Fear of an avian flu, H5N1, pandemic is back in the news. When the H1N1 pandemic arrived in 2009, while it killed thousands world wide, it was mild. At the time I had one big concern, that because of the mild nature of the pandemic the public would become apathetic toward the possibility of another, more deadly strain. Is that what has happened to you? Please don't become complacent. If you have not reviewed your pandemic preparations be aware we are still due for a very deadly pandemic. If it arrives this year or in 10 years will you be Totally Ready? There is information in the July, August and October 2009 Newsletters as well as on the  blog by clicking on the Pandemic link under categories. Now is the time to add a pandemic section to your preparedness binder if you have not already done so. What the experts are saying:

"A report found changes in the structure of the H5N1 virus that was spreading in Indonesia," he said. "These changes have allowed the virus to develop so that it can live in animals' bodies for longer periods but causes less mortality than the original virus," he said.

He was speaking at a national academic conference entitled "Epidemiology in the Challenge of Emerging Global Health Threats" organised by the Public Health Ministry's Disease Control Department.

"These changes also allow more time for the virus to establish itself and live in host bodies. It does not kill the host body, it just makes it sick. This means it will have more time to spread itself to other hosts," he said.

"That would be the scariest thing in the near future," he added.

Over the past month, the World Health Organisation reported five cases of H5N1 virus infection in Egypt and one confirmed case of human infection in Cambodia.

The Ministry of Health of Indonesia has also announced a confirmed case of human H5N1 infection.

Thailand has reported 25 confirmed cases of human infection and 17 deaths since 2004. But over the past two years there have been no reports of human infection or deaths in the country.

However, Tawee said public health officers should tighten surveillance systems for bird flu and the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) virus. They should also closely monitor cases of human infection and keep an eye on mysterious deaths of livestock.

"If we cannot protect urban areas from the spread of the bird flu virus and 2009 influenza A(H1N1), it means we face disaster," he said.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011/07/07/national/Expert-warns-of-bird-flu-pandemic-30159676.html

The thought of being quarantined due to a pandemic is just one more reason to be diligent in our food storage preparations and the building of our own personal General Store. This week fruits to your store. You may want to add canned fruits from the grocery store or to can your own. Add 5 (14oz.) cans or 5 pints of fruit per person to your store shelves. To your non food section add anti itch cream. It's mosquito season (see the May 2010 Newsletter for tips on controlling mosquito populations) and after a disaster insects and other pests are always a problem. Be ready. 

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It’s been awhile since we had an H1N1 update and many of you may be thinking all is well and it is all over. While this pandemic turned out to be very mild it has still killed far too many. My biggest concern remains the apathy surrounding this flu. The nest pandemic may be much more severe and I am afraid many will roll their eyes and discount the threat. We should be aware that this strain has not run it’s course and deaths may still occur, so I felt it was time for an update.

“People need to keep thinking H1N1 even when the usual flu season is over because it acts a little bit differently,” said Dr. Susan Walsh, a deputy commissioner for Public Health Services. “During this quiet period is exactly when they should get vaccinated,” she added.

Unlike regular flu, which peaks from January to March, H1N1 — also know as swine flu — strikes in waves lasting six to 12 weeks. The second wave of the H1N1 lasted from October into early December and health officials are now warning that the next bout is imminent.”

And from a second source:

“With the H1N1 swine flu pandemic apparently winding down, federal health officials said Friday that about 57 million Americans have suffered through the illness since last April, and the total could range as high as 84 million.

In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 378,000 people were hospitalized due to H1N1 flu and up to 17,160 Americans may have died from the virus.

The death toll so far remains less than half that seen in flu seasons before the advent of the new H1N1 strain. According to the CDC, in prior years some 36,000 Americans died from influenza during a typical season. Hospitalizations were much higher with H1N1, however; in prior seasons, a little more than 200,000 people are typically hospitalized, the agency said.

The data “provide the first assessment of the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths from H1N1 for the period of April 2009 through Jan. 16, 2010,” noted Dr. Pascal James Imperato, dean and distinguished service professor at the School of Public Health at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in New York City.

“An extremely important finding is that, using mid-level range data, the majority of hospitalizations (150,000) and deaths (8,980) occurred among those 18 to 64 years of age and not among those younger than 18 years of age. In the latter group there were 82,000 hospitalizations and 1,230 deaths,” he said.

Again, those statistics vary from prior years. According to the CDC, most deaths associated with the more typical seasonal flu occur among those 65 and older.

But it’s very hard to compare seasonal and H1N1 pandemic flu, said CDC spokesman Richard Quartarone.

“Probably the biggest difference in what we see with H1N1 is it’s being spread and causing disease in people under 65,” he said. “This strain spreads very quickly among people under 18. There is a lot of disease, a lot of severe illness and death among people between 18 and 64, many of whom have some sort of chronic health condition.”

With seasonal flu 90 percent of the deaths are among people over 65, Quartarone said. “While it is the opposite with the H1N1 strain,” he said.

The probable explanation for most H1N1-linked hospitalizations and deaths among the 18- to 64-year age group is that the majority of these people likely had underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, cardiac problems and diabetes, Imperato said. These conditions would place them at a higher risk for being hospitalized and of dying if they became infected, he said.

Imperato also noted that “more older people died than children in this epidemic. Yet, older people were not initially included in the priority groups for immunization.”

And Finally:

“According to the CDC, flu activity has now subsided across the country but most of the flu still circulating is the H1N1 strain. Although flu activity has dropped precipitously, cases of both H1N1 and seasonal flu can still rise and fall, which is what the agency expects to see over the next several months.

The latest data from the CDC finds no states reporting widespread influenza activity and only six reporting regional activity.

“H1N1 flu activity seems to have leveled off, but the virus does continue to circulate causing illness, hospitalizations and deaths,” Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during a teleconference last week.

And Schuchat warned against any false sense of security. “We are remaining vigilant here and we do not think people should become complacent,” she said. “None of us know whether we are going to have bursts of disease or clusters or just ongoing transmission as we have been seeing the past few weeks,” she said.

