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NOTE: Some may wonder why I chose to include this information. If we
are ever required to go into quarantine or isolation due to a pandemic, it will
be important to have this information. Doctors and nurses will be in high
demand and may not be able to help you, not that they won't want to, but that
they will be forced to treat more seriously ill patients instead. They
also may be limited by having vast numbers of patients to be treated. This
information is connected with the chart
"Supplies and Medications for
Isolation or Quarantine due to
Respiratory or Gastrointestinal Diseases" and the
recipes for the
rehydration drinks.
DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF SYMPTOMS
To limit the spread of germs and prevent
infection:
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Eat a well balanced
diet.
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Drink plenty of fluids.
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Get plenty of sleep.
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Exercise.
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Clean hands frequently
with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
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Cough and sneeze into
tissues or your elbow.
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Dispose of used tissues
promptly and then clean your hands.
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Stay away from those who
are sick.
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Do not shake hands.
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Keep your hands away
from your eyes, nose and mouth to avoid infecting yourself.
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Wear a surgical mask
around others, if desired.
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Stay at least 3 feet
away from others outside your home.
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To limit the spread
of germs and prevent infection when a household member is sick:
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Keep the sick household
member home from work and/or school.
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Follow the previous
prevention habits in addition to the following tips.
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Avoid sharing anything
including pens, towels, sheets, food, and eating utensils.
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Disinfect door knobs,
switches, handles, telephones, toys and other surfaces commonly touched with
disinfectant wipes, cleaners, or bleach solution.
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Disinfecting bleach
solution for hard non-porous surfaces: 3/4 cup bleach in one gallon of water.
Allow 5 minute contact time. Rinse food contact surfaces such as kitchen
counters and tables with potable water. Make a new solution each day.
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Wear disposable gloves
when in contact with or cleaning up body fluids.
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To treat fever:
| Loosen or remove clothing. |
| Sponge or bathe the person in cool water. |
| Give acetaminophen in the correct amount. |
| Give liquids often. |
To treat a sore throat:
| Gargle with warm salt water once each
hour. Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup warm water. |
| Drink hot drinks or soups. Be cautious
not to make it hot enough to burn. |
| Slowly suck on throat lozenges or hard
candy. |
To treat a dry cough:
| Drink a mixture of honey and hot water or
lemon juice. Do not give to infants less than 1 year old. |
| Slowly suck on cough drops or hard candy. |
| Drink plenty of water. |
| Use a cough suppressant only if the cough
is preventing sleep. |
Watch for signs of dehydration anytime there
is an illness that causes high fever, vomiting or diarrhea and begin treatment
immediately. Signs of dehydration:
| Severe thirst |
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| Dry mouth and
sticky saliva |
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| Doughy skin |
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| Sunken eyes |
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| Dizziness or
lightheadedness |
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| No tears |
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| Irritability |
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| Tiredness or
weakness |
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| Dark yellow
urine |
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| Convulsions
or seizures |
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| Little or no
urine for 8 hours |
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| Rapid loss of
weight |
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To treat dehydration,
stop fluid loss and gradually replace lost fluids.
| Do not eat any solid foods for several
hours after vomiting or diarrhea begins. Take small, very frequent sips of water
or a rehydration drink during the first 24 hours. |
| When vomiting or diarrhea is controlled,
drink water, broth or
rehydration drinks in small amounts until the stomach
can handle more. Drinking too much too soon can cause vomiting to recur. |
| For infants and children younger than 4
years old, begin giving small amounts of a
children’s rehydration drink as
soon as vomiting or diarrhea begins. |
| Feed small children slowly, preferably
with a teaspoon. Children under age two should have 1/4 to 1/2 cup each
feeding. Feed after each episode of diarrhea. Older children should be fed
1/2 to 1 cup each feeding. |
| If children will not drink the
rehydration drink because it is too salty, either add a small amount of sugar
free flavored gelatin or reduce the salt so that the solution is no saltier
than tears. |
| Rehydration drinks will help the body
recover faster than plain water. Sugar is vital for the absorption of the
mineral salts but too much sugar can actually contribute to diarrhea. Sodium
and potassium are necessary for electrolyte balance in the body but too much
salt can cause convulsions in extreme cases. Baking soda (a bicarbonate) will
aid in restoring the pH balance in the body. Be sure to make homemade
solutions with exactness. |
| Adults and large children should drink at
least 3 quarts of rehydration drink a day until they are well. |
| When the patient is able to eat, begin
with the foods listed in the
linked chart.
Avoid spicy, fatty, high fiber, or very sweet foods for 3 days after vomiting
and/or diarrhea end. |
REFERENCES:
PandemicFlu.gov
http://www.pandemicflu.gov
Benson Institute
http://benson.byu.edu
MayoClinic.com
http://www.mayoclinic.com
Kaiser Permanente
http://www.permanente.net
Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine
http://www.oism.org
Rehydration Project
http://rehydrate.org
American
Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org
For some specific references for caring for an
individual with the flu, refer to:
Influenza Pandemic Preparation and Response - A Citizen's Guide
and
Home Care for Pandemic Flu
Print
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CFD Publications
