Can you avoid the flu while traveling this holiday season?

November 20th, 2009

No one means to move about the country making other people sick, but it happens all the time. When we get on an airplane or other form of public transportation, we take our cold or flu with us. We also can pick up someone else’s, and literally, spread those cold and flu germs to people in another region of the country.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke yesterday about holiday travel safety and specifically the spread of germs. She was joined by representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Together these federal agency super powers recommended that we practice good hygiene, get flu vaccines and stay at home if we are sick.

It all sounds a bit simplistic. But — it’s true. That is what it takes. Wash your hands, cough into your elbow and stay out of public places when you are sick.

I have explored the idea of selling pandemic flu gift boxes. My research shows that they might sell well, but I can’t see how they will really help people. We put hand sanitizer and tissues in our Ready Auto Gift Boxes because these are the two emergency essentials that everyone needs for multiple situations.

The idea behind the Ready Home, Ready Auto and Ready Dog Gift Boxes is to help you be prepared today and tomorrow for the many hazards that you may experience. Tissues and hand sanitizer just makes sense in so many circumstances. The cheap face masks and alcohol wipes, we see promoted in some e-commerce stores, just don’t.

My suggestion for holiday travel: try and have some fun, don’t panic if someone near you sneezes, and keep practicing good hygiene.

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Pandemic Flu – The Basics

October 27th, 2009

I have the flu. It’s probably the pandemic flu. It’s not flu season. I’ve already had a seasonal flu shot. Plus, I know a lot of sick people who have been diagnosed with pandemic flu. Fortunately for me, I don’t have a severe case, and I don’t have any extenuating circumstances that would put me at higher risk.

However, I do have a two-year-old with asthma, and I am very concerned that he might get the pandemic flu. He tends to develop pneumonia when he gets sick.

How can I still be a “hands-on” mom and not let him get sick? I don’t have a magic answer. However, we aren’t sharing food or beverages, and I’m coughing into my elbow and washing my hands regularly. I’m doing what I can to keep my germs to myself and get better as fast as possible.

According to www.ready.gov, “a pandemic is a global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population and the virus begins to cause serious illness and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) divides the threat and occurrence of a pandemic into six phases, shown in the graphic below.

When writing pandemic flu plans for businesses, we often break down preparedness steps and response steps to coincide with these six phases (really eight phases) of a pandemic. Similar to the way airport security visibly increases with increased homeland security threat levels. The level of preparedness and response can change with the phases of the pandemic.

During the first three phases of a pandemic, the average family can prepare by practicing good hygiene. The best things to do are cough into your elbow, wash your hands often, stay home if you’re sick, and avoid spending time with sick people. You may also want to keep hand sanitizer, tissues and over-the-counter medicines on hand.

During Phase Four, it makes sense to get a flu shot. If your doctor recommends it, get a seasonal flu shot and an H1N1 (swine flu) shot. Now is also the time to make sure you have a good supply of comfort items and other supplies to weather the flu.

We are currently in phase six of the pandemic; this is the time to get more information about the flu and the policies of your business and school. I recommend visiting websites such as www.ready.gov and www.flu.gov for an increased understanding of the flu. These sites are easy to navigate, and the information they provide is easy to follow. You might also ask some questions of your school or workplace. For instance, what is the policy on staying home to care for sick family members during a pandemic? How will your child be protected from the flu at school? Will the school close if lots of children become ill?

In addition to getting more information, you should stock some additional supplies. Staying home when you are sick will help you feel better and decrease the chance of infecting other people. Keep comfort foods for yourself and your child on hand.

I obviously don’t have the answer to staying healthy during a pandemic. Your co-workers may come to work sick. Children in your children’s schools may be sick. The person sitting next to you at the movies or on the bus may be sick. The flu is highly contagious, and avoiding it completely is unlikely.

During the post peak time of the pandemic, regroup. Clean your office or home with disinfectant, and restock any supplies you may have used. Remember, it really pays to stay prepared for a pandemic flu or any type of disaster.

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