Nobody likes to get a cold and especially the flu.
How can we avoid getting sick when we are around so many kids who are coughing, sneezing and touching everything in sight. They sneeze, grab the door handle, touch their homework paper and borrow a pencil. Then you come along and open the door, check their homework and get the pencil back when they are done. Not to mention the airborne viruses that don't need much assistance to find their way into your nostrils - a good cough or sneeze and their sent on their way. How about the student who comes up to you and says Hey Mr. McDevitt I just got an A on my test and wants a high five hand slap right after he blew his nose. Yikes, I love my students but that's asking too much.
And it always seems that the next black plague is on the news. "This year is the worst flu season in decades". Don't they say that every year?
This year is no different with the H1N1(Swine Flu) virus. Hmmm..sounds like an algebraic problem with variables and numerals, how bad can it be? Well, it can be very bad for some, a major inconvenience for others and your basic annoying flu for many.
Outside of flu shots, face masks and quarantine is there anything we can do to protect ourselves?
I am no doctor and this is not medical advice so don't run around saying Mr. McDevitt told me so but here are some things that were forwarded to me from my father that got it from his brother who got it from his wife who got it from some guy named Steve, so you know it's got to be good.
The information is as follows:
According to the author Dr. Vinay Goyal an Intensivist and Thyroid specialist having clinical experience of over 20 years;
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6.* Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
Well that's it and for what it's worth I will throw in a couple other helpful hints of my own: My doctor once informed me that the anti-bacterial hand sanitizers do not work on viruses but only bacteria. Bacteria is killed but viruses only get pushed around the hand like a hockey puck on ice. So don't put too much faith in it keeping you from getting the flu. Another idea is to bring a hot thermos of tea or another liquid and sip it throughout the day to keep washing any of those buggers out of your throat and into the acid bath of the stomach below- that'll teach 'em.
I hope this helps - stay healthy!
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Have a great school year!
6 Steps for Teachers to Beat the Flu
By Ron McDevitt