Pandemic Information

With the new information about the Swine Flu occurring in Mexico and other parts of the World, I am posting several articles from Meridian Magazine contributor Carolyn Nicolaysen. Please read this post and check out her blogsite on my list of Self Reliance links under the Pandemic title for more information. She has written about what things to store for to prepare and well as how to self quarantine and how to handle the situation if a family member becomes ill. Spend some time clicking thru her menu to find additional information. I am going to buy this week some Jello and powdered Gatorade, Chicken Soup, and Otter Pops for treating dehydration, masks ( I believe the dollar Tree has some)and another box or two of latex gloves. Though this may not turn into a real Pandemic, it helps us realize how quickly a disease can travel around the world and how we must become prepared! This link below discusses what food storage to have on hand in case of a flu epidemic.
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/emergency/081029flu.html

Pandemics – Prepare for a Quarantine
By Carolyn Nicolaysen
What is pandemic flu, and how does it differ from seasonal flu? According to the Center for Disease Control:
“Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person.”
Pandemics are more serious than epidemics, because pandemic flu does not have an available vaccine, and it can spread dangerously fast. Agencies involved in pandemic planning recommend every family have an emergency store of food on hand, because affected areas will have to endure quarantine to contain the spread of disease.
Health agencies disagree on the size of the ideal home store, ranging from recommendations of a ten day to three month supply, with most now recommending a three month supply. As an emergency approaches, retail store shelves will be rapidly stripped of all supplies. As we have seen, when storm warnings are issued it takes only minutes for shelves to empty and may be days before new supplies arrive. The same will happen once the first signs of a pandemic flu appear.
Since even the seasonal flu can take weeks to go through a family, a three month supply should be the goal. You may remember in my last article When the World Catches the Flu, I cited examples of communities who self quarantined voluntarily. The most successful quarantines lasted a minimum of two months. You may also be called upon to help family members and friends, and you will want to be prepared.
If you live in the country on a few acres, your home is the ideal place to self quarantine during a pandemic – and perhaps with nearby family and extended family. This will allow the children to play outside occasionally without exposure to others who may be carrying the flu. A rural setting would also allow contaminated garbage to be kept far from the house. If you have this rural advantage, you are the likely refuge for your family, and will need to store more food and water to be ready.
Don't forget the needs of pets. Store food, water and medications for them as you would any other member of the family.
Stock up on:
• Prescription drugs to insure a continuous supply in your home. You may ask your doctor if he has samples or can help you to lawfully prepare.
• First aid supplies.
• Nonprescription drugs including pain and fever relievers, stomach remedies, anti diarrhea medications, and cough and cold medicines and preventive medications.
• Remember, never give young children aspirin. Purchase medications specifically designed for children.
• Fluids with electrolytes.
• Vitamins.
• Anti bacterial wipes for cleaning up after attending to a patient.
• Hand sanitizers should also be included in your first aid supplies. These should be used every time you are with someone who is ill or after you shake hands with anyone.
• Make sure you also have at least one thermometer on hand and alcohol to clean it.
• Medical gloves are essential. Purchase a variety of sizes for the needs of all family members. Remember, some gloves are latex - so if you think you may have a latex allergy use care in selecting gloves.
• N95 particulate face masks. These will help prevent the transfer of germs as you are in public or caring for a loved one. There are many types of medical masks. The surgical variety will provide added protection from fluids. These are especially valuable when you are caring for someone who is sweating, sneezing or vomiting. For the best protection these need to fit firmly against the face. If you are using masks for children place the mask on the face and then a bandana. This will help to hold the mask firmly on their face. It can be like dress up! Make sure you remove the bandana and place it directly into the washer. Then discard the mask, preferably outside, and wash your child's hands, face and exposed skin thoroughly with a hand sanitizer. I have heard people advise that masks do not need to be stored because they cannot be fitted tightly enough to the face. So long as hospitals, police and fire departments and schools are stocking up with supplies of masks for all their staff and students, I am stocking face masks, too. When they no longer consider it important, I will stop. Until then, I believe it is important.
