Five sane tips for responding to swine flu

April 30, 2:53 PMAmarillo Parenting ExaminerCaron Guillo

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I am so against panicking over swine flu that I hesitate to even write this article.

But as a parent, teacher and Parenting Examiner, yes, I’m watching this thing closely. According to the Amarillo Globe News, as of Wednesday, three Amarillo children are being tested for possible swine flu infections. That’s hardly reason to come unglued, though, so I’ve culled 5 sane tips for responding to swine flu concerns:

• If you or your child are sick, stay home. That makes sense anyway, but let’s be honest: if we can’t afford to miss work or school, we’re there. In this case, the most apparent symptoms are fever, aches, sore throat, cough and possibly diarrhea and vomiting. If you think your teenager might have the flu, call your doctor or urgent care clinic before going in.
• Wash your hands frequently. You’d be surprised how many kids skip this detail. If soap and water aren’t available, hand sanitizer will suffice.
• Don’t rush out to buy medical masks just yet. First of all, your child probably won’t even consider wearing one, so don’t waste your money. Besides, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends covering your mouth and nose only if you are caring for an ill person or if you are doing the sneezing or coughing.
• Bring on the bacon cheeseburgers. Eating properly prepared (i.e., thoroughly cooked) pork will not put you at risk for swine flu. Heart disease is another matter, but not the subject of this discussion. To emphasize this fact, the WHO is renaming the virus “influenza A (H1N1).”
• Stay informed. As of this writing, the Amarillo Independent School District website notice reads, in part: “At this time, we have not been informed of any suspected cases of swine flu among school age children or staff in the Amarillo Independent School District. This is a constantly evolving situation so our district administration is in close communication with the local health department.” As a side note, the UIL has revised it’s original plan to cancel regional athletic competitions.

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