Giveaway: $50 Visa Gift Card And Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues

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!