The CDC estimates for H1N1 flu between April 2009 and Jan. 16, 2010 include:

• About 19 million cases and 82,000 hospitalizations and 1,230 deaths among those younger than 18.
• About 33 million cases, 150,000 hospitalizations and 8,980 deaths for those 18 to 64.
• About 5 million cases, 25,000 hospitalizations and 1,480 deaths for those 65 and older.
• The total estimated range of cases is between 41 million and 84 million (mid-range 57 million).
• The total estimated range of hospitalizations is from 183,000 to 378,000.
• The total estimated range of deaths is from 8,330 to 17,160. “

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http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20100215/NEWS01/302160017/1001/RSS

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20100212/hl_hsn/57millionamericanssickenedbyh1n1flucdc;_ylc=X3oDMTB0dGVlZGU4BF9TAzIxNTExMDUEZW1haWxJZAMxMjY2MDA4MTgz

http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_health_news_details.asp?news_id=30074&rss=67&rid=999999&news_channel_id=1020&channel_id=1020&rot=3

Just a little housekeeping before we get to stocking our shelves. I will be appearing on James Talmage Steven’s blog Talk Radio show on Wednesday night. It is scheduled for 5:00pm Pacific time. The last few times I appeared we talked about the Pandemic but this time it’s about anything you would like answered or any info you feel you need. Please let me know if there is something you are wondering about. I will also be interviewed on two other shows after Thanksgiving and I will get you the info on that when we get closer.

No, the H1N1 flu has not peaked. The week ending November 6th saw 35 more pediatric deaths. While all deaths are unacceptable the death of a child is truly tragic and the ones I believe tell the real story of this flu. This brings the number of deaths among children to 156, double the 2007 numbers. While we are not hearing the numbers officials were predicting a few months ago it is still wise to take this seriously and to be cautious in our activities.

Finally, I will post the rest of the tips for cleaning up after a flood tomorrow. I understand in some places cleanup has begun on the east coast while others are still dealing with rain. Please remember to pass along the flood info to anyone you know who may live in an area prone to flooding. The National Weather Service is now expecting heavy rains and flooding on the west coast and in the south west this winter due to the the El Nino. Time to prepare and learn before you need to use that information.

This week we are adding evaporated milk to our General Store. I have waited until this week to add this as there are always sales on evaporated milk the week before Thanksgiving for all those pumpkin pies. Add 8 cans per family member. If you don’t normally use evaporated milk it will keep until next year’s pies or… you need to learn other ways of using it. You can add it to powdered milk to add a creamier, more real milk, texture. It is great to use in puddings or in dips when you would normally thin them with milk, such as thinning cream cheese to make it more dipable and spreadable. It is great for young children as it has some fat and it makes great homemade ice cream. If you absolutely do not want canned milk stored then add another pound of powdered milk to your store. Remember these numbers are per family member, so a family of 4 needs 32 cans of milk.

PLEASE, PLEASE REMEMBER TO PURCHASE RAFFLE TICKETS TO HELP A WONDERFUL FAMILY WITH THEIR MEDICAL BILLS AND CHRISTMAS…GO READ THE POST….

This is the year to rethink our holiday parties and keep them simple. The economy is bad. We have been told it is improving but most of us have not noticed any improvement in our own circumstances. Even if things are looking up let’s commit to learning from the downturn this year.

Our second concern this year is the H1N1 flu. With the seasonal flu season now upon us we may see increasing cases of the H1N1 flu as well as cases of the seasonal flu. We should prepare now to keep our entertaining focused on getting together with friends while protecting ourselves as much as possible from spreading flu germs of any kind.

1. Prepare food yourself. When purchasing meat and cheese or other trays at the store you have no way of knowing who has prepared your food and if they were healthy when they did. This year save money and protect your guests by doing it yourself.

2. Forgo expensive choices such as meat and cheese trays. This will not only save money but will also keep foods safer. We have all seen guests who use their fingers to pick up a piece of meat or cheese. We want to avoid fingers in our foods this year.

3. Divide and conquer. If you are serving desserts serve varieties that are not finger foods. Serve pies, cakes, crisps, anything that needs to be dished up with a spoon or spatula. Desserts are also a great way to save money as they are much less extensive than dinner foods.

4. If you feel you must serve dinner make it soup or chili. Again, no fingers in the foods, and they are inexpensive to make. If you feel this is not fancy enough make several varieties, everyone loves being able to try several, that is what makes buffets so popular at resorts.

5. Let it pour. If you feel you must serve appetizers place all dips into small pitchers so they can be poured onto a plate. This will eliminate dipping and double dipping. It may require you to thin your dip a little more than usual but then it will go further and save money.

6. If you must have spinach dip or another dip that is not pourable make individual serving sizes before your guests arrive. Cut bread into fun shapes and pile with the dip. Now they can be served with tongs and no dipping. You can also do this with your famous cheese ball. Place the cheese on crackers ahead of time.

7. If you are saving money by asking friends and family to contribute food, ask them to bring hot foods such as soups, casseroles and stews. When these are thoroughly heated any flu germs will be killed. Your guests may have the flu, be contagious, and not have any symptoms the night of the party, so play it safe.

Remember the holidays are about getting together with those you love. The food is secondary and going into debt for a holiday party will not make the occasion any more meaningful. Saving money now will mean you have more to give when your loved ones need help with more than a fancy meal.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO GET A FREE EBOOK WHEN YOU PURCHASE…PREP NOT PANIC:KEYS TO SURVIVING THE NEXT PANDEMIC Order today and receive a free copy of  That Won’t Happen to Me

PREP NOT PANIC:KEYS TO SURVIVING THE NEXT PANDEMIC

I promised no more talk about the Pandemic for a day or two so I am posting some money saving ideas today. I realize money saving ideas on a preparedness blog may be a bit confusing to some of you who may be new so let me explain. Our goal at Totally Ready is to help you and your family to become self reliant. We want you to be in a position to care for your family no matter what the challenge. Of course, this is never completely possible without the help of family and friends. We want to be that support group for you. We also recognize that self reliance requires not only a change in the way we approach our everyday lives but also the necessity of spending some money in order to prepare.

Every Monday we discuss our General Store and ways to supply that store so it will meet your needs. Those supplies take money. Once your store is complete you will rotate through those foods and supplies and actually be living for much less because you will be able to replace items as they go on sale. No more purchases at full price.

Another important aspect of self reliance is to be debt free. For most of us, especially those with students loans or medical bills, this is not possible overnight, thus, our Money Saving Tips and Ideas. Saving money will create more cash flow which will allow you to stock your General Store and to pay down debt.

There are dozens of ways to save money on your food bill so let’s start with a few you can practice this week.

