Easy Living houses a nationally accredited training facility for caregivers, health industry professionals, civic groups and to the general public. Contact 770-442-8664 to register for an upcoming class. 

  Mom Was Right!
 

Mom was right when she often told us to "wash your hands"! Hand washing is one of the major recommendations for the prevention of the flu and important to remember now since the Centers of Disease Control is reporting Georgia is one of eleven states to experience an unusual increase in early influenza cases. Doctors admit emergency rooms are three times busier this year than last and just recently, the high profile CNN Health Reporter Dr. Sanjay Gupta who was trying to answer families questions about H1N1...became stricken with the illness himself.   The good news is prevention for the flu and H1N1 can be possible with mom's advice hand washing using soap and warm water. Some basic home disinfectants do kill both flu and H1N1 germs. Health officials say strong products like Clorox Bleach spray kills germs that can spread both influenza and HINI. On another positive note, the Vaccine for H1N1 will start to roll out around October 5th.. Locally, the flu shot will be available to for the public at drugstores and most grocery store pharmacies for around twenty-five dollars. If you are not a fan of needles the nasal spray vaccine is an alternative to the flu shot if you are healthy and between the ages of two and forty-nine.  CNN's Dr. Gupta can report from personal experience now that symptoms for both influenza and HIN1 are the same...but with H1N1 the muscle aches, cough and nausea can be more intense. If you or your loved one has flu like symptoms experts now encourage treating symptoms with the simple basics like rest, fluids and fever reducers. They also advise to call your doctors' office for questions first instead of hitting the emergency room unless the following symptoms occur:
 
Child
Breathing is fast or difficult
Bluish or grayish skin color
Not taking Fluids
Persistent Vomiting
Unresponsive because tired or weak
 
 
Adult
Shortness of Breath
Pressure in chest and abdomen
Dizziness and Confusion
Persistent Vomiting