Red Cross has Swine Flu/Seasonal Flu resources
The mission of the American Red Cross is helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. The Red Cross not only responds to tens of thousands of disasters each year, but also has responded to many public health emergencies in the past such as the influenza pandemic of 1918.
Human swine flu cases in the United States and Mexico prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to host a press briefing Sunday during which they provided the following update on the human swine flu cases in the US and Mexico:
There have been confirmed cases of the swine flu in the United States, affecting California and Texas.
While there have been a range of estimates regarding cases in Mexico, CDC did not provide confirmation on the number of cases or the severity of the disease in Mexico. However, they did confirm that the cases in both the US and Mexico are the same virus.
They encouraged everyone to practice basic public health and preparedness measures including: covering your cough/sneeze, frequent hand-washing, visiting a doctor for flu-like symptoms, and staying home when sick.
Currently, the American Red Cross is monitoring the situation and we are in close contact with federal and state health officials, including the CDC. For more information on human swine flu, the CDC Web site provides the latest information, which can also be obtained by calling 1-800-CDC-INFO. For general information on seasonal flu and how to stay healthy, please refer to the Seasonal Flu Checklist on RedCross.org.
Also, the Lee County Red Cross offers “The Scrubby Bear Hand Washing Program”, which can lead to:
Fewer colds
Effective against Hepatitis A
Effective in preventing Infectious Diarrhea
Promotes healthier children
Decreases school absenteeism
Good hand washing habits are not just for children!
The Scrubby Bear hand washing program consists of materials developed to aid in instructing children as to the importance of good hand washing habits in preventing diseases such as Infectious Diarrhea, Hepatitis A, and colds. Scrubby Bear reminds children and adults that infection can be fought through frequent hand washing. Scrubby is an immediate reminder to scrub your hands, reinforced by his message, “Don’t get sick, Wash up quick!” Children love Scrubby and really respond to his message. The program is most appropriate for children ages 4 through 7. Although the written and verbal materials are currently available in English only, they have been successfully used by schools, hospitals, health agencies and day care centers throughout the world.
Please contact the Lee County Chapter at 278-3401, if you are interested in a Scrubby bear, disease prevention/preparedness presentation/workshop.
The Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. It provides training in life-saving skills and mobilizes relief to victims of disasters in addition to assisting members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. For additional information about the Red Cross and the assistance it provides, making donations, registering for a class or volunteering, call 278-3401, or log on to arclcc.org. The American Red Cross of Lee County is a proud member of the United Way of Lee County.
Source: Lee County Red Cross