Don't go to work! Don't go to school! Go to hospital?

[salinen]

Being that I know nothing about epidemics, pandemics, or viruses, I'd be fearful of going to the hospital if I think I have contracted this virus. I mean, what do you do at the hospital emergency room? Wait. In a room full of sick people, of whom, some may really have the virus. You may have the virus and spread it to someone with a bladder infection. Am I paranoid?

[liberal N proud]

1. Go to hospital and increase your chances of getting the flu

Everyone who has the flu with no insurance will be at the emergency room thus increasing anyone who goes chances of getting sick.

But the media hype is working freaking everyone out.

[aquart]

2. Yeah. They're racing to the hospital in Queens when they were told to stay home.

Geniuses.

[Danger Mouse]

4. What do you expect. The media is inducing panic.

[aquart]

8. Actually, they're pretty much sticking to the facts.

This is NOT a normal flu outbreak. This is flu that is killing with a pandemic demo not a normal one. THAT is the reason for the fuss and the school closings.

What interests me is the mildness of the outbreak here compared to Mexico. And whether that will be also true for Canada, Spain, and the other countries which are or will be involved.

Frankly, the media is being pretty gentle. OUR GOVERNMENT TOLD PEOPLE NOT TO GO TO MEXICO ON SPRING BREAK BECAUSE THE DRUG CARTELS WERE ENDANGERING LIVES. What did the St. Francis prep kids do? THEY WENT TO MEXICO. Not even in college. We're lucky the idiots haven't murdered their classmates and parents with this bug. But they were flat out TOLD not to go. I haven't heard that mentioned.

[a la izquierda]

14. Oh FFS, I live there part of the year

spare me, okay?


Blaming kids for going to Mexico for Spring Break is just moronic. How the hell did they know about a future flu outbreak...and, the government advisory SHOULD have been altered to include violent areas. The Yucatan isn't one of them.

[NeedleCast]

11. No surprise at all

The 56% of people who answered the CNN poll saying they were "worried" about Swine Flu infecting their communities will head to the ER at the first sign of a sniffle, most likely induced by seasonal allergies.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. You stay home

if things close down. If this pandemic threat scares you, here's some things you can do about it right now:

1. Build up your own immune system. You do this by eating healthy (no junk, or less than usual if that is what you can manage). You do this by adding immune enhancing foods and herbs to your diet. Example: astragula root, when added to chicken soup, boosts your immune system without adding a bad taste to the soup. Pop in some shittake mushrooms, because they are immune enhancers, too. Be sure to drink plenty of water--filtered or spring water if you can. Avoid or decrease stress by breathing practices (meditation or Qi Gong for example), and moderate exercise (such as a brisk walk or stretches).

2. Supplement. These supplements can help build up you immune system--Vitamin C and lauric acid. You take echinacea after you have symptoms, I believe.

3. Stock up. You immune system isn't the only to be enhanced. When the bird flu scare hit, I went to a meeting where a county official stated that it would be wise to have a minimum of 2 weeks' worth of food, water, and medicine at your house. He said to NOT go to the hospital unless you were already very sick-and that the county might limit the number of people admitted if overcrowding occurred. He said if worse came to worse there would be a curfew and little or not traffic allowed. And having emergency supplies can come in handy even if the flu scare is just a scare--we used our emergency supplies when we were without power due to an ice storm this past winter.

Doing these things will empower you and help you realize that you are not helpless.

[Danger Mouse]

5. I will definitely take some of these precautions...thanks!

[NCDem60]

6. Plan B is much simpler.

Get drunk......stay drunk. Alcohol kills germs.

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Always worked for me!

Of course, there's a down side too...;)

[dgibby]

9. Fill up you gas tank and keep some cash on hand.

If this is a pandemic, then lots of places will be closed. Also, check your med cabinet. You'll want to have something for fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Make sure your prescription meds are refilled. Even if stores are open, you won't want to shop if your area of the country is affected. Don't forget the chicken soup and gator-aide, pedialyte for the kiddos.

[aquart]

10. Do a search for a DU OP on Vitamin D, too.

It was a few days ago and well worth reading up on.

[elocs]

12. Yes, embrace your fear. It is never too early to panic.

If you are paranoid, you have come to the right place.

[bluebellbaby]

15. LOL...I knew I found home!

:woohoo:

[C_U_L8R]

13. And whatever you do... don't think about torture

( snark : - )))