I heard a really interesting presentation earlier this week by our school district's nursing supervisor. And by really interesting, I mean freak me out oh no this is going to be bad yikes I almost wish I didn't know this.
We talked swine flu.
In some ways, I feel better. Like the part about how ninety-nine percent of people who catch swine flu are going to be just fine. It's that other one percent that I'm worried about, especially since it's comprised primarily (but not all) of those with chronic illnesses -- like Little Miss -- and others with compromised immune systems.
Then there was the discussion about how there is no immunity towards it. About how we have no defenses other than prevention for this particular strain. How there is a vaccine that is going to be coming out in mid-October (although given what I've read I'm not 100% comfortable with it, but that's a whole 'nother post) but that supplies will be limited and not everyone who wants it will be able to get it.
Oh, and that little part about how ninety-eight percent of flu cases this summer in Illinois were swine flu. Yes, you read that correctly, ninety-eight percent. They aren't even testing people to see what strain it is anymore. They don't want people coming to the doctor, just calling with symptoms.
I'm generally not a fear-monger, but this is scary stuff, and I can only hope that it's being blown out of proportion.
And did I mention that they're expecting thirty to fifty percent of people to catch the swine flu this year? I don't want to be one of those people. We're washing our hands. We're eating healthy foods. We're coughing and sneezing into our elbows.
And now I have another weapon, thanks to Kleenex. Kleenex sent me their new anti-viral tissues to try out. They kill 99.9% of cold and flu viruses, including the common cold, influenza A and B, and RSV. Granted, this isn't tested against H1N1, but it still makes me feel a whole lot better.
Inside the Kleenex are these little blue dots. When the blue dots get wet, they're activated and it's that layer that kills all those viruses that hit the tissue within fifteen minutes.
Considering how often we've been laid low with colds, colds that turned into pneumonia and bronchitis, and RSV with Little Miss (the rest of us just catch the common cold), I'm excited to have something else in my arsenal to avoid a four day hospital stay for Little Miss. Granted, the hospital we go to has a great cafeteria, but that's not enough motivation for me to want her to get sick.
Anyway, I tried out the Kleenex tissues they sent me, and I gotta say... I like them. I'm a tissue snob just like I am a toilet paper snob. I do not buy generic. When I get sick, I go through a box or two a day, and I need my Kleenex soft and gentle. I'm already crabby enough being sick; I don't need a chapped, painful nose to add to it.
These Kleenex actually feel softer and thicker than the other Kleenex I have at home. Knock on wood, I haven't been sick in the week plus that they sent these to me, but I have had some allergy issues, and my nose is happy.
I was a little bit worried that they were going to have a scent to them, as I can't use some of the tissues with menthol, etc because the smell makes me sneeze, which defeats the whole purpose of blowing my nose to begin with. These tissues have no scent whatsoever, even with the little blue dots.
I'm happy. And I'm about to go stock up.
You can stock up with me and hopefully make sick days a thing of the past! One lucky reader will be sent two boxes of Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues as well as a $50 Visa gift card.
This contest will run until Sunday September 27 at 9pm CDT. To enter, you must first complete the mandatory entry or no other entries will count. If you don't provide me with a valid email address or way to get ahold of you, you can't win. The winner will be selected via random.org and will have 48 hours to contact me or another winner will be drawn. US addresses only -- sorry!
Mandatory Entry: Let me know how you plan on Battling the Bug this season, and don’t forget to check out www.battlethebug.com!
Bonus Entries (If you do not complete the mandatory entry, these will not count!):
1. Visit Battle The Bug and tell me something you learned that I haven't mentioned yet.
2. Follow this blog, and leave a comment letting me know (if you already follow, let me know that, too).
3. Follow Honest & Truly! my "regular" blog, and leave a comment letting me know (if you already follow, let me know that, too).
4. Tweet about this contest, and post the link of the Tweet below (one additional entry).
Good luck -- and don't forget to cover that cough with your elbow!
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I plan on battling the bug by severe hand washing, germ-x , and just being careful! Last year I didn't catch the stomach flu OR the regular flu. Even though my kiddo barfed a few times AND I worked at the school.
ReplyDeleteI follow your blog!
