Trick-or-treaters told to use common sense regarding germs

Dept. of Health warns against those with flu symptoms going out on Halloween.

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By Tiffany Y. Latta, Staff Writer Updated 11:20 AM Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Days before Halloween, Ohio’s top doctor asked parents with children going trick-or-treating this week to use “common-sense” to protect them from exposure to H1N1.

Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Alvin D. Jackson said today, Oct. 28, children with fevers should stay home and those going door to door, should keep their distance from people with flu-like symptoms.

“Stay about six feet away from people who are coughing or sneezing as flu is thought to spread through the air by sick people who are coughing or sneezing,” Jackson said.

The vaccination is the best way to guard against the flu, commonly called swine flu, he said.

Due to the limited supply, parents and children should use the following basic precaution to protect themselves:

• Wash your hands frequently; alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective if soap and water are not available.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough or sneeze into your elbow.

• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth; germs are spread this way.

• If you are sick, stay home from work, and keep sick children home from school, until fever free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication.

For more information about H1N1 flu, visit the ODH Web site at www.flu.ohio.gov or call the H1N1 information line at (800) 866-1404 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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My child came home from school saying they learned to cough and sneeze into their elbows with Germie Wormie, and I was totally taken aback. I always used my hands. But I went to the website, and now I get it, hands touch, elbows don't!! Kids can touch up to 300 surfaces in 1/2 an hour, and they hate to wash their hands. This is a simple thing that can make a huge difference. There is also an entertaining DVD that teaches kids how to do this and reinforces other important hygiene habits.

Mary
11:14 PM, 10/28/2009

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There are businesses here in Middletown that will write people up if they stay home to watch their sick kids, bosses like that have no compassion, unless it happens to them of course.

Middletown
5:39 PM, 10/28/2009

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my how times have changed. in the past, if u were sick, companies would punish you if u stayed home, now they beg u to..should have been that way all along - staying home when sick! Same with schools - they piled the homework if u were sick at home to punish the kid for staying home. America's a mess, employers and schools should have been more understanding in the past, should have been more supportive of sick people. Hope that attitude of staying home when sick remains forever!

Lynn
5:01 PM, 10/28/2009

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WOW!!!!! I never have our kids do this, and we always send them to school when they are sick, I wish obama would hire a, "tell us what we should do when our kids our sick" czar....

Silverback
2:49 PM, 10/28/2009

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I 100% agree with you Nikki! You have all these people that are sick but still going into work. UGH..and if your kids are sick, please have the respect to keep them home.

couldn't agree more
2:29 PM, 10/28/2009

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