What you can do:
* Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Wash for at least 20 seconds. Don't have access to water and soap? Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are an effective alternative.
* Cover your nose or mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue away and wash your hands. If you don't have a tissue handy, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or elbow.
* Try to avoid touching your nose, eyes or mouth. Germs get into the body this way. According to an expert at the University of Arizona, adults touch their faces 16 times an hour and children under age 2 touch their faces more than 80 times an hour.
What you and your family can do:
* Stay healthy - make healthy food choices, get some exercise and get enough sleep.
* Keep enough food and water on hand for up to two weeks in case of an emergency.
* Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick. Don't go to work or send your child to school if either one of you is sick.
Stay informed:
Log on to the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services Web site at http://www.dhss.mo.gov/BT_Response/_SwineFlu09.html. There is information in English, Spanish and Bosnian and you can link to federal government information from this site. |