ReplyDeleteI follow this review blog!
ReplyDeleteWe're doomed. My daughter catches everything and then gives it to me. Well - there's 50% of the household.
ReplyDeleteWe're getting flu shots - regular and swine, if available. I think at least my kids would qualify for the swine flu vaccination, even if I don't.
Hmmm...Kleenex anti-viral kills the bug in 15 minutes? I don't know what to make of that stat when considering the use of tissue. By the way, that noisome Kleenex commercial scared my cat.
I follow this review blog.
ReplyDeleteAnd I follow your Honest and Truly blog as well.
ReplyDeleteWe're doing what we normally do to battle bugs. We're hand washing, not sharing food (hey, we have boys), and the kids are using Germ-X in classrooms this year every time they cough or sneeze into their hands. Kudos to those teachers.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've been following Honest and Truly forever. Luv ya.
ReplyDeleteAND I'm now following the review blog in my Google Reader.
ReplyDeleteI plan on Battling the Bug this season with a flu shot next week, keeping my hands washed and clean, and preventing germs in my home. We always have BOXES of Kleenex on hand and it's our favorite brand :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteblog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org
"Many people actually re-use nose tissues. Not only is this kinda gross, it doesn’t kill the virus." That IS gross!
ReplyDeleteblog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org
Following with Google Friend Connect
ReplyDeleteblog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org
Following Honest & Truly! with Google Friend Connect
ReplyDeleteblog[at]theluckyladybug[dot]org
I plan on Battling The Bug this season by eating healthy.
ReplyDeletejanetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I follow this blog - janetfaye
ReplyDeletejanetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I learned:
ReplyDeleteThe middle layer of Kleenex® Anti-Viral* Tissues contains active ingredients that kill 99.9% of cold and flu viruses
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I follow Honestly & Truly - janetfaye
ReplyDeletejanetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
I plan on using a lot of hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes while out in public.
ReplyDeleteI follow this blog.
ReplyDeleteMy plan for battling the bug is to be vigilant. Today I was using lysol to disinfect common surfaces, keyboards, doorknobs, telephone, light switches.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!
comichelle51 at hotmail dot com
I plan to do three things to battle the bug: wash my hands often; sneeze into my arm sleeve and stay away from sick people! Great giveaway! Thanks also for participating in my giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI am a public follower now. Yeah!
ReplyDeleteAccording to the tracker, Texas is "swarming" with the flu! Yikes. I better be extra careful.
ReplyDeleteI generally use liquid hand sanitizer after we leave every store we visit but now i am changing over to the sanitizing whipes because aparently that is more effective.
ReplyDeletemy email is lacie23@gmail.com
I plan on battling the bug by getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated and Dr.Oz mentioned that vitamin D is the way to go!
ReplyDeleteHere's a fun/gross fact I found rather disturbing! One sneeze can spray 100,000 infectious droplets into the air at more than 200 MPH. ew!
ReplyDeleteI follow this blog :)
ReplyDeleteI follow honest and truly too!
ReplyDeleteAnd now for my final trick, I will tweet!
ReplyDeleteWe are washing our hands around here and I am trying to avoid crowds especially crowds with kids.'
ReplyDeletethank you
kaiminani@gmail.com
I learned that the flu has been "spotted" in Montana
ReplyDeletethank you
kaiminani@gmail.com
I plan to live in seclusion! No I'm joking, I hope we all stay really well. My oldest is a diabetic so we will get the shots, wash hands, and sneeze in our sleeves. Other than that I don't know. We think we may have had it already because we have all been sick for 2 weeks with weird things that come and go.
ReplyDeleteI follow
ReplyDeletefollow and love honest and truly
ReplyDeletewash my hands a bunch and use a hand sanitizer at work
ReplyDeletesaranohw(at)yahoo.com
I'm following your blog :)
ReplyDeletesaranohw(at)yahoo.com
I plan on using disinfecting spray to sanitize all children and surfaces in my home (I'll be worse that the lady doing perfume samples in the department stores).
ReplyDeleteI follow here.
ReplyDeleteI follow H&T and comment there too.
ReplyDeleteHere's my tweet, http://twitter.com/WeaselMomma/status/4144019026
ReplyDeleteI learned that the swine flu can 'swarm'.
