How to Prepare an Asthmatic Child for a Swine Flu Pandemic

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By Juana B. Good
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Swine Flu is scary- especially for parents of asthmatic children. Children with asthma are particularly vulnerable to the flu, and have more complications than children without chronic illness. Because the Swine Flu has respiratory symptoms, parents of children with chronic asthma need to take special precautions to prepare for a swine flu pandemic.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

masks
gloves
detergent
hand sanitizer
prescription refills

Step 1

To prepare your asthmatic child for the swine flu, make sure that you have ample supplies of your child's asthma medication. If a pandemic were to strike, pharmacies could start running out of everything, and doctors could be very busy. Make sure you have your refills of all regular medication that your child with asthma needs to take.
Step 2

To make sure your child is ready to fight off the Swine Flu, Make sure that your child is eating a well-balanced diet. This is not the time to allow your child to eat junk. Your asthmatic child will need ample energy to fight off the flu. Serve your child plenty of protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Make sure your child is drinking plenty of clear liquids.
Step 3

Make sure your child is sleeping enough. Do not send your child to sleep-overs, or allow your child to stay up late until the flu season has passed. Exhaustion is both an asthma trigger and makes your child more vulnerable to all influenza strains.
Step 4

Check in with your child's doctor. Make sure your child's asthma plan is up to date. Ask your child's doctor to tell you how you should react to a pandemic, if this situation turns into a pandemic.
Step 5

Stock up of face masks, gloves, and cleaning supplies.
Step 6

Clean doorknobs, phones, keyboards, steering wheels, light switches.
Step 7

Monitor the situation by reading the Center for Disease Control Website.
Step 8

Keep everyone's hands clean. Teach your children and other family members how to wash their hands, and remind them to wash very frequently. Keep nails trimmed and clean. Send kids to school with hand sanitizer.
Step 9

Don't panic. Remember that you are just getting prepared, but that the situation is not yet grave. Do not share your concerns with your child. Children can become very distressed about current affairs and concerns. Stress is an asthma trigger. Remember, you want to keep your child calm.

Comments

bestmommy said

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on 11/4/2009 Yes, we should definitely be prepared. My daughter has asthma, got the swine flu, saw the pediatrician the day she spiked a fever and got tamiflu. Fever was gone by the next day and she bounced back in 3-4days.