Info 101: Six steps for surviving the flu season

September 21, 6:14 PMDC Grandparenting ExaminerNancie Meng

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  Prevention is the best weapon against flu this season for patients of all ages .

Whether you have only occasional visits with your grandchildren or are their primary caretaker, familiarity with preventative measures and the steps to take if the flu strikes is essential. After all, older people and younger children, especially those with chronic medical conditions, are at higher risk than other segments of the population.

Six Steps to Preventing Flu

• Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing, but also after touching keyboards, telephones, doorknobs and almost anything else anyone else has touched.
• Cover your nose and mouth with with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. No tissues? Buy some and keep them on you.  But in a pinch you can cough into your sleeve rather than all over someone else.
• Germs are spread easily when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, so keep your hands away from those areas.
• If you are sick, stay home and, when possible, stay away from others who are ill.
• Learn everything you can about the flu from symptoms (paying particular attention to those of children)  to treatments.
• Teach your children (and grandchildren) well by following the first five steps outlined above.

Other Resources

• Once a parent, always a parent, so  The Flu: A Guide for Parents from the CDC is for grandparents, too. Print one off and send it to your grandchildren's parents.
• FDA information on  2009-2010 Flu Vaccines
• Everything you ever wanted to know about the flu can be found here on NIH's MedlinePlus.
• NIH also offers an interactive tutorial on Influenza in English and Spanish.