• Paper plates, cup, bowls, and utensils will cut down on the possibility that germs will be passed as meals are cleared. They will also save precious time for those who are the care givers and a must have should the power fail.
• Paper towels, become essential items for keeping your home germ free.
• Stock up on TP and facial tissues with anti bacterial properties…you will use more than you think during a time of illness. Each family will need a different amount of these items. Don't guess what your need will be. For at least one month keep track of how may rolls of toilet paper and how many boxes of tissues you use. I suggest you place the wrapper from the TP roll in a drawer and at the end of the month count how many you have used. You can multiply this number by three to understand how much you need to store. Add an additional 25%-50% more to prepare for a pandemic as family members will all be home all day long, and some family members are likely to be ill.
• Large plastic trash bags for soiled clothing,towels, and trash.
• Liquid soaps: laundry and dish soaps will be much more useful if there is an interruption in your utility service.
• Bleach for laundry and cleaning, and other disinfectant cleaning supplies should also be stored.
• Remember the foods we discussed in Preparing for a Flu Pandemic with Food Storage.
• Alternative to electricity.
o For light: Flashlights, glow sticks, and/or lanterns, and batteries.
o For heat: Firewood, non-electric heaters (propane or kerosene – follow manufacturer instructions for safety), and heavy blankets and/or sleeping bags.
o For Cooking: Portable propane cook stove, barbecue grill and fuel, can opener.
o For Laundry: large tub for washing laundry, rope for a clothes line and clothes pins.
o For Communications: Battery/solar/crank radio and/or TV to keep up on the news and health warnings.
o Water: Bleach and other items needed for purification.
• Sanitation needs: Port-a-potty with chemicals and liner, kitty litter or sand to help absorb waste and a plan to bury your waste away from your home. You will also need to be prepared to bury or otherwise dispose of every day's trash in case services are suspended temporarily.
• Entertainment: Just think about three months at home with no place to go. Talk about cabin fever! Consider purchasing DVDs that you know your children or spouse would like to have. Keep them put away until they are needed or until the next major gift giving occasion. Then replace the old with new titles. You can also establish a stash of age appropriate books, magazines, puzzles and games. Reading a few classic books as a family would also be a great way to pass the time. Stock up on craft supplies and even a new hobby to start with the kids. Cooking can be lots of fun together so make sure your three month supply includes ingredients to make some fun snacks and meals. A sense of humor is key to survival, so be sure to choose entertainment that is funny and/or uplifting.
• Cash: Should the power fail ATM machines and credit cards will not work. Have a stash of small denomination bills on hand for emergencies when you are forced to leave your home.
• Gas up: As soon as you hear the flu has come to your region, fill all your cars with gas. Not only will supplies be hard to come by, but if the power fails, so do the pumps.
• Develop a list of health care providers in your area including clinics and hospitals. Include friends in health care, who you can call at home to get advice or direction.
• A bell or whistle for your patient to sound when they are in need of help. A whistle can be heard much easier than the human voice.
Whether you are trying to prevent disease or prevent it from spreading, you will want to take precautions in every aspect of your family routine. Now is the time to start by teaching and practicing good habits.
Teach your family the proper way to wash their hands. You do not need to use hand sanitizers on a daily basis. In fact, this can prove dangerous as sanitizers kill all germs, good and bad. Hands should be washed with plenty of water, soap and scrubbing. Practice rubbing all the surfaces of the hands, including the fingernails and between fingers, under running water every time you wash. Since this needs to take some time children can learn to be patient and sing either Happy Birthday or the ABC Song while scrubbing. This will help them to recognize the length of time necessary to do a thorough washing.
Avoid shaking hands with someone who is ill, begin the habit now. If this is impossible, thoroughly wash your hands as soon as possible or use a hand sanitizer.
Teach family members to always cough or sneeze into a tissue. If this is impossible teach them to cover their face with their arm, not their hands. Simple bend your arm and place your elbow over your mouth. This reduces the likelihood that you will pass germs along to others as you shake hands or touch objects they may also be handling.
Remind your family to stay away from those who are ill. Please don't send an ill child to school, to after music lessons, or even to church when they are ill. We could avoid so much heartache if everyone would make it a practice to stay home when they are ill.