First, learn to Cook. Really. There are so many cooking shows on TV now and most of us have a friend or family member who we look forward to inviting us over for dinner because they are such great cooks. Ask one of those great chefs to teach you or watch a food show with a paper and pencil and take notes. Once you learn a few basics you will be able to create yummy meals from scratch, much less expensive than prepared foods. Some tips:

Save leftovers. When you are preparing a recipe and have left over onion, celery, or peppers chop them up and store them in the freezer until you need that ingredient again. We have all thrown away extra ingredients because they degrade to the point of yuk and we toss them. Frozen ingredient veggies such as these are not good to use in fresh foods but they are great for casseroles, soups, stews and even Thanksgiving stuffing.

Use leftovers. I usually purchase whole chickens when they are on sale, big…savings, and bake them for a meal. There are always leftovers. I have a family who does not really enjoy having the same meal two days in a row. How do I use left over chicken? There are so many ways…chicken and rice, chicken tacos, chicken enchiladas, chicken fajitas, chicken cacciatore, chicken salad, Chinese chicken salad, chicken pot pie and the list goes on… These are all also great alternatives for what to do with all that left over turkey at Thanksgiving. All left over meats should be looked at not as leftovers but as an ingredient for another meal.

Freeze meals. If chicken, or turkey doesn’t sound good for several days in a row then simply make the chicken dish and freeze it. Now you have saved money in another way, you have a quick meal for days when you would otherwise run and grab fast food because there is just too much going on. The next time you make a meal make two. Right now I have a meatloaf, meatballs with home made sauce, a quiche, lasagna, and barbecued ribs in the freezer. Now, when I have a busy day I will not have to think about running for fast food. This is also a great tip when thinking about a pandemic, ok so a little pandemic talk, if mom and/or dad is ill a good meal can be easily prepared by older kids or a clueless spouse. I know a group of women who make meals in this way and then trade. What a great idea.

Finally, for today, never turn down free food. I had someone jokingly say they always lock their car during the summer when they park in the church parking lot or they come out to find a bag a zucchini in the back seat. Many foods that our friends grow can be easily canned or frozen, another skill to learn if your don’t know how. Others, like zucchini, are not great canned. It is good frozen for use in soups and stews but I like to use it as an ingredient first, and then freeze it. This can be done with all sorts of foods. Make zucchini bread and freeze it. Wrap it carefully and it will last for months. Chocolate zucchini cake is also wonderful!! It can easily be frozen and then frosted when you are ready to use it. Last week my husband was craving sweets so I made carrot cake cup cakes with half of the recipe and a carrot cake loaf (baked it in a bread pan) with the rest. Next time that craving hits I can whip out the loaf and I’m done. Tell everyone you know that you are available to glee or take their extra produce. If you need suggestions and recipes to use unfamiliar foods you are given just ask our yahoo group. There are lots of great cooks there!

Speaking of our Yahoo Group, how do you save money on food? We are still trying to sort out the hack job on the blog so please post your comments on the yahoo group until we get this all figured out and the problem solved. Share you money saving food ideas or a recipe or two for leftovers or for rotating your food storage.

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First, I need to tell you we have been hacked so if you have made a comment on the blog today or yesterday I am not ignoring it just waiting for things to get straightened out. So…please be patient.

Second, I have had a few comments to my email about the H1N1 being overblown by the media, and me. My only response is that I do tons of research and I go with what I feel is the information coming from sources that are credible. There are many, many sites trying to sell their biases and it is sometimes difficult to determine the real motives behind some information. When I find a site or a “doctor” who makes claims I always investigate them further and what they have been saying for the last year or more. I also investigate their credentials, if I can find them. If there is no information before a year ago I am suspicious that they are only playing on fears and trying to make a buck.

For example, I heard much about vaccines and how the government would be forcing us to take them. I researched and discovered that the number of vaccines that could be manufactured world wide was far less than would be necessary and I passed this information on to you and told you there would be shortages and not nearly enough to force us to take them. Now, months later this has proven to be the case. Many believed the government would have us lined up and be banging down our doors. Believe it or not, I found several sites that claimed this would happen and that legislation had been passed and the military would be enforcing it and forcing us to take the vaccine in our own homes. As we can see now that was a fabrication and fear mongering by some who love conspiracy theories.

I have asked, in some cases, for the link to the data that is quoted on internet sites. I have never been given a link and my requests have been ignored. I would encourage you to do some research for yourself before believing what you read. Ask for links when statistics are quoted, and when they are provided follow them. I try to do that. I have tried to provide links for you from around the world and from conservative and liberal media sources. I have tried very hard and spent hours every day trying to confirm my information.

I have never taken a stand on whether or not your family should take the vaccine. I never will. Only you can make those determinations for your family after weighing the pros and cons. Does someone in the family have a compromised immune system? Do you have kids in school? Do you have a newborn? Does the vaccine available to you have a preservative or is it preservative free (mercury) (both are available)? Have you ever had pneumonia? NO ONE on the internet can make the call for you…no one! They do not know your medical history or family circumstances.

I do believe in alternative medicines. Again, I will not recommend or discourage their use as, again, I do not know your medical history. I cannot tell you all I have read in the last year about anti oxidants, resveritrol, silver, herbs, etc. I have told you before the story about an alternative sold on a “doctor’s” site. It took a day to track down the actual ingredients in the pill which was touted as a great cure and prevention for the flu. Millions of these are sold each year world wide. The ingredients? Duck Liver. Yep, just duck liver.

My goal at Totally Ready is to help you become self reliant. To enable you to care for the needs of your family no matter what may cause distress in your family. We discuss hurricanes, fires, pandemics, money challenges and more as we prepare together. It is my hope to be able to give you the skills and knowledge to evaluate the needs of your family and then to act to overcome the challenges in a way that will preserve your safety and health.

I do not believe in fear and I believe fear can best be overcome by thinking though a crisis before it happens. As an example of this: several years ago I decided I would become informed about the Heimlich maneuver. I was not being paranoid. I just thought I wanted to be able to handle a problem if I was ever faced with one. I read and practiced how to cup my hands and where to place them using my own rib cage, and spent some time thinking about what I would do if someone I knew was choking. Then, my son was eating a milk dud and it got caught in his throat. Because I had thought about what to do and had read and practiced I was able to get behind him, give a squeeze and out it popped. When it was all over I sat and cried but when the time was critical I knew what to do.

I believe the same is true of this pandemic. It may all fizzle. You may never know anyone who dies. Your children may never miss a day of school or you a day of work but if the need arises and you have paid attention you will be prepared to care for your family. You will know when to go to the doctor, when to keep your kids home, when to stay home so you don’t infect someone else and how to treat someone who becomes ill. So, next time you hear someone say we are over the top or that we are making more of this than is necessary, remember Katrina. Remember those who said the government as making too much of the storm. Remember those who said they had lived there all their lives and there would never be flooding in New Orleans. Remember those who said the government would care for them.

