Monday, November 23rd, 2009...2:19 pm
Oink, Oink, Achoo! The Dish on H1N1
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By Kelsi Boonstra & Kara Toay
Everyone knows about it. Everyone sees it. It seems everyone has it. Now what can we do to prevent it? Yes, H1N1. The flu virus that’s taken the country by storm.
What really has this done to the country? When asked, BMS parent Michelle Boonstra said, “It has taken lives of the elderly, young children and people with other health conditions.”
Eighth grade Science teacher Mrs. Ware said, “It’s made us more aware about the germs around us and to be more careful as to where we’re spreading them.”
So, what are people doing to stop it? “I wash my hands a lot and use hand sanitizer before lunch,” says BMS 8th grader, Janey Berends.
Things like this can really help. Unfortunately, not everyone takes as many cautions as Janey. In a survey of BMS students, only 36% of students asked said they did wash their hands after blowing their nose.
How bad is H1N1? Nurse Kristina Reuter says she’s seen only around three cases of H1N1. So, are students as worried as the media portrays?
Not necessarily. When surveyed, only 18% of students asked said they were going to get the H1N1 vaccine.
Will this virus ever go away? Eighth grader Ashley Prins thinks so, “I think it will go away because every bad disease in history has gone away.”
Helpful Tips to Stay Heathy (Or to Get Over Your Sickness) 
- Get your seasonal flu vaccination. If recommended for you, get the novel H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. In the absence of a tissue, use the crook of your elbow.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. In the absence of soap and water, alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Try to avoid contact with sick people.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, you should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
- Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, rehydrating beverages, tissues and other related items might could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious
Source: http://www.co.ottawa.mi.us/healthcomm/health/flu/default.htm
7 Comments
November 24th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
I think most of the panic over H1N1 was the media making it look like a bigger disaster than it was.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
I think the swine flu is a load of junk. Come on people, it is just the regular flu. Tell the media to go get life.
November 24th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I like the tips, great endding
P.S. you quoted me wrong
December 1st, 2009 at 2:13 pm
This is so true!! It has taken the country by storm. Not as many people are cautious because they think its nothing. Janey is taking the right steps.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:21 pm
I agree with Riley the media is going overboard with this whole h1n1 sickness.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:22 pm
People think they have the swine flu, or H1N1 but it turns out to be just the flu. Most of the time I think that kids are telling their parents that they think they have swine flu just to get out of school. People are getting “sick” from swine flu because it is all in their head. Their minds have been filled with thoughts of how you will become sick from this flu. I personally think it is all in their head.
I like how Riley put it. In words, it is a load of junk.
December 1st, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Not true kristen thats oppisite kids say they dont have the swine flu but they actually do and just dont know until last second when they go to the doctors just like me.
(I KNOW RIGHT)
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