Have each family member clear their own dirty dishes after each meal. During a period of illness you will use paper plates and have them place their dishes in an outside garbage can. Get a large plastic garbage can that you can set outside the door in the event of emergencies like pandemic. Dispose of any wet or contaminated garbage in that can. This will help keep germs outside, instead of inside your home.
Decide now which room in your home will be used to care for those who are ill. A room with its own bathroom is the best. You will want to keep a patient as far away from healthy family members as possible. Be sure to have several sets of sheets for the bed or beds in that room.
Design a plan to care for extended family and friends if they should become ill and have no one to care for them. In some cases it will be better to have them move in with you at the beginning of the pandemic and hopefully avoid becoming ill as they self quarantine with your family.
Prepare now to work from home if at all possible. You should discuss this with your employer and develop a plan now. If you are a first responder, be sure your employer is prepared for the employees to maintain a self quarantine at your work place.
Check with your child's school to determine if they have a plan for a pandemic. Will they continue to teach using the Internet or a cable TV station?
There is a limit to what government or the health care community can do in advance of a pandemic outbreak. The U.S. Federal Government, the World Health Organization, and others are monitoring the avian flu, as well as other pandemic threats closely. The United States has active national as well as international programs for manufacturing, pre-positioning, and stockpiling antiviral drugs, masks, and other supplies. A lesson we have learned from the response to hurricanes Katrina and Ike, the floods in the Midwest , and the destruction caused by tornadoes, we need to be prepared to care for all of our own needs.
In the United States, Secretary Leavitt of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) has stated that "any community [or individual ] that fails to prepare—with the expectation that the federal government can come to the rescue—will be tragically wrong" (April 10, 2006).
“Caring For Family During a Pandemic – Part 1”
By Carolyn Nicolaysen
Note: As I began preparing this article to conclude our discussion of pandemics, it quickly became apparent that I had much more information than I could include in one article. Part two of caring for your family during a pandemic will appear on December 24th).
Pandemics don't care if it's the holiday season; they come uninvited. And while it doesn't seem to be in the spirit of Christmas to discuss such a dark subject, what I am about to tell you might preserve the lives of those you love someday, so they can spend many future holidays together with you. Sadly, in addition to preying on the elderly, pandemics also prey severely on children and young adults. The lack of immunity in the young is a disadvantage, as we have previously reported.
There are valuable lessons learned from past pandemics. One thing we know is that they spread very rapidly. This will leave us little or no time to prepare once a pandemic outbreak has been confirmed. Because of this, there are decisions to be made right now.
1. Determine who among you is at greatest risk of death during a pandemic. These are the people you may need to emphasize in your preparation, as they may not be able to plan for and care for themselves. According to The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this would include:
A. The economically disadvantaged (having little or no money to stockpile food and supplies),
B. Those without a social network (many children, the homeless, those geographically separated from family including transient workers and elderly),
C. Dependent individuals needing support for daily activities (physically disabled, developmentally disabled, mental illness, substance abuse or addiction, difficulty seeing or hearing, and other medical conditions),
D. Those with trouble reading, speaking or understanding English.
2. Determine which room in your home will act as the isolation room, or room where those who are ill will be cared for. Whenever possible this should be a room with its own bathroom facilities. If you have a bedroom which is separated from other bedrooms in the home, this would be a good choice. When possible, this room should also include a TV with DVD player and enough room to set up an additional bed.
3. Stockpile food and medications. We have already talked about foods specific to pandemic planning (see Meridian article: Preparing for a Pandemic with Food Storage ), but don't forget about those who are not ill. We need to have a three month supply of the foods we eat on a regular basis. During a pandemic there will be a great deal of stress in a home where people are ill. Be sure you have comfort foods in your storage as keeping a positive attitude is an important aspect of physical well being and healing, and nothing does that better than a brownie. While you are at it, your storage should include enough for others beyond your normal household, if possible.
It is important to store over-the-counter drugs for fever, muscle ache, nausea, diarrhea, and sore throat pain. Be sure to store both adult and children's varieties of these medications. Remember, aspirin should not be given to children without consultation with your physician. Be sure to have a supply of all prescription drugs required by every family member. Consult your doctor and/or pharmacy on how to do this. As you help to prepare those in the high risk group, be sure to help them to legally accumulate these supplies as well.
