OT: Pandemic flu alert

[ceecee]

Has anyone heard of this?? DD's school just sent home a DVD about the world pandemic flu and how we are overdue for this. It scared her and it worries me a little too. It says stores will run out of food, so you should stock pile food and medications as hospital and Dr offices will be full. Power outages, etc. due to sick workers not being able to work. It shows a family that has to be homebound and even work from home, not go to school or any social functions (church, etc). I guess this went out to all Ohio students.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Still waiting for the avian flu to hit..been waiting and waiting and waiting....

 

[kfeuer]

They talked about this on Oprah a year or two ago. I agree, it was disturbing to think about.

I have basic emergency supplies, but there's no way I have room for the kind of food or water stockpiling they suggested. It's hard to spend the money for all the things they say you should have for something that may or may not happen anytime soon.

 

[Evans Family]

I think you just need to live each day to it's fullest. You can't get caught up in the "what if's" in life....there are so many! nuclear war, terrorist attack, Asian flu, plane crash, car crash...etc....

You litterally could become scared to leave your house if you think of this stuff too much!

Get a flu shot each year, make sure you eat a healthy diet and get enough rest everynight. Especially, wash your hands often!

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

Has anyone heard of this?? DD's school just sent home a DVD about the world pandemic flu and how we are overdue for this. It scared her and it worries me a little too. It says stores will run out of food, so you should stock pile food and medications as hospital and Dr offices will be full. Power outages, etc. due to sick workers not being able to work. It shows a family that has to be homebound and even work from home, not go to school or any social functions (church, etc). I guess this went out to all Ohio students.

All Ohio students? I haven't heard of this and none of my friends/family have said anything about a video either?? We live in Columbus by the way.

 

[harleyquinn]

My DH is a teacher in Ohio and he hasn't heard anything about this going to homes.

There's always the threat of something bad happening that 'experts' recommend you be prepared for.

 

[Dory's Twin]

Sounds alarmist of a school to do if you ask me...maybe call the school and ask about it....

 

[Jenny-momof3]

I'm in Ohio too and my dd9 brought this home yesterday. Haven't looked at it yet though.

As if these poor kids don't have enough to freak out about already... let's make it even worse.

 

[gonemousin']

Sounds alarmist of a school to do if you ask me...maybe call the school and ask about it....

Yeah...kind of what I was thinking. Seems a bit overreactive.

 

[tlbwriter]

Last year my DD brought home a flyer about what would happen in the event of pandemic flu. It wasn't a "sky is falling!" type of flyer, just information. We received it at work as well.

 

[ceecee]

Yeah...kind of what I was thinking. Seems a bit overreactive.

It's not that bad, but it makes you think. DD said we had plenty of food to last a long time in our pantry...she is so right. My friend's son freaked out when they had a tornado drill at school! I guess it's to alert people of what could happen, I just wonder why I hadn't heard anything prior to this DVD, I asked her teacher and she said she thought all Ohio schools (Ted Strickland has something to do with this) got the option to pass them out or not. It even has "ohio schools" mentioned in it.

 

[runwad]

We're in NE Ohio and we didn't get anything.

 

[vsimeone]

I work in an Ohio school district. Snow day today . I don't know all the details but there is an initiative by the Ohio Department of Education to distribute information about the possibility of a pandemic flu. You can read some about it here: http://www.ode.state.oh.us/gd/templates/pages/ODE/ODEPrinterFriendlyPage.aspx?Page=3&TopicRelationID=1287&Content=44252

I hope that helps! Have a great day!

 

[HM]

There have been either reports on news shows or actual tv programs about this over the last year. I've certainly heard of the potential for a pandemic to happen. I seem to recall that our hospitals/health services in the area have done some preparation and drills related to the possibility as well.

I'm actually surprised that this is new news to the OP and others.

 

[MrsNick]

Get a flu shot each year, make sure you eat a healthy diet and get enough rest everynight. Especially, wash your hands often!

I think this is great advice. Additionally, just so everyone understands how the flu is spread...It is spread through the air. It isn't like the common cold where you catch it by touching contaminated surfaces and say touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

Flu is spread through the air. You can catch it by breathing it in. That's why a flu pandemic is such a serious event. And this is why all the "disaster" preparation mentions the possibility of not being able to go out and interact with other members of your community. And, the colder and drier the air, the longer the flu virus will remain airborne.

FWIW, I do not think we should all panic. Just a little information I thought I'd share.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I didn't know about this, nor am I getting all up in arms about it. Haven't we been waiting for the "bird flu" forever now!!???

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

I think you just need to live each day to it's fullest. You can't get caught up in the "what if's" in life....there are so many! nuclear war, terrorist attack, Asian flu, plane crash, car crash...etc....

You litterally could become scared to leave your house if you think of this stuff too much!

Get a flu shot each year, make sure you eat a healthy diet and get enough rest everynight. Especially, wash your hands often!

ITA. It seems like the media, government, Mr. Schmo down the street aren't happy unless they are scaring us about something. SARS ..... bird flu ..... global warming.

I still remember the craziness around Y2K. People were stocking up on plastic, duct tape, water. They really had people worked up for nothing.

Just relax and live your life!

 

[minniebeth]

We live in the NW Columbus (OH) area and my Kindergarten DD brought home a pretty thick pamphlet (like a magazine) about preparing for a pandemic and a small coloring book about staying healthy for children. We got this awhile back. It was just given to them to take home, she had no idea what it was about. I read through it and then actually threw it away since I didn't want my older two to see it. We have had enough trauma in our lives...we are from Northern NJ, 10 mis. outside of NYC and lived in suburban Wash. DC area during 9/11. We dealt with personal tragedy on both ends, which is one of the reasons we moved to Ohio. It took a long time for my oldest to feel safe again and for them to be exposed to things that *might* be are not necessary. We have an emergency plan and general supplies for whatever...
I think education is great, but I agree with a previous poster to live your lives to the fullest and yes, be prepared but not dwell on what may or may not ever happen.

 

[Mellie2162]

What I want to know is how do people stockpile? My kids eat everything coming and going. Its hard enough to stockpile just to save money normally let alone for something like this. Id have to lock it up and throw away the key.

By the way, DH has the flu right now and ive heard from him about 200 times in the last 3 days how bad his body aches. I had a nasty chest cold this week but nothing like what he has. And contrary to my tag, I am not smelling him this week.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

.....
By the way, DH has the flu right now and ive heard from him about 200 times in the last 3 days how bad his body aches. I had a nasty chest cold this week but nothing like what he has. And contrary to my tag, I am not smelling him this week.
.....

My DH also has the flu and said the body aches are terrible. Lots of people in my office have had the flu and also said the body aches were the worst part. I'm hoping I can avoid getting it!

My DH keeps taking hot baths to help with the aches ..... so he probably smells pretty good right now. Maybe.