Flu season--a time when friction is healthy.

[No Elephants]

Boston's Mayor last week declared a state of emergency due to the flu.

The CDC now says that the flu is at epidemic levels. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/11/us-usa-flu-idUSBRE9080WD20130111

The total number of military and civilian casualties in World War I was over 37 million. There were over 16 million deaths and 20 million wounded ranking it among the deadliest conflicts in human history.

These figures cover all the nations and colonies that participated in World W I, not only the U.S.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_casualties

War War I, however, was compassionate in comparison with the flu pandemic that followed it.

Historical Importance of the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic: In three waves, the Spanish flu spread quickly, killing an estimated 50 million to 100 million people around the world.

http://history1900s.about.com/od/1910s/p/spanishflu.htm

And there is not enough flu vaccine for everyone who wants it.

Whether or not you have a conspiracy theory about the flu epidemic, take some precautions.




Ordinarily, I don't do a lot of Purell because of superbugs and I think building one's own natural antibodies is important. But, I recommend carrying a small bottle of Purell or similar product around, in case you can't avoid shaking hands, etc. Use as much friction as you can.

BTW, we should replace shaking hands. The practice originated so strangers could show each other their hand was not concealing a weapon. It's outlived its practical purpose. Maybe we can tap elbows or forearms to symbolize that we come in peace and allow everyone to keep their germy hands to themselves..

When you have access to soap and water, wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands. Hottest water possible and, again, as much friction as possible.

And if you don't have access to handwashing or Purell, rub your hands together to create as much friction as you can.

Here's what studies have found over the years. Rubber gloves are something, but not as effective as handwashing. And the part of handwashing that is most effective is not hot water, not soap, but the friction we create when we wash our hands. So, "don't be shy."

Carry antiseptic wipes and tissues so that you avoid picking up anything on doorknobs, supermarket carts, etc., even the handles on public sinks. My supermarket has had a dispenser for Purell or something like it at the entrance, but I never saw a lot of people using them. I guess the supermarket didn't either, so, now, it also provides antiseptic wipes. But, not every public place does that.

For the sake of others, cover a cough or sneeze with the inside of your arm, near the elbow, rather than with your hand, which will surely transfer your germs as you move through your day.

I prepare most of the food that I eat and I plan to increase that, which unfortunately did not occur to me until after I did takeout for lunch at a place that does only takeout. Now, I have to worry that some food preparer that was coming down with the flu may have used his or her hands to cover a cough, sneeze or yawn.

And, you cannot control others who may cough in your face.

And hope for an early Spring.

[Divine Discontent]

1. hear hear! great stuff. I am getting a tingle in the side of my nose so I'm freaking a lil!

the lady at the drug store who rang me up was coughing a second day, God bless her, but she said she's not got any fever and felt better today, but I went right out of their and put antibacterial lotion on my hands. Thanks for all the tips. I have rubbed my hands before for heat friction assuming it was good for that, so it's good to know that it is.

hoping we all stay well through this!

[No Elephants]

2. I have coughed every day for years.

One day, to my great surprise, I woke up from a coma with a breathing tube in my throat and have not stopped coughing since. No one knows why.

Anyway, I know the cough is not contagious but, when I go to a hospital or a clinic they ask people who have a cough to wear a face mask so I always wear one. (At least if they have the soft paper kind, preferably the yellow pleated kind. I can't breathe in the cardboard one.) f

Michael Jackson wore a cloth one a lot.

Many in China wear them on the street in cities because of just so many people crowding each other.

So, you could give that a try. Maybe wear one sparkly glove, too. Then people will assume you are a Jackson fan and won't ask a lot of questions.

As far as the friction, I wonder if it is the heat killing the germies or is it that we are crushing the bitty things to death? The report of the study that I read in the news did not say what about rubbing our hands was lethal. So, I try to keep both in mind.

I hate having to associate washing my hands with killing the things, though. I know they might otherwise kill us, but they don't kill us on purpose. They are just being what they are, whereas we spend a lot of effort to kill them intentionally. Lyson, Cloro, whatever.

Can't we all just get along?

j/k

mostly.


P.S. I hope you don't get sick; and if you do, it's only a weak cold and not the flu. But, it is important to keep yourself generally healthy and rested so that, when a germ comes your way, your system can fend it off.

I don't want you to be sick, DD! I need regular doses of your "nice."

:hug:

[No Elephants]

6. OMG. That was supposed to be Lysol and Clorox.

[Enthusiast]

3. A new flu Pandemic could

rid us of millions of useless eaters. I'm just saying.

[Divine Discontent]

4. proceed, governor...

:rofl:

[No Elephants]

5. When I looked at the WWI and flu pandemic numbers, it occurred to me how

much more populated the world would be if sixty-six million had not bought the farm in those two events in the first two decade of the 2oth century.

I won't do the math--nor will I look up how many children the average person used to have in every country involved in the war and/or the pandemic, but almost a century later, we would have had many, many more people on the planet had neither of those events occurred, especially the flu.

I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I can't even imagine how many families were in mourning, perhaps as a reult of both events. A "loss in the force" indeed. Who knows how many potential scientists, inventors, artists, etc. we lost? On the other hand, overpopulation is a signficant problem as it is.

I've started to wonder if getting rid of a lot of us might not be the reason CEOs who have grandbabies still feel comfortable polluting for the sake of extra profits. Thinking about your descendants unable to find clean air or water and getting skin cancer so easily, etc.--who would not cause their companies to operate more cleanly and energy efficiently? The cost of prevention is small in comparison to the cost of clean up, or the horrors that heedless pollution has been causing already.