Seriousness Run for the Hills! Swine Flu! - Page 13

Journier · 09-02-2009, 02:38 AM

I work in an urgent care center. We are not preparing for swine flu, we are preparing for hysteria. I remember when it was declared a pandemic and I was watching the news during break. It said doctors offices and urgent care clinics were being over run. I stuck my head quickly out the break room door in a panic. The hall was empty and only two rooms had doctor signs out. People are going to have symptoms that are no different than they are any other time, but because of the media coverage they are going to believe it is the swine flu. I remember when AIDS was first spreading and everyone was afraid of it. Then I saw a figures showing how many were dieing of heart disease and cancer in this country. I am more concerned of those maladies than swine flu. The most important advice I can give you. Wash, wash, wash. And, as you wash, sing Happy Birthday to yourself. That's how long it takes to effectivley wash one's hands. And, alcohol gel is good. It kills about 99% of the germs on your hands and leaves a protective film.

GeoffC · 09-02-2009, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

It's back with a vengence! Where I work, it isn't a matter of "if" anymore, just "when."

And school has only just begun for the little infectious walking petri dishes. Killer Contagious Shums!!!

ZIKES !

Protect Queen Zelda immediately !!!

rlparker · 09-02-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Journier

...Then I saw a figures showing how many were dieing of heart disease and cancer in this country. I am more concerned of those maladies than swine flu. ...

Agreed. I think this is an example of "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing". The little knowledge, in this case, is that there is a "pandemic". The dangerous thing is "panic".

The figure I heard recently is something like 30,000 people die every year of seasonal flu. In the U.S.

If people knew and understood that, we'd all be wash, wash, washing our hands more often!

GeoffC · 09-02-2009, 01:27 PM

pandemic

HarryT · 09-03-2009, 04:58 AM

There seems to be a curious misunderstanding about what the word "pandemic" actually means, with many people apparently believing that it means that a disease is "serious". The word simply means that it's widely spread (from the Greek "pan" + "deimos" = "all people"), and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with how serious an illness it is.

Swine flu infections in the UK have died down dramatically. At the start of August, over 100,000 new cases a week were being reported. Now it's down to a few thousand a week, although it's expected to flare up again in the autumn.

GeoffC · 09-03-2009, 05:03 AM

the word "pandemic" is often thrown about by newspaper reporters (especially those in red-top publications) in the same manner that they chuck "jingoistic" comments about....

GeoffC · 09-03-2009, 05:04 AM

(....and don't get me started on "chronic")

Lady Blue · 09-03-2009, 07:59 AM

With the ease and quickness of travel around the globe these days, it's like you said HarryT, even the common cold is a pandemic. Anything that can be transmitted from one to another can be, or is, pandemic. The word just manages to retain the fearsome connotation it had a century ago.

How strange it sounds that even a Poinson Ivy rash could be pandemic, since it can be spread (caught?) in so many different ways.

HarryT · 09-03-2009, 08:03 AM

I think you may have misunderstood me, LB. I meant that lots of things we get all the time, such as the common cold, are, and always have been pandemics, but we don't worry about them. The fact that this flu virus is a pandemic is no reason, in and of itself, to be concerned about it, and for the overwhelming majority of people who catch it, the result seems to be no more than a few days of feeling mildly unwell.

Lady Blue · 09-03-2009, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffC

(....and don't get me started on "chronic")

Why . . . are you "chronic" Geoff? I always thought you were "acute."

Don't bother. I'll do it for you. Name: groan.gif
Views: 418
Size: 1.7 KB

(It was pretty lame.)

Lady Blue · 09-03-2009, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I think you may have misunderstood me, LB. I meant that lots of things we get all the time, such as the common cold, are, and always have been pandemics, but we don't worry about them. The fact that this flu virus is a pandemic is no reason, in and of itself, to be concerned about it, and for the overwhelming majority of people who catch it, the result seems to be no more than a few days of feeling mildly unwell.

I understood what you were saying. That's what I was saying also, but probably not as clearly as I was thinking it.

My point too, was that pandemics can be, and for the most part are, inconsequential, mild conditions and transmissions, but hoards of people hear the word pandemic and freak out because it sounds so fearsome and life threatening as it was understood to mean a century ago when influenza, small pox and other less treatable conditions (of the time) had such high mortality rates and the word pandemic (at the time) was tantamount to a death sentence.

I probably didn't do any better at expressing myself this time either.

HarryT · 09-03-2009, 08:32 AM

Thanks for clarifying. We are in total agreement.

desertgrandma · 09-03-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Blue

I understood what you were saying. That's what I was saying also, but probably not as clearly as I was thinking it.

My point too, was that pandemics can be, and for the most part are, inconsequential, mild conditions and transmissions, but hoards of people hear the word pandemic and freak out because it sounds so fearsome and life threatening as it was understood to mean a century ago when influenza, small pox and other less treatable conditions (of the time) had such high mortality rates and the word pandemic (at the time) was tantamount to a death sentence.

I probably didn't do any better at expressing myself this time either.

