Prevent and Prepare

H1N1 and Seasonal Flu in the City of Lewisville



Informational Websites
http://dentoncounty.com/dept/main.asp?Dept=33 Denton County Public Health

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu/default.shtm Texas Dept. of State Health Services

http://www.flu.gov/general/index.html#swine CDC Website


What You Can Do to Stay Healthy: PREVENT AND PREPARE!

Take everyday actions to stay healthy. You know what these are: getting enough sleep, eating well, avoiding stress, and drink plenty of fluids.
Cover your cough. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If you do not have a tissue handy, sneeze or cough into the inside of your elbow. Your elbow rarely touches anything else.
Clean your hands often. Soap and water is preferred, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective and should be used when you can’t wash your hands. You can find this type of cleanser just about anywhere. It comes in different sizes that fit on your desk, car, purse, or pocket.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way – you can infect yourself.
Stay home when you are ill. Do not send your children to school when ill.
Follow public health advice. Your local public health department will be looking at ways to reduce opportunities for exposure and to prevent infection, such as encouraging vaccination.
Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, facemasks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies. Remember your pet’s needs.
Stay Informed: Check the following websites often for information.
CDC website: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu
DSHS website: www.texasflu.org
Call 1-800-CDC-INFO to reach the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information.

What you should do if you think you have H1N1 Influenza:
Stay home if you get sick. Public Health recommends that you stay home from work, school, errands, and limit close contact with others to keep from infecting them. Stay home until there has been no fever (>100oPF) for 24 hours, without fever reducing medications. If you are a healthcare worker or if most of the people in your workplace are at high risk of complications from flu, then stay home for 7 days or until your symptoms are gone, whichever is longer.
In most cases H1N1 flu will resolve without medical attention.
Tips to get healthy:
get plenty of rest
take acetominophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen, or other fever reducing medicines as needed. DO NOT give aspirin or aspirin containing products to children and youth under 18 years old, to avoid Reyes Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening complication.
drink clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated
If medications are prescribed, be sure to follow instructions exactly. If you think you are having a reaction to the medication, report it to your health care provider immediately.
If you are at risk for complications of flu or sick, call your health care provider. Report your symptoms, and follow their advice. For mild symptoms, try not to call your healthcare provider or visit the hospital emergency room. IF SEVERE SYMPTOMS DEVELOP (see box), CALL YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. IF THE HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IS NOT AVAILABLE, GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
Collect all the information the healthcare provider will need to decide what kind of care you need including:
a list of symptoms, and how long you have had the symptoms
a list of your current medications
a list of your current health problems
Be watchful for emergency warning signs (see below) that might indicate you need to seek medical attention. IF YOU HAVE SEVERE SYMPTOMS, SEEK HEALTH CARE IMMEDIATELY. Severe Symptoms:
For Adults:
has difficulty breathing
has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, has not urinated in 4 hours
has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions)
has loss of consciousness
has an alteration in thinking or behavior
For Children:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Not drinking enough fluids; or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash


For more information on caring for an ill person at home, see the CDC website:
www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm