed to blood (for example, in a hospital, laboratory, or residential care facility).
The Hepatitis B vaccine is given in a series of 3 shots. The second and third doses are given 1 month and 6 months after the first dose. The shots are safe and you will not get Hepatitis B from them. After each shot, you could have some soreness where the needle went in.
With the massive amount of media coverage today on every cable news network and website, swine flu is getting an unbelievable amount of attention, and rightfully so. World health agencies are scrambling to produce mass amounts of vaccines, and only the coming days will tell of their success.
In the mean time, there are things you are able to do to help lessen your chances of catching the now infamous swine influenza virus. The steps you are able to take to help prevent you or your family from contracting it are extremelysimple and easy, but we figured it wouldn’t hurt to give you a refresher course.
Wash Your Hands
Yes, we used caps because as simple as this sounds, you would be amazed at how many people do not wash their hands at home or in public (even after a restroom trip). the simple act of soaping up with warm water will lower your chances of catching nearly anything, and when you are not in the habit of doing this, then you need to begin ASAP, namely when you live in any of the affected areas. I cannot imagine that you are so important and busy that you cannot take literally 3 minutes to wash your hands. Just do it.
Face Mask
As we ordinarily see in Asian countries during an outbreak, people wear face masks for a good reason. While it’s not the sum solution, it can help prevent you from inhaling any airborne particles of the virus.
If you’re in an area that has confirmed cases of swine flu, the last thing you want to do is speak to someone face to face and accidentally catch a particle of their saliva in your mouth (which happens all the time, you just do not notice it). Face masks are really inexpensive, and may be easily obtained.
Limit physical contact
Most times it would be seen as a rude or disrespectful gesture to not shake hands, kiss, or hug (depending on what country you’re in), but I’m sure no one would’ve a problem with holding back physical contact during a time of worldwide emergency. The less you touch other people , the lesser chance you’ve of coming into contact with the virus.
Limit public transportation
Everyone has to work, travel, etc
Hearing loss is among the most common conditions that affect adults middle-aged and older. Most adults have a gradual hearing loss, starting about 18 years of age. Almost one-third of adults over 60 years of age and half of adults over 75 have meaningful hearing loss.
Hearing problems can affect your daily life. Everyday sounds are harder to hear. These can include doorbells, television, radio, automobile horns and alarms. Having a conversation may be more challenging. This can lead to not understanding instructions, advice or warnings.
o Do you strain to hear a conversation?
o Do others complain when you turn up the volume on the television or radio?
When you replied yes, you could be experiencing a hearing loss.
Hearing loss may be determined with a hearing test. If you have hearing loss, there are devices available that can help you to hear better. A hearing aid amplifies sound and is worn in or behind the ear. Equipment is available to help with listening to Television and talking on the phone.
Some hearing loss could be prevented. This includes noise-induced hearing loss. Protect your hearing by compensating attention to noises. Too much exposure to loud noises – lawn mowers, plane engines, automobile races or loud music – can result in hearing loss. When using headphones, adjust the volume to lower levels.
Speak with your primary care provider if you think that you are having problems with your hearing.
In an earlier post, we listed the top 10 swine flu respirator masks, with prices, for your convenience. After thinking about it a little more, and after today’s spike in confirmed and suspected swine flu cases, it’s time to begin thinking of extra measure you are able to take to help lessen your chances of getting it when (yes, I said when) it breaks out in your area.
Note – Ordering these items now will ensure that you still pay a reasonable price for them. If swine flu becomes as large as some predict, you’ll be compensating out the nose for them (if you can even get your hands on them at that point).
Additionally, let us be clear – we understand that the items below aren’t cures or vaccines for the swine flu
Here are some action steps to help you manage your diabetes. Ask your provider or diabetes educator to help you.
Make sure to check your blood sugar at home the way your provider or diabetes educator showed you to do it.
This document provides interim guidance and will be updated as needed.
Detailed background information and recommendations regarding the use of masks and respirators in non-occupational community settings may be found on PandemicFlu.gov in the document “Interim Public Health Guidance for the Use of Facemasks and Respirators in Non-Occupational Community Settings during an Influenza Pandemic” http – //www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/maskguidancecommunity.html
Information on the effectiveness of facemasks1 and respirators2 for the control of influenza in community settings is extremelylimited. Hence, it’s difficult to assess their potential effectiveness in controlling swine influenza A (H1N1) virus transmission in these settings.
In the absence of clear scientific data, the interim recommendations below have been developed based on public health judgment and the historical use of facemasks and respirators in other settings.
In areas with confirmed human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, the risk for infection may be decreased through a combination of actions. No single action will provide complete protection, but an approach combining the following steps can help decrease the likelihood of transmission.
These actions include frequent handwashing, covering coughs, and having ill persons stay home, except to seek medical care, and minimize contact with others in the household.
Additional measures that can limit transmission of a new influenza strain include voluntary home quarantine of members of households with confirmed or probable swine influenza cases, reduction of unnecessary social contacts, and prevention whenever possible of crowded settings.
When it is absolutely necessary to enter a crowded setting or to have close contact3 with persons who may be ill, the time spent in that setting ought to be as short as possible.
When used correctly, facemasks and respirators may help reduce the risk of getting influenza, but they should be used along with other preventive measures, such as avoiding close contact and maintaining good hand hygiene.
A respirator that fits snugly on your face can filter out small particles that may be inhaled around the edges of a facemask, but compared with a facemask it’s harder to breathe through a respirator for long periods of time. More information on facemasks and respirators may be found at www.cdc.gov/swineflu.
When crowded settings or close contact with others cannot be avoided, the use of facemasks1 or respirators2 in areas where transmission of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus has been confirmed should be considered as follows –
1. Whenever possible, rather than relying on the use of facemasks or respirators, close contact with individuals who may be ill and being in crowded settings ought to be avoided.
2. Facemasks1 should be considered for use by person who enter crowded settings, both to protect their nose and mouth from other individuals ‘s coughs and to reduce the wearers’ likelihood of coughing on others; the time spent in crowded settings should be as short as possible.
3. Respirators2 ought to be considered for use by person for whom close contact with an communicable person is unavoidable. This can include selected person who must care for a sick person (e.g., family member with a respiratory infection) at home.
These interim recommendations will be revised as new information about the use of facemasks and respirators in the current setting becomes available.
For more information about human infection with swine influenza virus, visit the CDC Swine Flu website.
1 Unless otherwise specified, the term “facemasks” refers to disposable masks cleared by the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as medical devices. This includes facemasks labeled as surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation, or laser masks. Such facemasks have several designs.
One kind is affixed to the head with two ties, conforms to the face with the aid of a flexible adjustment for the nose bridge, and may be flat/pleated or duck-billed in shape. Another kind of facemask is pre-molded, adheres to the head with a single elastic band, and has a flexible adjustment for the nose bridge.
A third type is flat/pleated and affixes to the head with ear loops. Facemasks cleared by the FDA for use as medical devices have been determined to have specific levels of protection from penetration of blood and body fluids.
2 Unless otherwise specified, “respirator” refers to an N95 or higher filtering facepiece respirator qualified by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
3 Three feet has often been used by infection control specialists to define close contact and is based on studies of respiratory infections; nevertheless, for practical purposes, this distance may range up to 6 feet.
The World Health Organization uses “approximately 1 meter”; the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration uses “within 6 feet.” For consistency with these estimates, this document defines close contact as a distance of up to 6 feet.
