Swine Flu Resources for Parents

How to Protect Your Child and Family from Swine Flu (H1N1 Flu)

As this story continues to develop the most important thing to remember is to keep your family up-to-date with the most current information on H1N1. Here are a few tips from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to teach your children about Swine Flu.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you 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.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

Warning Signs

Worried that you or your child may have the Swine Flu? Here are the CDC warning signs. If anyone in your family is experiencing any of these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

In children:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

American Academy of Pediatrics

The AAP offers several tips for helping families with small children identify and manage the symptoms of Swine Flu.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The CDC's "Information for Concerned Parents and Caregivers" will help you identify the symptoms of Swine Flu and know what to do if your child gets sick.

World Health Organization

To check what's happening around the world, head to the World Health organization for official announcements.

Health Map

On this site, you can view confirmed cases of Swine Flu on a visual map. Alerts will also send you to news articles for more details.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Select from a list of links to state health agencies to learn more about your state's health policies.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Keep updated on U.S. cases of Swine Flu and watch Secretary Sebelius' "PlanFirst Webcast on H1N1 Flu" for her answers to common questions.

Copyright © 2009 Meredith Corporation.