4. Discuss pandemics as a family. Remember the insecurities children and many adults felt after 9/11? Informing your family and others you will care for about pandemics will greatly reduce the fear when it finally hits. There is a great comic book prepared by King County, Washington which can be downloaded and used as an educational tool.
Discuss exactly what your new family routine will include. Walk through your isolation room and talk about how you will care for a patient.
5. Complete a basic medical record for each person in the family, and any others you will care for. You can find a basic form by clicking here.
6. Designate a primary care giver and a second if the first should become ill. This should be a person who is familiar with patient care, which we will discuss later – hopefully a person who has a strong immune system.
Once a pandemic has been confirmed, it is time to self quarantine (you may want to do so even before local leaders get around to imposing measures, in case they are unprepared to do so). Immediately pick up others you will be caring for and bring them to your home. Now is the time to settle into a new routine. Designate times for watching TV, doing homework, crafts, reading, meal preparation, chores and playing games. If you assume all of this will just happen, then you will watch all the DVDs you own in the first week and discover you still have weeks of self isolation left to fill with activities. If you live on an acre or more, you will want to include time outside for children to play each day, within bounds of course. Exercise will be important to maintaining good health.
How does a pandemic flu spread? Primarily, it is airborne. This can happen when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Coughing and sneezing produces droplets which can pass the illness to others when inhaled. These droplets may also land on surfaces and, according to the Mayo clinic, can remain active for up to 48 hours.
Droplets from an infected person can make contact with surfaces such as table tops, door knobs, water faucets, shower handles, telephones, toys, remote controls, books and magazines, toilet seats, computer keyboard and mouse, wheelchairs, walkers, baby swings, everything and anything a person who is ill touches or sneezes or coughs on.
Anyone living in a home with an influenza patient is at risk of becoming ill. Good hygiene practices should be implemented throughout self-quarantine, and if illness befalls the household, boundaries and hygiene rituals must be observed.
Remind your family to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and then to put the used tissue in a waste basket and wash their hands. When a tissue is not available, have family members cover their mouth and nose with their arm (not hands). Practice good hand washing techniques. Remain conscious of what and who you have touched. Wash frequently.
When caring for someone who is ill use alcohol-based hand wipes or alcohol-based (60-95% alcohol) gel hand sanitizers - rub these on the hands until the liquid or gel dries. Wash your hands often when you or others are sick, especially before touching your mouth, nose, and eyes. Always wash or sanitize your hands before preparing food or eating.
Cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces and items in your home often will help to prevent the spread of the flu. When using a commercial product, be sure to follow the directions on the labels carefully.
Pay attention to any hazard warnings and always use gloves when advised to do so. Do not mix disinfectants and cleaners unless the labels indicate it is safe to do so. Combining certain products such as chlorine bleach and ammonia can produce toxic vapors which may result in injury or death.
If disinfectants are not available, use a chlorine bleach solution made by adding 1 tablespoon of bleach to a quart of water or 1/4 C bleach to 1 gallon of water. Using a clean cloth, wipe down surfaces and let stand for 3 – 5 minutes before rinsing with clean water. Wear gloves to protect your hands. Be sure to firmly cap any remaining bleach disinfectant and label it well.
Make waste baskets easily accessible throughout the house. Line them with a plastic bag and empty them at least daily. After emptying, be sure to thoroughly wash your hands.
Wash laundry as you normally would for all of those who are not ill. Remember, the germs which cause the flu are spread through the air so do not shake soiled laundry. Wash your hands after you gather laundry.
When laundering for those who are ill you may want to keep these items separate from the rest of the laundry in the home. This is primarily because you may want to assign someone to do the washing other than the person who is caring for those who are ill. Having chores to do will help each family member feel needed and we all feel more in control and under less stress when we are contributing. There is no reason to expose the person assigned to do laundry to the germs in the sheets and towel of those who are ill. I have purchased white sheets and towels for use by those who are ill. I can then bleach them if someone should vomit on them or as otherwise necessary.
