Work At Home Safari

If you’re like me, you’ve been hearing a lot of buzz on the news and radio about flu shots, Swine Flu, colds, seasonal flu, and many other things to avoid this upcoming season and frankly, it can be a little confusing. As a work-at-home mom, I want to keep my family healthy so I can keep my business going instead of tending to a sick child.

Here’s some information I found online that may help you decipher between the symptoms of a cold and the possible Swine Flu or H1N1 flu.

Cold

• Fever is rare with a cold.
• A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.
• Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.
• Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.
• Chills are uncommon with a cold.
• Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.
• Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.
• Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.
• A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.
• Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.
• Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.

Swine Flu

• Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu.
• A nonproductive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
• Severe aches and pains are common with the flu.
• Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu.
• 60% of people who have the flu experience chills.
• Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu.
• Sneezing is not common with the flu.
• The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
• A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
• Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu..
• Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu.

For detailed information, the Centers for Disease Control has tons of free information to help you and your family stay healthy this cold and flu season.  Also, if you have any questions, please consult a nurse or physician.

The U.S. Government Department of Homeland Security is urging small businesses to prepare for disruptions due to the H1N1 virus or more commonly known as, Swine Flu.  With influenza season lurking upon us, now is the time to educate your employees, business partners, friends, and family not only about about the H1N1 flu virus, but the seasonal flu as well.  The Swine Flu has gotten a lot of media attention lately, but some say the seasonal flu is just as dangerous.  It has just become a common household name that we don’t think about it as much. 

According to the CDC, “seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes.”  

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

My family and I got our flu shots today.  I also recommend sending small care packages to your close business contacts with tissues, hand sanitizer, and an instant read thermometer so they can stay healthy too.  We small businesses depend on each other for success so let’s make sure everyone stays healthy and business can continue as usual.