Remember that it is better to be informed and prepared and not need it than to need it and not have the knowledge to act.

Tomorrow…Money Saving Tips…no more pandemic for awhile

I had the following comment on an old post this morning and as I was answering it I was so frustrated I just had to share it with all of you. The comment follows:

I was shocked yesterday to talk to a 60 yr old teacher who was told she had all symptoms of the H1N1 flu and she still went to school with a fever/cough and fatigue to teach 1st and 2nd graders in Virgina, they have also closed one school in DC due to the high number of cases- did not make the news either!

I just don’t understand. How could anyone who claims to be committed to kids be so irresponsible? I could never sleep again if I had knowingly exposed a child to this illness and they then had complications or died. I also cannot understand why the government is still advising schools not to close when there is no vaccine available and schools have been shown to be the leading breeding ground for this flu. I have been saying for months that we would have to make tough decisions for our own families and that is exactly what has happened.

The CDC used the politically correct argument that closing schools would be a hardship on families as they would have a difficult time finding child care. Having served on our local school board I have watched this belief grow. Schools should never be treated as babysitters. It is my belief that most parents love their children enough to stay home or find a way to care for them when schools close. I believe the biggest problem is lack of information. There have been so many conspiracy theories making the rounds on the Internet and so many with ulterior motives, to make money, that it is difficult to sort out fact from fiction.

I really am fed up with those on the Internet who are criticizing the media for covering the pandemic, accusing them of just promoting fear. This pandemic is to be taken seriously. The truth is those who yell the loudest about the media coverage are those who oppose the vaccine and their way of influencing you not to take the vaccine is to make the flu seem like it is no big deal. No matter what your view of vaccines, anything that is killing our children at these rates is a big deal. Why school closures are not being reported and even encouraged is a mystery to me.

Today I learned that a state of emergency has been declared in Grants Pass, Oregon. Yesterday one of the doctors there had more vaccine come into his office, 10 doses! Hopefully this state of emergency will get more vaccine flowing their way. One doctor reported that he has a patient who is 23 with no preexisting conditions and they are going to die.

One of the schools in Grants Pass has eliminated their recognition for perfect attendance for this year. Now, that is a great idea! I know parents who would send kids to school ill just because they wanted that perfect attendance recognition. Some parents with a family member who has a weakened immune system are working with the schools to teach their children at home until the crisis has passed. This is exactly what schools and parents should be doing.

Today there are reports that this flu has reached it’s peek, or will reach it’s peek in the next week. That is ridiculous. This virus will remain active until the end of the flu season or until everyone has built up an immunity.  Neither is likely in the next few months. In fact, many who had the H1N1 in the spring are getting it again as their bodies did not build up enough immunity. This is typical of a pandemic. The first wave, last spring and summer, is always the most mild. The second and third waves are worse. We are now into the second wave.

In a post a few days ago I spoke about schools in Sacramento closing and I have been asked where those are. Because I write for an international audience, and most know where Sacramento is, I used that city as an example. In fact those school are in a nearby town which I was afraid readers would not recognize, Vacaville. I’m sorry for any confusion for those who live in Sacramento.

As for our General Store…This week we are again adding fruit to our store. It is now apple season and a great time to make applesauce if you have access to apples, especially if they are free. Remember applesauce is a great food for anyone recovering from the flu. It is easy to digest and very nutritious. I know I have made many of these points before but we have many new friends here so please be patient when I repeat myself. This week add 5 (14oz.) cans, per family member, of fruit to your general store.  Once all the pandemic questions and daily updates calm down we will get back to talking about our General Store more in depth again.

Due to many factors I will be forced to raise the cost of my Prep Not Panic and other ebooks in the next few weeks. It is important to me to get the information in the book to as many as I can right now. For everyone who purchases Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic this week I will be sending you a copy of my ebook That Won’t Happen to Me for free. Please encourage those you know to add these ebooks to their library this week.

Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

To subscribe to our newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/?page_id=736

To purchase Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic : http://www.totallyready.com/

Blog Talk Radio Show with Kathy Hamilton..listen to our conversation at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/simikathy/2009/10/14/Carolyn–how-to-prepare-your-family-for-an-emergency-so-you-can-be-gone-with-confidence

Blog Talk Radio Shows with James Talmage Stevens: All are about the H1N1

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/10/17/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/06/20/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/05/23/Family-Preparedness-Guide

A few weeks ago there was lots of talk on the Internet about the government forcing people to be vaccinated. At the time I told you not to worry about that as there would not be enough vaccine to make that demand possible. I also pointed out that we are only about 12% of the world population and only about 450 million doses could be manufactured each month. That is about the population of the United States or enough for 12% of the world’s population. Can you see that there is no way there will be enough vaccine to require everyone to have the shot or spray administered? Not now, not ever.

There has not been too much talk about the H1N1 flu as some on the Internet keep saying. I really believe there has not been enough of the good information out there. Bottom line, it is here, it is dangerous, and we are responsible to care for our family, no one else. I wrote Prep Not Panic to help get out information that would enable everyone to care for those in their home when it became time to make tough decisions. That time is now.

As we discussed yesterday the flu is being spread in the schools. Today two schools in the Sacramento area closed their doors for at least a week. Other schools have done the same. One mom made a comment on yesterday’s post that teachers in her school were out in huge numbers with the flu. If your school does not close it will be up to you to make that call. The truth is, there will not be enough vaccine available, for those who want it, to prevent this from spreading. Only isolation from those who are ill will slow it down now.

Why are there vaccine shortages?

Nicole Lurie, the assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS explained the delays to ScienceInsider in more detail, noting that the government has been weathering something of a perfect storm of unforeseen problems. HHS (Health and Human Services) contracted with five companies to make vaccines. Only one, MedImmune, makes a live but weakened version of the virus, which is a different manufacturing process than the killed version. MedImmune has supplied product close to the predicted schedule, but it only is contracted for 12.8 million doses of the 251 million ordered. The other four companies—CSL Biotherapies of Melbourne, Australia; Sanofi Pasteur of Lyon, France; GlaxoSmithKline of London; and Novartis of Basel, Switzerland—have had different issues.

For proprietary reasons, Lurie would not name the delay issues at each manufacturer, but said “one company was just really overoptimistic” in its delivery predictions to HHS. Initially, all of the makers of inactivated vaccine had trouble with the “potency assay” used to ensure that 15 micrograms of influenza antigens are present in each dose. Once that was corrected, said Lurie, this company lost 20% to 35% of its antigen during the “recalibration.” Unfortunately, said Lurie, the company did not notify HHS of the problem. “They thought they were going to compensate by getting their yield up but they never let us know,” she said. “When we learned of problem, it was over and there was nothing we could do, which is too bad because we could have helped.”

