Swine Flu in Idaho (Clark Fork: credit, homes, living)

[norcalmom101]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

Norcalmom, thanks for posting that. I teach college classes, and yesterday a student was sitting in class, coughing up a storm . Normally I'd let that go and tune it out, because students just have frequent colds, and it's no big deal, and I have talked so much in class about taking flu precautions that I assumed the students knew the basic do's and don'ts. But then I remembered your post , and realized how uncomfortable he was making all the other students (and myself!), so I asked him, in a friendly manner, if he was feeling okay, and whether he had any other flu symptoms (which he denied having). I suggested he go to the college health center to be tested, just to be on the safe side, and he did, coughing. When he left the classroom, there was a huge sigh of relief from the other students! I wonder if I would have thought of intervening if it hadn't been for your post. I hope I didn't overreact, but better safe than sorry--for everyone's sake. Thank you for speaking up on this forum! And thanks, MSR, for your follow-op comment. That was a wake-up call for me. We may think we take all the right precautions, but sometimes what it takes is personal intervention, and we're often reluctant to take that extra step because we're preoccupied, or because it might be embarassing, or we might be wrong, etc., etc.
That being said, it looks like the flu is indeed spreading, but it may be milder than even normal influenzas, at least at this point. Down here schools are reopening, even though some students are sick. So I think we need not worry ourselves sick (haven't we all felt some symptoms by now?! ) over this outbreak...

Thank you!

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast

Norcalmom, thanks for posting that. I teach college classes, and yesterday a student was sitting in class, coughing up a storm . Normally I'd let that go and tune it out, because students just have frequent colds, and it's no big deal, and I have talked so much in class about taking flu precautions that I assumed the students knew the basic do's and don'ts. But then I remembered your post , and realized how uncomfortable he was making all the other students (and myself!), so I asked him, in a friendly manner, if he was feeling okay, and whether he had any other flu symptoms (which he denied having). I suggested he go to the college health center to be tested, just to be on the safe side, and he did, coughing. When he left the classroom, there was a huge sigh of relief from the other students! I wonder if I would have thought of intervening if it hadn't been for your post. I hope I didn't overreact, but better safe than sorry--for everyone's sake. Thank you for speaking up on this forum! And thanks, MSR, for your follow-op comment. That was a wake-up call for me. We may think we take all the right precautions, but sometimes what it takes is personal intervention, and we're often reluctant to take that extra step because we're preoccupied, or because it might be embarassing, or we might be wrong, etc., etc.
That being said, it looks like the flu is indeed spreading, but it may be milder than even normal influenzas, at least at this point. Down here schools are reopening, even though some students are sick. So I think we need not worry ourselves sick (haven't we all felt some symptoms by now?! ) over this outbreak...

Clark Fork Fantast,

Thanks for posting here and telling others what YOU did to help. You bring a new perspective to some like me who wonder "Why didn't somebody say something?" Even if the person who is ill tests negative for H1N1, they are experiencing symptoms of something. There is a Para virus hitting a lot of states right now. All people have acute or chronic illness are immunologically impaired to fight H1N1, as I believe the second death in TX on Tuesday also illustrated.

You really did all of your students, and yourself, a huge favor. The sick student is much more at risk simply by having something else go on.

It does look like H1N1 is less severe in the U.S. currently, but for people like me we've got to see at least 3 weeks - as long as the first child was identified as sick until the time he died to see when the most vulnerable times are. Also, my worry continues to be with certain groups we call "special populations," - those with chronic illness, pregnant women, transplant patients, pediatrics and others.

It seems like a few others are thinking like I am per this article posted on MSNBC: "Swine flu may be hitting the young the hardest,"

Swine flu may be hitting the young the hardest - Swine flu- msnbc.com

With over 35 people hospitalized in the U.S. for H1N1, the median age is 15 years old.

I think it is very difficult for many to understand how a pandemic doesn't necessarily mean everyone will die or be disabled after an illness. However, what one must all consider is the ability of health care suppliers, providers and hospitals etc. to obtain care and supplies of test materials.

Please continue to take precautions. CDC says the 6 ft. "social distancing," rule is a good one to follow, plus handwashing, covering any sneezes or coughs etc.

I really like your post, CFF, as you perfectly illustrate how the symptoms can be repeated to all of us so many times yet when we see someone who may be acutely ill, should we do something or should we not? Again, none of us have ever lived through a pandemic. I think your response with your student was really appropriate. You showed caring for the well-being of the student, yet protected others. And honestly, the most important lesson you taught that day, IMHO, may have been how to intervene with others appropriately, or that it is better to be checked than not if there is a question. I'll bet your students will remember those lessons a long time.

Thanks for being an active part of this thread. Everyone brings such good ideas here for others to think about and how they may pertain to their own situations.

Stay well everyone or PLEASE seek care if you have symptoms.

MSR

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by norcalmom101

There was a lady coughing and sneezing at the PPiH class I took yesterday. I couldn't believe the teachers didn't say anything. By the looks on people's faces they were all privately uncomfortable. I sat as far from her as I could get. I even forfieted a turn, going outside when I got stuck in line next to her.

