Swine Flu Information

The H1N1 (Swine) Flu

H1N1 (Swine Flu)

How is the Old Colony YMCA responding to the Swine Flu outbreak?

• YMCA staff has been briefed on Swine Flu. Executive staff has met with representatives from Signature Healthcare to discuss the flu, its transmission, and methods we can use to protect our members and program participants.
• Our childcare programs have distributed informational flyers to the nearly 2,000 families they serve.
• We are posting information about the flu and its transmission on our website, and distributing flyers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("Cover your Cough," "The Flu-A Guide for Parents," etc.) to YMCA members and program participants through our branches, programs and through links on our website.

How can you protect yourself and your family from Swine Flu:

• Get a flu vaccine
• Stay away from people who are sick
• Frequently wash your hands (especially if you are coughing or sneezing) with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your face
• Cough and/or sneeze into your upper sleeve (elbow) and not your hands, or cough/sneeze into a tissue and promptly throw it away - immediately wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based sanitizer

What are the symptoms of Swine Flu?

Symptoms are similar to seasonal flu, and include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Symptoms can include body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue
• Some people also have diarrhea and vomiting

What should you do if someone in your family gets sick?

• Stay home from work and/or school to avoid spreading the illness
• Consult your doctor
• Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids
• Call or go to the doctor right away if you or your child:
•        Has a high fever or fever that lasts a long time
•        Has trouble breathing or breathes fast
•        Has skin that looks blue
•        Are not drinking enough
•        Seem confused, will not wake up, does not want to be held, or has seizures (uncontrolled shaking)
•        Gets better but then gets worse again
•        Has other conditions (like heart or lung disease, diabetes) that gets worse

For more information and resources, go to:

        Signature Healthcare    

        Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

        Massachusetts Department of Public Health