After Columbus Day on 12 October, HHS learned about delays at two of the other companies. One had a new production line to fill doses of vaccine into individual syringes. “Getting up the new production lines with prefilled syringes was really slow,” Lurie said. The third company had “major production problems” that Lurie said she could not describe in detail for proprietary reasons. Basically they had difficulty making “acceptable” vaccine that did not contain an immune booster called an adjuvant, which is used in several countries but not the United States.

The final company wanted to supply its own country with vaccine before shipping product to the United States, which Lurie said would begin next week. She did not identify the company, but Australia’s CSL earlier said it would supply its country before exporting the product. http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2009/10/pandemic-vaccin-2.html

In addition all companies have been asked to designate a number of doses of the vaccine to countries that could not afford to purchase it.

This  fall and winter promise to be very different than any we have experienced in a very long time. We may be forced to change our plans for the holidays if it becomes impossible to fly safely due to the flu. Pilots and other airline employees will become ill. To what extend we do not know.

Right now children are beiong banned from visiting patients in hospitals. Children will not be allowed to visit patients at Iowa City’s three hospitals until risk of the H1N1 flu pandemic has passed.

Other hospital restrictions also went into effect today in Johnson County.
Visitors are limited to two adults — 18 or older — per patient at any one time. Special circumstances may be considered at the end of life or for critically ill patients.

Anyone with signs of influenza, including a fever greater than 100, respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, runny nose, or shortness of breath, as well as fatigue, chills, muscle pain, headache and vomiting or diarrhea, will not be permitted to visit any patient area. http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/65808742.html

Already 20% of all children have been infected with the H1N1. The latest government survey has found that 1 in 5 U.S. children had a flu-like illness earlier this month, and most of those cases likely were swine flu.

A federal health official announced the findings Wednesday, at a medical meeting in Atlanta. The information comes from a household survey of more than 10,000 adults done in the first 11 days of October.  http://www.kens5.com/latestnews/stories/KENS20091023-Swine-flu-kids.245b9c9c2.html

You will probably be involved in many more discussions of the flu in the next few weeks. Please encourage “Prep Not Panic” among your friends and family. Remember you can always ask questions here and I will do my best to answer them with the help of my medical advisers and research I do each day. Our goal at Totally Ready is to create a culture of self reliance in our homes. That means staying informed, asking questions of credible sources, and preparing to handle emergencies as they happen. Self reliance brings calm, not panic. Now is the time to use what we have learned to make those informed decisions and act upon them.

Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

To subscribe to our newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/?page_id=736

To purchase Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic : http://www.totallyready.com/

Blog Talk Radio Show with Kathy Hamilton..listen to our conversation at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/simikathy/2009/10/14/Carolyn–how-to-prepare-your-family-for-an-emergency-so-you-can-be-gone-with-confidence

Blog Talk Radio Shows with James Talmage Stevens: All are about the H1N1

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/10/17/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/06/20/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/05/23/Family-Preparedness-Guide

One community in Minnesota is calling for volunteers to plow the snow this winter as budget cuts, old equipment and the flu will limit their ability to handle the plowing. Hospitals are warning that waits will be very long in emergency rooms and that revenues to already struggling hospitals will be cut as more and more people on government programs are coming in for treatment. All these programs pay hospitals far less than insurance companies pay which means some hospitals could be in real trouble by the end of the season.

It has also been confirmed now that the H1N1 is being spread through the school system. Kids are bringing it home from school and infecting their families. Why the government has told schools not to close is still a mystery to me. In Iraq, on the other hand, they have 500 confirmed cases of the flu and they are closing schools to slow the progress until they can get vaccines to treat their population. Now, that makes sense to me. I have had several comments in my email and on facebook from people who are considering keeping their kids home as the H1N1 has reached their communities. Since this is affecting such a large number of children that is a call many may be faced with making.

http://www.stjamesnews.com/news/x637606903/County-may-need-snow-removal-help

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-hospitals-flu-oct21-,0,4539396.story?track=rss

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/10/22/worldupdates/2009-10-21T204404Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_-433334-1&sec=Worldupdates

More about the pandemic tomorrow.

Here is the recipe I promised, and there are more at the yahoo group:

Peach Salsa

5 Cups diced canned peaches

1 Cup diced yellow onion

1 Cup diced red sweet pepper

1 Serrano chili pepper diced fine or 2 jalapeno chili peppers

2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro minced

3 Large cloves garlic minced

1 1/2 Teaspoons ground cumin

1/4 Cup white vinegar

1 Teaspoon grated lime zest

Juice of one lime

1/4 Cup white sugar

1 Package pectin

3 Cups white sugar

In a large sauce pan combine peaches, onion, peppers, garlic, cumin, vinegar,
lime zest and lime juice. Stir. Combine 1/4 C sugar and pectin. Add to salsa
mixture. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil one minute stirring
occasionally. Add remaining three cups of sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for
one minute. Remove from heat and stir until all sugar crystals are dissolved.
Pour hot salsa into clean, hot pint jars leaving 1/4 inch air space. Seal and
process in a water bath canner for 20 minutes.

Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

To subscribe to our newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/?page_id=736

To purchase Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic : http://www.totallyready.com/

To purchase Mother Hubbard What She’s Doing Now: Food Storage For the 21st Century: http://www.totallyready.com/ Mother Hubbard also includes an interactive food storage calculator and inventory system for your General Store.

Blog Talk Radio Show with Kathy Hamilton..listen to our conversation at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/simikathy/2009/10/14/Carolyn–how-to-prepare-your-family-for-an-emergency-so-you-can-be-gone-with-confidence

Blog Talk Radio Shows with James Talmage Stevens:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/10/17/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/06/20/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/05/23/Family-Preparedness-Guide

I have a great post written with recipes but I decided it was far more important at this time to share the latest information on the H1N1. I will post the recipes on our yahoo group today and and here later this week.

First: Yes, a pig in Minnesota was found to have the swine flu. This is not as significant as you may imagine as you cannot get the flu by eating pork. You cannot. The people this is important to are those in direct contact with pigs such as farmers, 4H groups and meat processors who handle the live animals. This flu is respiratory and therefore cannot get into the cells of the meat we eat.

