Teach kids before flu season what they can do to keep themselves and others safe. Use games, songs and other tools to teach basic skills like proper hand washing:
• use warm soap and water and wash thoroughly for at least 20 seconds
• remember between the fingers and on the backs of the hands
• dry hands completely and throw the paper towel in the trash (after using it to open the door)

Kids can also learn how to sneeze correctly: into tissues, of course, or into their elbows or even down their shirts – this is better than sneezing into the air or into their hands and then touching things. Wash hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer afterward.

Take the fear and threat out of flu exposure and help kids learn positive, empowering and sharable skills.

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September 14th, 2009 | Tags: children, Flu, H1N1, Public Health | Category: 2009, STAT 5MM | Leave a comment

If you’re looking for answers about staying safe around the H1N1 virus, known as “Swine Flu”, post them here!

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April 30th, 2009 | Tags: CDC, Flu, Public Health | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Google.org is the philanthropic arm of the global information giant.  They’ve just announced a new tool: Flu Trends.  The idea is pretty simple: when people in one area do a lot of Google searches on terms like “flu symptoms”, it probably means there’s a bug going around.  By looking at the pattern of these searches, they’ve built a tool that can show how much interest is out there, and whether it’s suddenly increasing.  The remarkable part of this is that it might provide trend data much faster than we’ve had so far.   Reports from the CDC generally take a week or two, and this tool could eliminate that lag.   While some have commented that sources such as emergency room data are already pretty timely, this tool can only help us as we try to stay ahead of the curve.

Take a look at the sample results video showing last year’s data!

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November 12th, 2008 | Tags: data, Flu | Category: Public Health, Useful Tools | Leave a comment

This flu season, learn and share the advice from your Public Health professionals. Practice these healthy behaviors, even if you don’t feel sick:

• Cough and/or sneeze into your elbow – not your hands or the air!
• Wash your hands with hot water and soap frequently.
• Keep bottles of hand sanitizer handy – especially when soap and water are not available.
• Keep tissues available everywhere, and give them to others!
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• If you do have flu symptoms – STAY HOME!

If we all practice these simple steps, we can keep each other safer and healthier. For tips from the CDC, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/flu

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November 6th, 2006 | Tags: Flu | Category: 2006, STAT | Leave a comment

October 11, 2006 is the United Nations’ International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. While governments are bound by borders and jurisdictions, and businesses are bound by their service areas, disasters recognize no such arbitrary restrictions. The size and scope of a disaster can impact people, economies, political relationships and the ways goods and services are spread. A pandemic flu is a good example of a disaster that will quickly move across the globe – making universal solutions and shared resources absolutely vital.

Avoid the trap of thinking “inside the boundaries” and include people in your planning or resource sharing who will be part of your experience no matter where they are.

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October 9th, 2006 | Tags: disaster, Flu, Planning | Category: 2006, STAT | Leave a comment