And, when I think of the word "Pandemic" I think of Stephen King's "The Stand".

Never mind that I know better........... still..............aaaaacckkk!!!

If people would only use their heads........but there you are. They don't. Kids are sent to school sick, and I swear we spend more time telling them to use sanitiser and ducking when they sneeze on you.

Also, I am continually amazed at adults lack of consideration when they sneeze/cough.

kazbates · 09-03-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

And, when I think of the word "Pandemic" I think of Stephen King's "The Stand".

Never mind that I know better........... still..............aaaaacckkk!!!

If people would only use their heads........but there you are. They don't. Kids are sent to school sick, and I swear we spend more time telling them to use sanitiser and ducking when they sneeze on you.

Also, I am continually amazed at adults lack of consideration when they sneeze/cough.

That was one of my biggest pet peeves as a teacher and is still one as a parent. Now, Ryleigh's school district has started a new Perfect Attendance policy to encourage students not to miss any school time. They've even changed the attendance policy to mark against kids who leave school early, even if they come back.

With everything in the media about NOT sending kids to school sick, you would think that our Superintendent would have held off on starting something like this until next year. I mean, really, these people are suppossed to be highly educated and it seems like they have absolutely no common sense.

DixieGal · 09-03-2009, 09:34 AM

dg, that's so true! We had a nurse in my office sent home for flu this morning, and they had to pull out the new policy and practically hit her over the head with it. It says that positive flu results are a minimum 7 day absence. The girl just didn't want to go home. Anyhow, we drenched her cube with Lysol wipes and spray, and it will have a good week to dry out.

REMINDER: Viruses can't live long on a clean dry surface.

09-02-2009, 02:38 AM	#181
Journier Groupie Posts: 194 Karma: 415 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Northern CA Device: Kindle Oasis	I work in an urgent care center. We are not preparing for swine flu, we are preparing for hysteria. I remember when it was declared a pandemic and I was watching the news during break. It said doctors offices and urgent care clinics were being over run. I stuck my head quickly out the break room door in a panic. The hall was empty and only two rooms had doctor signs out. People are going to have symptoms that are no different than they are any other time, but because of the media coverage they are going to believe it is the swine flu. I remember when AIDS was first spreading and everyone was afraid of it. Then I saw a figures showing how many were dieing of heart disease and cancer in this country. I am more concerned of those maladies than swine flu. The most important advice I can give you. Wash, wash, wash. And, as you wash, sing Happy Birthday to yourself. That's how long it takes to effectivley wash one's hands. And, alcohol gel is good. It kills about 99% of the germs on your hands and leaves a protective film. Last edited by Journier; 09-02-2009 at 02:40 AM. Reason: Very important note: It's probably better not to watch Outbreak.

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09-02-2009, 01:27 PM	#184
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	pandemic

09-03-2009, 04:58 AM	#185
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,557 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	There seems to be a curious misunderstanding about what the word "pandemic" actually means, with many people apparently believing that it means that a disease is "serious". The word simply means that it's widely spread (from the Greek "pan" + "deimos" = "all people"), and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with how serious an illness it is. Swine flu infections in the UK have died down dramatically. At the start of August, over 100,000 new cases a week were being reported. Now it's down to a few thousand a week, although it's expected to flare up again in the autumn.

09-03-2009, 05:03 AM	#186
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	the word "pandemic" is often thrown about by newspaper reporters (especially those in red-top publications) in the same manner that they chuck "jingoistic" comments about....

09-03-2009, 05:04 AM	#187
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	(....and don't get me started on "chronic")

09-03-2009, 07:59 AM	#188
Lady Blue the snarky blue one Posts: 6,001 Karma: 3877825 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: deep in the heart Device: PRS500, 505 & 600, PRST1 & T2, Kindle PW, Moto Razr, Galaxy Tab 2-10"	With the ease and quickness of travel around the globe these days, it's like you said HarryT, even the common cold is a pandemic. Anything that can be transmitted from one to another can be, or is, pandemic. The word just manages to retain the fearsome connotation it had a century ago. How strange it sounds that even a Poinson Ivy rash could be pandemic, since it can be spread (caught?) in so many different ways.

09-03-2009, 08:03 AM	#189
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,557 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I think you may have misunderstood me, LB. I meant that lots of things we get all the time, such as the common cold, are, and always have been pandemics, but we don't worry about them. The fact that this flu virus is a pandemic is no reason, in and of itself, to be concerned about it, and for the overwhelming majority of people who catch it, the result seems to be no more than a few days of feeling mildly unwell.

09-03-2009, 08:32 AM	#192
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,557 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thanks for clarifying. We are in total agreement.

09-03-2009, 09:34 AM	#195
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	dg, that's so true! We had a nurse in my office sent home for flu this morning, and they had to pull out the new policy and practically hit her over the head with it. It says that positive flu results are a minimum 7 day absence. The girl just didn't want to go home. Anyhow, we drenched her cube with Lysol wipes and spray, and it will have a good week to dry out. REMINDER: Viruses can't live long on a clean dry surface.