ReplyDeleteMy plan this year is that we're all getting flu shots and I'm putting hand sanitizer everywhere in my house! I'm going to make my kids sanitize or wash their hands when they walk in the door and maybe even when they get in to the car after school before we get home!
ReplyDeletejenc at crazysummer dot org
I'm following this blog.
ReplyDeletejenc at crazysummer dot org
Hand washing is THE best form of keeping germs at bay. We wash and sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star so we know we've washed away all the germs.
ReplyDeleteI plan on battling the bug this year by making sure we have hand sanitizer with us at all times - including in my kids' backpacks. Also, I always have myself and my kids wash hands immediately when we get home from anywhere. I will also keep the Kleenex on hand!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful giveaway!
mandjregan at gmail dot com
I tweeted about your giveaway:
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/EightyMPHMom/status/4155695205
I am following this blog!
ReplyDeletemandjregan at gmail dot com
We keep hand sanitizer by the shared computer at work and our company has already installed hand sanitizer foam dispensers along a lot of the hallways.
ReplyDeleteI am now following Honest and Truly too!
ReplyDeleteEighty MPHMom
Here is my tweet
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/dwalline/statuses/4155789515
Wash Hands more often, Keep the house extra clean by spraying discefectant. Also am focusing on telling my children how important it is to keep their hands clean, and we are cleaning our cell phones more often!
ReplyDeleteHand Washing!! We have also asked people not to come to work if they are sick.
ReplyDeletedrellis500(At)gmail.com
Folowing this blog!
ReplyDeleteI already got my flu shot and I sanitize all knobs, keyboards, mice, anything we touch. I wipe car door handles down and bring antibacterial wipes to the grocery store and everywhere else.
ReplyDeleteTweeted: http://twitter.com/MWLinMadison/status/4155959199
ReplyDeleteEveryone is getting flu shots, I have travel size hand sanitizers for everyone and I am stressing "wash your hands frequently. don't touch your eyes,nose or mouth with your fingers." Hoping at least some of it sticks.
ReplyDeleteFollow Honest & Truly
ReplyDeletedrellis500(At)gmail.com
tweet http://twitter.com/drellis500/status/4156057119
ReplyDeletedrellis500(At)gmail.com
Hand Washing! Hand Washing! Hand Washing! with 5 teenagers and twenty somethings, everything walks through our door. We also sanitize the door knobs throughout the house. Flu shots for everyone ~ That is how we battle the bugs!
ReplyDeletelivelaughlovecj(at)gmail.com
I learned that An estimated 125 million workdays are missed by parents who stay home with a sick child! That is a whole lot of work not getting done, parents not getting paid, and a loss of production. WOW!
ReplyDeleteLiveLaughLoveCj follows your blog :)
ReplyDeleteLiveLaughLoveCj follows Honest and Truly! also :)
ReplyDeleteLiveLaughLoveCj birdie went Tweet Tweet:
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/LiveLaughLoveCj/status/4157169749
We follow good nutrition and we see the chiropractor for regular adjustments to help keep our immune systems at their peak.
ReplyDeleteI follow your regular blog, and I'm following this one now, too!
Lots of hand washing and hand sanitizer, especially when out in public. After that, I believe good nutrition and plenty of sleep build your immune system to better fight off the bug.
ReplyDeleteI visted Battle the Bug and learned that the tissues are fragrance free.
ReplyDeleteWith lots of handwashing and plenty of Vitamins.
ReplyDeleteI try to make sure my dottie has a spoonful of honey daily and cleans her hands regularly.
ReplyDeletePS Come add your giveaway on my Linky and while there, come enter my giveaways too :)
http://energizerbunnysmommyreports.blogspot.com/2009/09/tuesdays-treasures-giveaway-linky-for.html
My battle plans:
ReplyDelete-lots of fruits and veggies, especially berries and citrus!
-Hand cleaner after being in public!
-herb teas to battle anything that might happen
-Zicam and or Zinc
-Airborne is always in my cabinet
-Cod Liver Oil
We live in a small home, and there is a total of 8 of us in here, so we have to have a plan!
ReplyDeleteHandwashing is a big MUST in our house.
