Hope is Not A Plan- Dealing with H1N1

Dear Responders-

A lot is being made of and said about the pending re-emergence of the H1N1 influenza strain. Many people are saying too much is being made about it and others say the government agencies in the USA and around the world is putting too much into it.

Many people are just hoping nothing happens. Well as the title says- "Hope is not a Plan!"

Lets look at a few important facts. A pandemic occurs in the USA every 10-30 years. With the growth of international travel on board aircraft, which can serve as great incubators of viruses, the speed in which disease can spread is incredibly fast.

"Regular seasonal Flu" kills about 36,000 people a year in the USA and between 300,000-500,000 people around the world annually. But when the flu takes on new strains the death toll jumps. In the 20th century their were 4 major outbreaks-
1918 Spanish Flu
1957 Asian Flu
1968 Hong Kong Flu
1976 Swine Flu

The 1918 Spanish flu killed millions and returning soldiers from WWI were the main carriers of the flu virus back into the USA. It is estimated that more people died from this flu (over 40,000,000) than all the deaths that resulted from World War I!

Is there enough H1N1 vaccine for everyone- probably not. Do we panic- NO!

Just be aware of the main message that the health world is telling us- WASH YOUR HANDS constantly!

Carry hand sanitizers when away from soap and water. Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing. Use paper towels to open bathroom doors and throw away the paper towels and napkins that you may be using. Cough into your own sleeve instead into the open air.

Also practice some "social distancing" techniques. In addition to those listed above, try not to shake hands, instead do the H1N1 "fist" and just bump fist to fist! Wave at each other! Wipe down phones. Stay home when sick! Don't be a martyr and show up at the office and send other people home sick!

So hope is not a plan. But sticking with common hygiene habits, some social distancing skills and common sense- and mix that in with prayer and you have a plan that gives great hope!

Keep on serving responders!
Edward