For all the above tasks, gloves and masks should be worn for best protection.
Now to the Isolation Room
Have gloves, masks, a gown and anti bacterial wipes or lotion near the door of your patient room. I would place them directly outside the room so I could put them on before entering and then leave them in a wastebasket in the room before exiting. All masks and gloves should be used only once. The jury is still out on the effectiveness of masks but if they make you feel safer by all means use them. Be sure they are N95 masks (see Meridian article: Pandemics-Prepare for a Quarantine ) A gown is not a necessity, but if you prefer you can slip it on as you go into the room and remove it before exiting, leaving it in the room for next time. You can use a robe or any other easily removed item of clothing to protect your clothing from germ laden droplets. On the table outside the room place wipes to disinfect the door knob and also to wipe your hands. Also have a bottle of lotion available. All this hand washing is going to dry out your skin quickly, and you don't want to have chapped and bleeding skin.
Keep a record on every patient. Get a notebook or make a form to complete each time you care for a patient. (a form will be available at blog.totallyready.com in the Pandemic post on December 12th). Make a separate record for each day. Include the time and patient's temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. This should be done at least four times a day unless the patient is very ill or their condition deteriorates, and then it should be done more often. Blood pressure devices are cheap and widely available these days.
Keep track of the patient's food and fluid intake. List everything they consume. Also keep track of output. This can be difficult as no one really wants to urinate into a measuring cup when they are ill but at the very least have the patient record every time they use the bathroom and estimate how much their output was, even if they record a little, hardly any, or lots, as their response. If you have chemical in your toilet that turns the water blue, remove them. They will make identifying problems much more difficult. This is extremely important, as the leading cause of death from the flu is dehydration.
One of the first signs of dehydration is weight loss so be sure to keep track of a patient's weight.
Mild dehydration is very difficult to detect. Often the only sign is thirst. Take it seriously if a family member says they are thirsty and given them fluids such as water, juice and Popsicles. Never give soda or caffeinated drinks when you suspect someone may be dehydrated. It is important to pay attention to family members who are well, as it is easy to become focused on those who are already ill and to forget the others.
Moderate dehydration will result in an infant becoming thirsty, restless or lethargic, irritable and drowsy. An older child or adult will often be thirsty but still alert. The pulse rate of all who are moderately dehydrated will increase. Respiration will become rapid, blood pressure normal or low, week or dizzy when standing, eyes will become sunken and tears reduced or absent. When the skin of the moderately-dehydrated person is pinched it will not retract immediately, but more slowly. Try the test on someone you know is not dehydrated, and compare to the one you suspect may be. The membranes of the mouth and nasal passage will be dry and urine flow will decrease and darken. If you believe someone is moderately dehydrated, force fluids immediately.
A person who is severely dehydrated will be drowsy, cold, sweaty, have wrinkled skin, fingers and toes and an infant may become comatose. Pulse will be rapid and feeble and in some cases impalpable. Breathing will be deep and rapid with blood pressure low and sometimes un-recordable. A pinch will retract very slowly. Eyes will be sunken and tears absent. Mucus membranes will be very dry and the tongue will stick to the mouth. Urination will be minimal, if any. If you notice any of these symptoms, get the patient to the doctor or hospital immediately.
We have previously discussed storing commercial rehydration products for use during a pandemic. Since a self quarantine may last longer than your supply - here are a few homemade rehydration solutions you can make from items already in your food storage.
Orange Juice:
1 Cup orange juice + 3 Cups water + 1/2 tsp. salt
Apple Juice:
1 Cup apple juice + 3 Cups water + 1/2 tsp. salt
V-8 Vegetable Juice:
3 Cups juice + 2 Cups water (NO SALT) This solution may be mistaken for blood in the stool.
7 UP :
1 Cup 7 UP + 3 Cups water + 1/2 tsp. salt
Koolaid:
1/2 Cup sugar + 2 quarts water + 1 tsp. salt
OR
1/4 Cup sugar + 1 quart water + 1/2 tsp. salt. Red Koolaid may be mistaken for blood in the stool
Gatorade is not a rehydration drink but may be made into one by:
2 Cups Gatorade + 2 Cups water + 1/2 tsp. salt. Red Gatorade may also be mistaken for blood.
Solutions which are not recommended for rehydration are: solutions combining water, sugar and salt, cola drinks, soft drinks, chicken broth, salt water and sugar water.
