October 10, 2009
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.
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Blog Talk Radio Show with Kathy Hamilton..listen to our conversation at:
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
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I know a waitress that works in a nice place in Portland, Or. Her boss told all employees that anyone who called in sick would be let go. She said it was so crazy serving food and then running into the kitchen to blow their nose or cough. She said that everyone there ended up with a flu AND took it home to their families. Swine? Probably. That’s the one making the rounds around the northwest. How many people went out for dinner and came home with the flu?
That is amazing. That boss should be reported to the Board of Health! If anyone who ate there became ill and traces it back to the restaurant he will certainly lose his business in court. How foolish and how irresponsible.
I heard on the radio that a smaller rural school near me closed. Over 40% of the students had missed at least one day in a week, so they decided it was better to make everyone stay home. I agree.
Now, if only people would stop bringing sick children to church.
Ok…I did hear about the school in vacaville. I believe it was a first grader who died. I do know of a private childcare center that closed on Friday to clean there classrooms because the children from that school fed into their center. I work for a school district…the policy is to treat it like the regular flu. We are to tell families to keep sick children home and not let them back until they are symptom and medicine free for 24 hours. Want to know how many children tell us mommy or daddy gave them medicine before bringing them to school? It is just running through our schools like crazy. I don’t think our district will take it seriously until someone dies…