Second: Do Not purchase vaccines or antivirals such as Tamiflu over the Internet. They are a scam. They may or may not be dangerous but they will give you a false sense of security and you will let down your guard, and that is dangerous. Do Not Do It!

Third: There is a current shortage of the vaccine. If you have small children, are pregnant, or have a preexisting condition such as asthma or diabetes, you should know that vaccines are being given on a first come first served basis. Call you doctor to find out if he/she has the vaccine or knows where you can get it.

Fourth: If you get the flu or even suspect you have it, and especially if you are under 64, or have a preexisting medical condition, insist on an antiviral immediately. Do not wait for the H1N1 test results. The earlier you get the antiviral the better. Also, do not rely on the rapid test. It is very inaccurate.

Finally: These numbers were released by the Center for Disease Control a few minutes ago…very frightening.

Hospitalization for the H1N1 is: 53% are under 25 years old, 39% are 26-64 years old and 7% are over 64 years old.  During a normal seasonal flu season 60% of hospitalizations are of those over 64 years old.

Death from the H1N1: 25% of deaths are in those under 25 years old, 65% are 25-64 years old and 12% over 64 years old. During a normal seasonal flu 90% of fatalities are in those over 65 years old. With the H1N1 88% of fatalities are in those under 65!

Those numbers are very frightening, especially the death rate, since most 2o something adults still believe they are healthy and invincible and they are not being watched over by parents any longer.

This flu is going to get worse, much worse, so please help others understand how dangerous this flu really can be.

Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

To subscribe to our newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/?page_id=736

To purchase Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic : http://www.totallyready.com/

To purchase Mother Hubbard What She’s Doing Now: Food Storage For the 21st Century: http://www.totallyready.com/ Mother Hubbard also includes an interactive food storage calculator and inventory system for your General Store.

Blog Talk Radio Show with Kathy Hamilton..listen to our conversation at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/simikathy/2009/10/14/Carolyn–how-to-prepare-your-family-for-an-emergency-so-you-can-be-gone-with-confidence

Blog Talk Radio Shows with James Talmage Stevens:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/10/17/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/06/20/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/05/23/Family-Preparedness-Guide

Let’s begin today with the H1N1. It is really an awful illness and if you don’t know anyone who has had it consider yourself very lucky. Yesterday I spoke with a 23 year old woman who experienced for herself the H1N1 the last two weeks. She reported that she has never been so miserable and would rather have a cold for an entire year than the H1N1 for a week. Every joint in her body hurts, every muscle ached. She could not get out of bed and she coughed constantly. All this AFTER she was given Tamiflu.

A family of eight reported that they all got the H1N1 at the same time. Mom and dad were so weak that they moved their mattresses to the same room and laid on sofas and mattresses for almost two weeks. This is exactly the reason we have discussed foods that are easy to prepare and can be made by any family member, just in case mom and dad can’t lift their head. If this should happen to you please call a family member, church friend or neighbor and ask them to bring you a meal. They can leave it on the doorstep and you  can retrieve it after they have gone. Be sure you have talked to someone now about your plan and offer to do the same for their family.

This family was not forced by anyone to stay home for two weeks but they did out of necessity, a self quarantine. This is what we have been preparing for. Yes, this could happen to you. Are you ready? Do you have the items needed for re hydration? Do you have easily digested foods in your General Store? Do you have items to help pass the time, books, DVD’s, games, and crafts? It is almost the holiday season so purchase these items now for gifts and if the flu passes you by Christmas gifts are done. If you get the flu in your home you will have items to help take everyone’s mind off the discomfort. Get out your copy of  Prep Not Panic TODAY and copy all the charts, forms and information sheets and place them in a binder or tape them into a kitchen cabinet where they can be easily referenced by all family members. Also remember to copy Friday’s post on the Signs of Pneumonia.

There is lots of breaking news on H1N1 today and I will post on the yahoo group as I get any more info.

Since the H1N1 is not the only emergency we are preparing for, let’s move on to our General Store for the week. This is the week to store yeast and salt. Salt will be necessary to make any rehydration formula and it can also be used in canning and obviously, cooking. Store one pound per family member and you will have plenty for 3 months no matter how addicted your family is to salt. Yeast is a little harder. If you bake bread every week then you know how much you would need for a three month supply. If you don’t bake then purchase one pound of yeast and take this opportunity to have someone help you learn to make your own bread. Remember toast is an important part of a recovery diet. Just the smell of homemade bread will help cure everything.

Now for the request. This weekeknd I made some amazing peach salsa. I will post the recipe tomorrow. Now there are no longer fresh peaches available but this was an experiment with rotating food storage. I used my store bought, canned peaches. It is so good…we had some with cream cheese on crackers and also with salmon and I used some as a dressing on a salad. Yum…This would be a perfect gift and also help you rotate your canned peaches. I would like to know what you have done with food storage items to rotate them in a unique way. Please go over to our yahoo group or share them here. I will compile them all and iniclude them in the November newsletter.

Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

To subscribe to our newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/?page_id=736

To purchase Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic : http://www.totallyready.com/

To purchase Mother Hubbard What She’s Doing Now: Food Storage For the 21st Century: http://www.totallyready.com/ Mother Hubbard also includes an interactive food storage calculator and inventory system for your General Store.

Blog Talk Radio Show with Kathy Hamilton..listen to our conversation at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/simikathy/2009/10/14/Carolyn–how-to-prepare-your-family-for-an-emergency-so-you-can-be-gone-with-confidence

Blog Talk Radio Shows with James Talmage Stevens:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/10/17/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/06/20/Family-Preparedness-Guide

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/05/23/Family-Preparedness-Guide

From CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/whatsnew.htm

“During the week of October 4-10, 2009, influenza activity continued to increase in the United States. Flu activity is now widespread. Nationwide, visits to doctors for influenza-like-illness increased over last week and are higher than expected for this time of year. In addition, flu-related hospitalizations and deaths are increasing as well, and are higher than expected.”

To date there have been 15,696 patients hospitalized with flu related pneumonia with 2,029 deaths. There have been 4,958 H1N1 hospitalizations with 292 deaths.

Numbers for deaths among children is now at 147. The CDC report as of last Friday contained the following information, which is frightening.

Nineteen more pediatric deaths for influenza were reported to us this week. We’re now up to 76 children having died from the 2009 H1N1 virus,” Anne Schuchat, a senior official at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said on Friday.

