So, when you start feeling like you are getting sick or have all the flu symptoms of fever, aches, chills, and extremely tired, what do you do? Do you go to work? Go to social functions? Shopping? If it is your kids, do you send them to school, church, or let them play on the playground at McDonald’s? According to a recent pull by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)66% of Americans disregard flu symptoms. It’s no wonder everyone is getting sick!
In the past week, all 5 of my nieces and nephews have been sick. It seems like everyone is sick in Ohio. Actually, just about everyone is sick in Ohio. Well, sort of. Right now, the Akron Cleveland area is at high alert for the flu. It’s time to be on guard and if you get the symptoms, just stay home. If you want to track the flu in your town, type in your zip code in the Flu Tracker.
Are you that guy who is spreading the flu virus?
NFID’s national flu education campaign is all making you aware of the flu virus and making you personally responsible to not spread it if you get it. The campaign focuses on the person who is sneezing in the elevator, looking pale & exhausted but still at work, coughing in the check out line, and completely sick but playing the martyr by continuing to go about their work, etc.
Like I said, my nieces and nephews are sick. I invited my parents over for dinner tonight, my dad said they were watching my niece but they could come over with her. I quickly said no because she’s been throwing up all week and so has her family. He said she would be fine. He sort of laughed it off, but this is exactly how the virus continues to spread. I don’t want my kids to get sick and I don’t feel like getting sick either!
Check out the national flu education campaign video and decide are you that guy who is spreading the flu virus!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzZNdAuaXqs[/youtube]My husband and I like to watch NBC’s Parks and Recreation almost every week. A couple weeks ago, Amy Poehler’s character has the flu but she is in complete denial. Even when her co-workers plead for her to go home, she feels like she has to stay to work on a project that is of uppermost importance.You can watch the whole show here.
Do you know the Flu Symptoms?
Common symptoms of the flu include:
- Fever (100º F or greater)
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Chills
- Extreme tiredness
- Cough
- Runny nose (more common in children than adults)
Learn more about flu symptoms for adults and kids here.
Flu Treatment Options for Kids and Adults
Here are the basic flu treatment options.
- Get the Flu Shot/Vaccine (I got it for my kids but never made it around to getting mine or my husband’s flu shots)
- Good hygiene (We make it a rule to wash hands whenever we come home from anywhere, use Purell while out and about)
- Antibiotics
- Over-the-counter medicines.
- Prescription antivirals (must be taken within 48 hours to make your illness milder & feel better faster)
Go to the Flu Facts Website to learn everything you need to know about how to prevent from getting the flu, how to know when you have the flu, and what to do when you get the flu.