Vitamins and vitamin C, are a daily thing.
Purell is used when we are out and about.
And if someone does come down with something in our house they get quarantined to Mommy and Daddy's room, no contact with the outside world!! ;) There is a bathroom and a computer for movies, they think it's fun, and it keeps the rest free and clear from the germs!
I follow you here and at your other blog!
ReplyDelete12 colds a year, just because you are in school? Yikes, that was one I picked up on the BtheBug site.
ReplyDeleteMy husband works at a military school, and his students hae kids (his students are adults, lol), so I'm always worried abou thim coming home with a bug! *lol* So he uses hand sanitzer at work, and at home I'm washing down cabinets and have soapt at every sink.
ReplyDeleteeod_army_wife04(at)yahoo(dot)com
Battling the Bug with tubs of Lysol wipes! :-) And, plenty of handwashing!
ReplyDeleteLots & lots of handwashing!
ReplyDeleteonecrypticmama AT yahoo DOT com
We have been battling the bug this Fall by doing lots of hand washing and trying desperately not to share drinks. My girls are notorious for sharing cups with each other and stealing sips from our drinks. I've managed to keep us pretty well this Fall, aside from 1 case of Strep Throat and my nasty bronchitis. LOL!
ReplyDeleteI'm now a follower here! How did I not know that you had a review blog?!
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower over at your other place! I just need to work on being a better commenter. :-)
ReplyDeleteI was stunned to discover that the common cold results in 22 million lost school days per year. That's nuts! Very interesting site.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying desperately to stay healthy as well. Wednesday I had lunch with a friend who is visibly sick (just a cold thankfully) but I also hate colds, because they always turn into bronchitis on me. So I usually battle cold and flu season with the added bonus of Airborne. I don't take them every day, but I do take them sort of sporadically whenever I feel like I need a vitamin boost, etc. And costco sells them for a reasonable price (the brand name).
ReplyDeleteYou and I are so alike it's not even funny, LOL! I too am a kleenex snob and go through boxes a day when sick. And I agree - anything that makes me sneeze (like using toilet tissue as "kleenex") defeats the whole purpose of blowing my nose. So it's Kleenex only!
I like the lotiony kind. Have not tried the anti-viral but I like the idea.
I thought I was already following this one, but apparently not. Now I am!
ReplyDeleteAnd you know I follow your regular blog!
ReplyDeleteI carry antibacterial everywhere with me. My hubby and I also got the flu shot.
ReplyDeleteI am a new follower:)
ReplyDeleteI follow your other blog as well:)
ReplyDelete•72% of moms surveyed feel cleaning up piles of facial tissues in the house when a family member is sick has contributed to their cold or flu.
ReplyDeleteThis was something I did not know! camden44@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/clueless_mama/status/4413189101 Tweeted clueless_mama
ReplyDeleteI plan on battling the bug by making sure I wash my hands alot and by eating healthy to keep my immune system strong.
ReplyDeletelifeonprint@aol.com
I learned that the cold and flu bug lives all year long!
ReplyDeletelifeonprint@aol.com
I am now following your blog!
ReplyDeletelifeonprint@aol.com
I am now following Honest And Truly!
ReplyDeletelifeonprint@aol.com
As I'm reading this, my daughter is on the couch trying to sleep through her stuffy nose.
ReplyDeleteWe're already vigilant hand-washers but I also keep hand sanitizer in the car and in my purse for those times when we can't wash.
My family doctor also recommended throwing out your toothbrush after you've been sick to prevent reinfection.
shel704 at aol dot com
Tweet entry: http://twitter.com/lifeonprint/status/4413355231
ReplyDelete@lifeonprint
I learned from the Battle the Bug site that 79% of mothers feel their child gets sick more often during the school year....I agree. Seems like my daughter always gets a cold the first two weeks of the new school year.
ReplyDeleteshel704 at aol dot com
I am following this blog
ReplyDeleteshel704 at aol dot com
I am following Honest and Truly
ReplyDeleteshel704 at aol dot com
Tweeted:
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/4413387727
shel704 at aol dot com
My daughter and I practice couching into our sleeves and I tell people NOT to touch my baby's hands. (Nicely of course)
ReplyDelete