2roads
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4409
posted
Great question....
up
Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
That's a great idea!
First of all, i'd have a thermometer to check for fevers. If you have one at home make sure it works! I kept a broken one in my cabinet for about 3yrs before I remembered to buy a new one. You don't think about these things when you are healthy.
Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and Benadryl are staples. It would be good to know how much your kids weigh so that you can easily administer the proper dose of medication.
Pedialyte, Gatorade, Chicken noodle soup, crackers, dry cereal, and oatmeal are easy on the stomach foods that keep well. It would also be a good idea to have frozen fruits, vegs, and a weeks worth of ingredients for easy to cook meals so that you don't have to go to the store.
You will want plenty of hand sanitizer (at least 65% alcohol is necessary to kill influenza) to help stop the spread of germs. Lysol or Chlorox wipes are also helpful when wiping down common areas like bathroom and kitchen.
If a loved one gets the flu it would be best to have them stay in a separate room, keep the healthy family members away except for the designated caregiver. Sick person should wear a mask as much as possible to prevent the spread of germs to the rest of the family.
Caregiver should be careful to wash hands thoroughly, wearing mask is not necessary for them because the virus gets in the eyes too. Sick person should wear the mask.
Be careful when handling dishes, laundry, dirty kleenex, and trash contaminated by the sick person. Do not hold contaminated stuff close to your body and wash your hands well after handling.
Also, when holding or comforting a sick child it would be a good idea to turn their face away from yours when resting their head on your shoulder. That way they do not cough directly in your face.
If you get sick and the children are healthy you might want to have some extra books, dollar store toys, crayons, and new coloring books to help entertain the kids while you rest.
And I would also have lots of Vit C on hand. When i've been exposed to illness or feel like i'm coming down with something i'll take 1,000mg VitC every couple hours. It seems to help and it would be safe to give to your kids.
Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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- Tylenol and/or ibuprofen, Sudafed. Check now to make sure your medications are still in date.
- Ginger capsules for nausea. Or ginger candy. Ginger ale.
- Kleenex. They have a kind now that is "anti-viral," but I don't know if it's worth the extra money.
- Rubbing alcohol to sanitize thermometer between people.
- Clorox wipes are sooo handy when someone is sick. Usually I don't buy them, but I always get them when someone is sick.
- Extra toothbrushes. Always get a new toothbrush after you're sick, and don't mingle sick toothbrushes with non-sick ones.
Posts: 398 | From By the Salish Sea | Registered: Dec 2008
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2roads
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 4409
posted
Sammy, you can tell you're a nurse...thanks.
Great help too Anna.
Posts: 2214 | From West Chester, PA | Registered: Aug 2003
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
I now have a salt inhaler/pipe, for the next time I get bronchitis/cough/influenza/pneumonia. You breathe air over the dry salt crystals, and the salt ions kill bacteria in your lungs, reduce inflamed airways, and help to clear out mucous.
I also have some antivirals on hand, for influenza. Elderberry extract, lozenges and syrup. Olive leaf extract. Grapefruit seed extract.
You'll need bottles or condensed cans of fruit juice, which is easy to digest. When you have a fever, your temperature is too high for the digestive enzymes to work properly. 7Up or ginger ale is good, too.
Pedialyte to replace electrolytes if your child has diahhrea.
Ice bag, or ice cap. When I had influenza, the headache was incredibly severe. I would make up an ice pack and go to bed with it on my forehead.
I took Tylenol around the clock, to reduce the fever, which went as high as 105 F. This helped the body aches somewhat, but didn't seem to help the piercing headache.
I was way too ill to drive to the store. The dry cough lingered for weeks. The fatigue was awful, and this from someone who has had chronic fatigue for years.
Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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sammy
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13952
posted
Most of the time when we are sick with something like the flu we don't really have much of an appetite. If you don't feel like eating try sipping on something with sugar and electrolytes such as Gatorade, Pedialyte, flat 7-up, chicken broth, etc.
Besides sipping drinks you can also use popsicles to get your children to take in fluids. Remember, your body needs more than water to remain hydrated and have energy to heal.
When you start to feel better and think that you may be able to tolerate some food start with plain simple easy to digest things such as crackers, toast, dry cereal, oatmeal, bananas, applesauce, etc.
As for treating fevers, you do not need to medicate unless the child is uncomfortable or if the fever goes over 101. If temp goes over 104 then it is time to see a doctor. Fevers are a way the body fights infection, so it is OK to wait and watch low grade fevers.
Masks, i'm not really sure what you will find at your local pharmacy. For the sick person it would be nice to find the soft surgical masks that loop over the ears. If you want to wear a mask for your protection the CDC recommends "N95 particulate respirators". Might not be able to find them at the local pharmacy but that is what health care providers are supposed to wear along with goggles when caring for suspected flu patients. You will probably have to make due with whatever you can find and have the sick person wear it to protect the rest of the family.
Also, don't waste your money on OTC cough, cold, or flu medications. They don't work. Just stick with the basics Tylenol or Motrin. If the cough is so bad that you or your children are having trouble breathing then it is time to see the doctor anyways.
Hopefully we will all avoid the dreaded flu and we won't even need to use a "sick kit". Oh, wouldn't that be nice!
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