“To put that in context, in the past three years, the total pediatric influenza deaths ranged from 46 – 88. We’ve already had 76 children dying from the H1N1 virus and it’s only the beginning of October,” Schuchat said. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/health/873956/us-child-deaths-from-h1n1-shoot-up

That is really disturbing…46-88 deaths among children in a normal flu season, the entire season.. 6 months…and we have already seen almost twice that many in less than two months. Please share what you know and encourage people with the flu in their home to stay home, especially if you have children in your home.

Check out this graph and pay particular attention to the yellow line which tracks deaths in the current week. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/weeklyarchives2008-2009/IPD39.htm

How do people “catch pneumonia”?

Some cases of pneumonia are contracted by breathing in small droplets that contain the organisms that can cause pneumonia. These droplets get into the air when a person infected with these germs coughs or sneezes. In other cases, pneumonia is caused when bacteria or viruses that are normally present in the mouth, throat, or nose inadvertently enter the lung. During sleep it is quite common for people to aspirate secretions from the mouth, throat, or nose. Normally, the body’s reflex response (coughing back up the secretions) and immune system will prevent the aspirated organisms from causing pneumonia. However, if a person is in a weakened condition from another illness, a severe pneumonia can develop. People with recent viral infections, lung disease, heart disease and swallowing problems, as well as alcoholics and drug users, and those who have suffered a stroke or seizure, are at higher risk for developing pneumonia than the general population.

Once organisms enter the lungs, they usually settle in the air sacs of the lung where they rapidly grow in number. This area of the lung then becomes filled with fluid and pus as the body attempts to fight off the infection.

What are pneumonia symptoms and signs?

Most people who develop pneumonia initially have symptoms of a cold which are then followed by a high fever (sometimes as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit), shaking chills, and a cough with sputum production. The sputum is usually discolored and sometimes bloody. People with pneumonia may become short of breath. The only pain fibers in the lung are on the surface of the lung, in the area known as the pleura. Chest pain may develop if the outer pleural aspects of the lung are involved. This pain is usually sharp and worsens when taking a deep breath, known as pleuritic pain.

In other cases of pneumonia, there can be a slow onset of symptoms. A worsening cough, headaches, and muscle aches may be the only symptoms. In some people with pneumonia, coughing is not a major symptom because the infection is located in areas of the lung away from the larger airways. At times, the individual’s skin color may change and become dusky or purplish (a condition known as “cyanosis”) due to their blood being poorly oxygenated.

Children and babies who develop pneumonia often do not have any specific signs of a chest infection but develop a fever, appear quite ill, and can become lethargic. Elderly people may also have few symptoms with pneumonia.  http://www.medicinenet.com/pneumonia/article.htm#3whatare

Please email this post to everyone you know. Run off a copy and give it to neighbors or friends as you pick up the kids from school. Encourage others to call into my blog talk radio show tomorrow, tune in yourself, and ask the questions you may have.

I will be speaking with James this Saturday, October 17th 11:00 AM Pacific time (12:00 noon mountain time, 1:00pm central, 2:00pm Eastern). Please join us and ask questions about the Pandemic or any other preparedness concern you may have. Call in  (347) 326-9604 or just listen at:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/James-Talmage-Steven/2009/10/17/Family-Preparedness-Guide

To subscribe to our newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/?page_id=736

To purchase Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic : http://www.totallyready.com/

To purchase Mother Hubbard What She’s Doing Now: Food Storage For the 21st Century: http://www.totallyready.com/ Mother Hubbard also includes an interactive food storage calculator and inventory system for your General Store.

Blog Talk Radio Show with Kathy Hamilton..listen to our conversation at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/simikathy/2009/10/14/Carolyn–how-to-prepare-your-family-for-an-emergency-so-you-can-be-gone-with-confidence

Yes, the real magnitude of a pandemic is about to be felt by all of us. In many communities there has been very little activity but is some places it is already causing problems with health care and in the schools. In Grants Pass Oregon, for example, the hospital system is overwhelmed with patients. Those who would normally go to the emergency room to be checked out for accidents or illness over the weekend, when doctor’s offices are closed, are being told to wait and visit their doctor’s office, because the emergency room is so overwhelmed. Yes, southern Oregon has been hit hard. People have already made the decision to stay home from public gathering such as church. At some point during this flu season we will all be faced with that decision. When will we choose to stay at home to try to prevent exposure? Naturally, if any member of your family has flu symptoms they should stay home for at least seven days and we are now being told, 48 hours, after they have no temperature and have taken no medications which reduce fever. Yes, 48 hours. Recent studies have shown that the virus can remain contagious in up to 12% of people, for 48 hours after the fever disappears.

If you have not stocked up on foods appropriate for treating those with the flu do so this week. If you have not run off a copy of the form to track patient care, do that now. The H1N1 is no more deadly, at this point, than the seasonal flu but that still means more than 160,000 deaths from the H1N1 can be expected, in the United States alone, before it is over. Check you October Newsletter later today for a food list and patient form. The patient form and many others are in your Prep Not Panic ebook so be sure you have them copied and ready for use.

If you have your flu supplies stocked in your General Store today is the day to stock up on grains. Remember grains is not just wheat. Grains include oats, rice, pasta, barley, cream of wheat, and so much more. Store what your family likes to eat. There is no right or wrong grain to store. Grains are important to digestion, to help you feel full for a longer period of time, and they provide vitamins and minerals that other foods do not.

Stock up this week by adding 6 pounds of grains per family member to your store.

To subscribe to our newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/?page_id=736

To purchase Prep Not Panic: Keys to Surviving the Next Pandemic : http://www.totallyready.com/

To purchase Mother Hubbard What She’s Doing Now: Food Storage For the 21st Century: http://www.totallyready.com/ Mother Hubbard also includes an interactive food storage calculator and inventory system for your General Store.

Schools may also need to close if children return too soon. Yesterday 19 children in the United States died of the H1N1. This may not seem a lot for such a large country but if it were your child it would be devastating. Traditionally schools worry about money from the state and encourage children to return to school quickly and even to come as long as they don’t have a fever. That has all changed. District are now asking that you keep children home if they are ill in any way and asking that they not return until they have been medication AND fever free for at least 24 hours. I recently returned from Oregon where one small school district closed because there were so many kids and teachers out sick that they felt there was little to no learning happening in the classroom. Another school canceled homecoming and still another canceled a football game because so many were ill.