People, if you are coughing and sneezing, just stay at home, ok?

NCM,

Your post really sums up a lot. Like Clark Fork Fantast, I appreciate you posting it. Plain common sense helps prevent spread of a lot of communicable diseases.

The main page of the CDC's special CDC/H1N1 section changes daily when they do their updated postings of cases, deaths etc. However, I'm hoping those who want to read more will investigate the site a bit to see what is recommended for universities and other situations. See " Info for Special Groups."

www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

Per an earlier communication from the CDC and state health agency, the CDC won't officially ask for all school districts to close. Their reason was too many parents didn't have sick leave and couldn't or wouldn't stay home to take care of their children.

So sending them to school, the great incubator of all germs, is a better solution? The CDC will let each local state, or even county healthdistrict and leaders make the decision of which school districts should be out right now or not.

Stay well and if you do get symptoms, please see a health care provider.

MSR

[Mtn. States Resident]

The CDC doesn't usually release the latest information until about 9:00 a.m. MST. I wanted to post this article, although it's from a UT Television station, because UT like ID had ONE (1) confirmed N1H1 case until they got their local testing kits from the CDC.

What I'm trying to show from this article is how rapidly the numbers can and will climb. One knows that if you've been watching IL. That state now has the most cases of any U.S. state (as of 5/6/09), but it didn't have any for many days while NY, CA, TX and others had some. IL jumped from about 20 to over 90 cases in one day.

I think IL either got their own testing equipment and could report more accurately, and/or the CDC was able to process the samples.

To the best of my knowledge, I haven't read or heard that Idaho can test the state's lab samples yet. Please post and add the link if you have information that is different.

So when UT reported 1 case (the first case) on 5/5/09, then 8 cases on 05/06/09, I think it is interesting the officials anticipate reporting close to 50 cases on 05/07/09.

8 Cases Of H1N1 Flu Confirmed In Utah | KUTV - Utah News - 2News

I've decided that along with putting extra soap and paper towels away for an infectious situation like this, I need to put away hand lotion too. Same for the hand sanitzers. All of this hand washing has left my hands, as well as those of others, drier than normal. We will learn many lessons from this round with H1N1. Hand lotion is a personal one for me of what I need to store for an emergency preparedness, as it hasn't been on my list previously.

If you are sick, PLEASE stay home from work, see a healthcare provider and take care of yourself. Even if you don't feel as sick as you thought you would, PLEASE be thoughtful of co-workers and their families.

I hope those who contribute at CDF will write lessons learned through all of this and what OTC medicines, or other medical supplies or other household items they wished they would have had more of (or any) while dealing with this pandemic. It will help many prepare for the future. I know for a fact people are following this thread who don't reside in Idaho. I have no concerns if anyone wants to post what you learned in your area of the country based on what your school districts did or didn't do, whether or not you or someone close to you was tested for H1N1 and you had to wait for the results etc.

I'd be proud if we all could help each other be better prepared for what may lie ahead by sharing stories. I want to once again thank Clark Fork Fantast and NorthernCalMom101, for their great examples shared here. Sometimes it is easier to learn when reading what other people did.

Take care of yourselves!

MSR

[norcalmom101]

Any tips for not shaking hands, politely? I'm sticking to the old fashioned impolite way, Palm up facing the initiator, while saying "nothing personal." Duh!

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by norcalmom101

Any tips for not shaking hands, politely? I'm sticking to the old fashioned impolite way, Palm up facing the initiator, while saying "nothing personal." Duh!

Wear gloves?

MSR

P.S. J/K.

[norcalmom101]

Hey, no joke, I'm eyeing a box right now.....brilliance is perception of the obvious!

[Clark Fork Fantast]

So far nobody at our school has come down with the flu. Thanks for your comments, Norcalmom and MSR! I had a "situation" the other day while shopping--the clerk didn't have a pen and asked to use mine, and I simply held it back and said, Sorry, I don't share pens in these flu times. He got really upset--but we can't please everybody if we're going to play it safe. As long as we're polite about it. Later I thought I should just have given him my pen as a gift...but I only had the one. And not sharing pens is of course a protection for everybody. Something I always do is use my own pen at the pharmacy counter! There be germs!
About the handshake, what I do is shake hands and then make sure I don't touch my face afterwards, and as soon as I can I'll discretely use my hand gel. But if we'll be facing a true pandemic in the fall, I think I'll do the glove thing all day long, as a fashion statement!

[norcalmom101]

Protecting pens in an office environment can be tricky. I've got my own color, only pen like it in the building. Today I got distracted for a minute, an employee reached over and signed her name with my pen! And she was sick!! I picked up the offended instrument with a post it and cast it into a corner, where it will await sterilization until Monday morning. Call me paranoid, but if you ask me there seem to be quite a few people who don't understand basic infection control.

[cleosmom]

So check this out, I have a sinus infection and was up all night coughing. I was supposed to go to my niece's graduation today down to Holt Arena. Not happening In the first place I don't need to be around others who might be sick or carrying something else and the way I'm coughing I'm certain people would stare at me.