In the pandemic of 1918, perfectly healthy young people could get up feeling normal at breakfast, come down with illness in the afternoon, and be dead by tomorrow morning. It was shocking.
If faced with the same infection today, which could happen (since we know such viruses still exist in laboratories and new ones are created in nature), at least we would have the benefit of clear hindsight, better resources for preparation, the ability to self quarantine, and public health resources to track and warn the public. But only we – you and I – can implement the advantage of self-preparation and voluntary self-quarantine. In our next article, we will conclude our discussion of how to care for your household during a pandemic.

Carolyn is also discussing pandemic preparedness every Friday on her blog, http://blog.TotallyReady.com
With the economy faltering and an uncertain economic future, more emergency preparedness advice can be found on Carolyn's blog: http://blog.TotallyReady.com


Caring for Family During a Pandemic - Part 2
By Carolyn Nicolaysen
Most experts agree the medical community as we know it will cease to exist during a pandemic. It is critical that we all learn as much as possible now, in preparation to care for ill family and friends ourselves. It is also important to understand that the flu pandemic of 1918 did not begin during the months we normally associate with the flu. We must continue to prepare and understand that when spring arrives we are not "safe for another year". No one knows when a pandemic may occur.
Unlike a cold, the flu usually begins suddenly with a fever between 102º to 104º F. During a pandemic we will have little warning that the flu may strike our family. There may be no time to isolate ourselves. It may already be too late if we circulate ourselves in a highly populated environment and are exposed to others who have not yet begun to display symptoms. Someone perfectly well in the morning may be confined to bed by that night. If your family member becomes ill, you should understand the progression of the disease.
Day 1- Day 2: Chills, weakness, lack of energy, loss of appetite, headache, back, arms, and legs ache.
Day 2- Day 4: Chills, weakness, lack of energy, loss of appetite, headache, back, arms, leg aches begin to decrease and respiratory symptoms begin to increase. Symptoms similar to that of a cold, croup, or pneumonia may appear. Patients may experience a sore throat, headache and a dry, hacking cough. Nasal discharge and sneezing are also common. Fever should disappear.
Day 4- Day 7: Symptoms should disappear. Coughs and a feeling of being continually tired may continue for a few weeks. A second wave of fever may occur. This is rare and means the steps will begin over again.
Patients should remain at home at least until all symptoms, except a dry cough, disappears.
There are times when you should see a physician immediately. If you, or a person in your care, have any one of the following symptoms:
• shortness of breath while resting or doing very little
• difficult or painful breathing
• coughing up bloody sputum
• wheezing
• chest pain
• fever for 3 to 4 days without improvement
• feeling better then suddenly having a high fever or becoming ill again
• extreme drowsiness and difficulty awakening
• disorientation or confusion
• severe earache
• constant vomiting or diarrhea
If your family member has any of the following, go to the hospital immediately:
• Severe trouble breathing and it is not caused by a stuffy nose
• Has blue lips or hands, suddenly becomes pale, or has cold legs up to their knees
• Is limp or unable to move
• Is so sleepy they don't respond when you try to get them up
• Shows signs of a stiff neck, especially if they also have fever, are listless and their eyes are sensitive to light
• Is very confused
• Has a seizure
• Has worsening of chronic medical conditions (such as: heart or lung disease or diabetes)
As with the common flu, time is the healer. Medications to relieve symptoms should be given to patients to help them get the sleep they need for their body to heal. These medications will all become impossible to find once a pandemic has begun. You should be storing them and have a supply in your home at all times.
Medications to relieve symptoms
Muscle pain and fever: Use acetaminophen (like Tylenol). If you take acetaminophen for a long time or in high doses, it can affect the liver and kidneys, so use only when symptoms exist. You may also choose Ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin). Ibuprofen can irritate the stomach and thus should only be used when stomach irritation (vomiting and diarrhea) are not present. Never give aspirin to anyone under the age of 18 (i.e., follow manufacturer recommendations).