While this illness is not as deadly as we had feared it may still become so. It will definitely have a huge economic impact if we don’t take care to avoid spreading it. Store shelves could still become bare just because a trucker or warehouse worker went to work ill and spread the illness. The hospitals in Oregon have told ALL the employees not to report to work for at least seven days after becoming ill. This is serious as medical help could become very limited should the medical community become ill. Fire fighters live in close quarters when they are on duty. What would happen if your home were threatened by a fire and the firefighters were all ill because someone came to work still contagious?  The point being, even if this strain is not very deadly it could greatly impact our lives if we are not responsible and do not stay home from EVERYTHING when we are ill. School, Church and work are important but we must be extra cautious and aware during this flu season. And…season flu season has not yet begun. What will happen then?

In the most recent study new information was revealed:

De Serres and Boivin tested 173 people enrolled in the study 8 days and 10 days after they first presented with symptoms. At Day 10, they were not detecting live virus in any of the 43 laboratory-confirmed cases of people with the virus.

The results of the study indicate that a large number of people with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 are still contagious after their fever breaks, and at least a proportion of people with the virus may be able to transmit it to others for a day or two longer than those who have seasonal influenza, De Serres says.

“For seasonal influenza in general, we consider that within seven days, the shedding of the virus should be over,” he says. “With this virus, we see that yes, the shedding of the virus is over for the majority of the people, but there are still people who are potentially contagious on day eight.”

In general, public health authorities advise people with seasonal influenza to wait for 24 hours after their fever has broken before returning to work or to school. Currently, that is the advice the US Centers for Disease Control offers on its website to people with pandemic (H1N1) 2009.

But that period of voluntary isolation is not likely to be effective in reducing transmission among at least a segment of those with the virus, says De Serres. “If on day eight, we still have 8-13% of people having live virus, to go back after two, three or four days (of presenting symptoms) is really too soon.”.

http://www.cmaj.ca/earlyreleases/24sept09_pandemic_h1n1.shtml

The lesson…stay home and if you even suspect you or a family member has the H1N1.

]]> http://blog.totallyready.com/pandemic-prep-please-stay-home/10/09/feed/ 0 http://blog.totallyready.com/pandemic-prepvomiting/10/02/ http://blog.totallyready.com/pandemic-prepvomiting/10/02/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:12:34 +0000 Carolyn http://blog.totallyready.com/?p=1136

As with last week’s post vomiting is not usually a symptom of the H1N1 flu but it is often a symptom of winter illnesses and is sometimes associated with the H1N1 virus.

Most vomiting is caused by a viral infection of the stomach or eating something that is contaminated.

Vomiting usually stops in 6-24 hours. Dietary changes can help speed recovery. We recommend that you begin the following protocol if your child has vomited 2-3 times consecutively.

HOME CARE

• Newborns to two months of age: Don’t give anything. Call the doctor.

• Two months to one year of age: Wait one hour after vomiting then begin clear liquids as outlined below.

• One year and older: Wait two hours after vomiting stops, and then begin clear liquids as outlined below.

Clear liquids:

Give one teaspoon of a clear liquid (preferably an electrolyte solution such as PEDIALYTE, LYTREN,  KAOLECTROLYTE or RICELYTE) every 10 minutes for one hour. Do not use water.

· If no vomiting occurs after receiving one teaspoon every 10 minutes for one hour: Continue giving clear liquids according to the chart listed below.

• If the child vomits: Wait until no vomiting occurs for 1-2 hours depending on age, then start over from the previously tolerated level on the chart.

After reaching six teaspoons at one feeding, the child may drink clear liquids as desired up to 2-3 ounces at a time. Once your child is tolerating these large amounts, you don’t need to give the fluids as frequently.

IMPORTANT: Because dehydration may make your child sleepy, you may need to wake him/her for fluids. Giving the fluids as outlined by the chart is more important than letting your child sleep.

NOTE: If your child is over one year of age and refuses the electrolyte solution, try mixing it half-and-half with Gatorade or some other sports drink or adding part of a Popsicle. If you are unable to get the electrolyte solution, you can use a dilute sports drink instead.

Introduce solids only if your child is tolerating 2-3 oz. of clear liquids at a time for at least one hour without vomiting. At this point, if the child feels like eating, try ½ piece of toast, a handful of dry cereal, or a couple of saltines or graham crackers. Wait several hours before additional solids are fed to the child to see how the child tolerates the solids already given. Continue fluids as you introduce the solid food. If your child vomits when you offer solid foods, go back to clear liquids. Do not force your child to eat solids; his/her appetite will improve.

Avoid spicy, greasy, gas producing, and hard to digest foods. It is also best to avoid dairy products until the child has been feeling fine for several days.

Breast fed babies:

For babies older than two months old, wait 1-2 hours after vomiting stops, depending on age.

• If your baby has only vomited once or twice, try providing breast milk in smaller amounts than usual. Continue breast-feeding, but nurse on only one side for 10 minutes, 15 minutes apart. After 8 hours have passed since your baby last vomited, return to nursing on both sides.

Medications:

Oral medications can irritate the stomach and make vomiting worse. If your child has a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit, use ACETAMINOPHEN SUPPOSITORIES. These do not require a prescription, but you may have to ask the pharmacist for them. If your child has diarrhea, suppositories are not advised. Only treat the fever if the child is uncomfortable or not taking fluids by mouth. It is important to remember that mild dehydration can cause an increase in fever. Once the child begins taking fluids, you may see a reduction of fever, even without fever-reducing medication.

Call your doctor if your child is on prescription medications and is unable to take them.

Clear liquids: A common error is to give as much clear liquids as your child wants rather than gradually increasing the amount. This almost always leads to continued vomiting.

Too much, too soon: Another common mistake is to increase the diet too quickly, especially introducing solids or milk too soon. This can sometimes start the process all over.

Water: Water as a clear liquid is rarely tolerated. The electrolyte solution is not only tolerated better, but it replaces electrolytes in the right proportions needed to prevent problems, and it contains calories that your child needs. If you give water to a child at risk of dehydration, in large amounts, or for extended periods of time, the child may have seizures.

Call the doctor’s office…

• IMMEDIATELY if:

1. Your child does not urinate in more than 8 hours. If you are not sure if your child is urinating, you can put a tissue in the diaper to absorb the urime.

2. Crying produces no tears.

3. Any blood appears in the vomited material and is not from a recent nosebleed.

4. Constant abdominal pain develops (not intermittent cramping) and last more than four hours.

5. Your child becomes difficult to awaken or confused.

6. Poisoning with a plant, bad food, medicine, or some other chemical becomes a possibility.

7. Your child starts acting very sick.

• DURING REGULAR OFFICE HOURS IF:

1. You have attempted to follow the protocol twice and vomiting continues anyway.

2. Your child also has symptoms of sore throat, headache and/or swollen or painful lymph nodes in the neck.