What To Do (And Not To Do) About The Swine Flu

By Akela Talamasca on April 29th, 2009

First of all: Don’t panic!

Regardless of how scary this whole swine flu outbreak is, the methods for prevention are the same as you’d do for any other flu. Avoid contact with large crowds if at all possible. Thoroughly wash your hands if you’ve been outside. Carry around alcohol-based hand sanitizer for at-will use.

Remember that you’re responsible for the well-being of a child — a child who probably won’t be as media-savvy as you are. It’s up to you to manage your child’s fears. If you haven’t pulled her from school, she will likely be hearing from her friends all sorts of wild ideas, very few of which will resemble actual reality.

Here is a reassuring fact that you can relate to her:

Most people who contract swine flu recover on their own without hospitalization. In the end, it is just another flu. What makes this — or any flu — dangerous is the way it might weaken a pre-existing condition, such as exacerbating the symptoms of a respiratory illness, which could lead to pneumonia, a much more serious condition. The sole United States death resulted from pneumonia brought on by swine flu.

Remember that you can only do so much to prepare for contracting swine flu, and any effort outside of that is wasted energy. Above all, keep warm, keep exercising, and keep an eye on yourselves and those close to you for the first sign of illness. We’ll pull through this, folks.