Cough: Try a medication with Dextromethorphan (DM) for a dry cough that prevents you from sleeping or causes chest discomfort.
Stuffy nose: Use a decongestant. Nasal drops or sprays act quickly and have fewer side effects than medications you take by mouth. However, they should only be used for 2 or 3 days to avoid dependency. If a stuffy nose continues switch to an oral medication such as pseudoephedrine. Decongestants may cause dry mouth, sleep problems, rapid heartbeat or other side effects. People who have long-term health problems or who are on other medications should not take decongestants without talking to their doctor.
Sore throat: Lozenges or throat sprays with Dyclonine works best to numb the throat. Products containing honey or herbs may also soothe the throat. Herbal tea with honey is also very soothing and easy on the stomach.
Diarrhea: This should not be treated with medications. Diarrhea is the way the body rids itself of infection. This is a good thing. Treat cases of diarrhea by keeping the patient on a clear liquid diet (see below) for at least a day. Be sure to continue to monitor the amount of fluids consumed and remember the patient should be drinking more than they normally would to prevent dehydration.
Additionally, a patient should not be allowed to smoke or drink alcoholic beverages. They will make many symptoms worse and slow the healing process.
Diet Recommendations for Flu Patients:
A clear liquid diet should be used to treat intestinal and stomach illnesses. Patients suffering from diarrheal illnesses often experience abdominal cramping if they eat solid foods. In addition, a great deal of water and minerals (sodium, chloride, and potassium) are lost in the watery portion of the stool; if you are not careful this can lead to dehydration. Patients with diarrhea need to drink much more fluid than usual to prevent dehydration. This is especially important if the patient also has a fever, which increases loss of fluid through the skin as perspiration.
When a patient is ill feed them the following:
Step 1: Clear liquid diet: rehydration solution, (see Meridian article: Caring for Family During a Pandemic - Part 1) water, fruit juice, Jell-O™, ginger ale, lemon lime soda, or tea.
Step 2: When a patient tolerates Step 1 well, gradually add: white toast (no butter or margarine), white rice, cream of wheat, soda crackers, or potatoes without the skin. You may also add small servings of banana or applesauce.
Step 3: After a day, add canned fruit and chicken noodle soup.
Step 4: Next add poached eggs and baked chicken breast without skin, canned fish or meat.
Step 5: Finally add milk and other dairy products, margarine or butter, raw fruits and vegetables and high-fiber whole grain products.
A few other tips to keep in mind:
It is a good idea to use a traditional glass thermometer for each person to avoid cross-contaminating patients, or use a digital thermometer with lots of disposable sleeves. It is also important to have a back up just in case of an accident. You don't want to be without a thermometer.
Get plenty of bed rest - you, not the patient. To remain healthy there is nothing better for healthy family members than a good night's sleep. Your body cannot fight an illness if it is exhausted.
Do not smoke. Smoking compromises the immune system of the healthy as well as those who are ill.
Restrict visitors to your home. During a pandemic, plan to have friends and family leave supplies, dinners, or just notes and gifts, on the porch. Wait until they leave and then open the door and retrieve the items.
If you need to leave the house, try to remain at least 3 feet away from others. Also, wear a mask and keep your hands in your pockets. Yes, really. Have you ever just automatically reached out your hand to shake hands when you know someone is ill? Avoid shaking hands with anyone.
Patients should not leave the home during the time when they are most likely to be infectious (at least 5 days after onset of symptoms). When a patient needs medical care and thus must leave home, they should follow cough etiquette (cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing) and wear N95 masks.
Medical facilities will be overwhelmed during a pandemic. You will not want to go to the doctor's office or to the hospital unless it is absolutely necessary. Prepare now to obtain medical advice by other means. Check with your doctor to see if he/she has a plan to answer patient questions during a pandemic. Also, check with your insurance carrier and your state health department to see if they have a help line available. Remember the Internet may be down if the power fails so you will want phone numbers.
A pandemic should not be feared but it should not be ignored either. Now is the time to prepare for the worst and pray for the best.