William Penn Life, 2000 (35. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2000-11-01 / 11. szám
lealthPa< An ounce of prevention Simple ways to avoid needing a cure Over the past couple of issues, we've talked a lot about prevention. Two months ago, the topic was preventing the spread of food borne illnesses; last month, preventive measures for travelers. This month, we're focusing on general steps you should take to prevent catching an infectious disease. Some of the tips to follow you may have read here before. Some are just plain common sense. But, as the cold and flu season approach, it's always good to remind ourselves of some basic steps we can all take to stay healthy. Our friends at the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention define infectious diseases as diseases caused by either viruses, bacteria, parasites or fungi. The illnesses they cause range from the common cold, to Lyme disease and polio, to AIDS. Although some of these diseases can be quite serious, many can be prevented through amazingly simple and extremely inexpensive methods. Wash uoar hands ohten This is the most important thing you can do to keep from getting sick. By frequently washing your hands you wash away germs that you have picked up from other people, or from contaminated surfaces, or from animals and animal waste. When washing, use soap, rub vigorously for about 15 seconds, rinse well and dry. Clean and disinfect This should be done to surfaces in your home routinely. Cleaning with soap and water removes dirt and most germs. Disinfecting provides an extra margin of safety. "Hot zones" like the kitchen and bathroom should receive your special-and routineattention. Follow product directions, wear gloves. Wash the surface first, then apply the disinfectant. Wipe surface with paper towels that can be thrown away or cloth towels that will be washed. When finished, wash your hands. Handle hood safjely, We covered tnis two months ago in our September issue. But, remember these four major tips: (1) use caution when buying food; (2) store food properly; (3) be cautious when preparing and cooking food; and (4) cool and promptly store leftovers. (jet /)*wan ized We might not worry these days about diseases like polio, measles or diptheria because vaccines have nearly eliminated them. But, they're still around and they're still dangerous. By getting immunized your family fights disease in two ways. First, you protect yourselves, but also you protect others, because if you don't have a disease you can't spread it to someone else. Ask your doctor when you and your family need vaccines, and keep your immunizations records in a safe place. Health Links For more information about what you and your family can do to prevent getting infectious diseases, talk to your doctor, or check out the web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at: www.cdc.gov/ncidod (/fse antibiotics uiiselcy Antibiotics are powerful drugs used to treat certain illnesses. But antibiotics do not cure everything, and unnecessary antibiotics can even be harmful. They kill specific bacteria, but can not kill viruses. So, antibiotics will not cure your cold, flu, cough or sore throat. Each time you take an antibiotic unnecessarily or improperly, you increase your chance of developing drug-resistant bacteria. Take your antibiotics exactly as prescribed. /Ceey yets healthy Pets should be adopted from an animal shelter or purchased from a reputable pet store or breeder. They should be routinely cared for by a veterinarian. Getting regularly scheduled shots helps prevent your pet from spreading an infection on to you. Don't let your pet eat raw food and drink out of the toilet. Clean your pet's living area at least once a week and discard its feces. After cleaning our pet or its living area, wash your ands. Dont toach wild anitnals Wild animals can transmit deadly diseases to you and your pets. Keep your house free of wild animals, including rodents, by not leaving any food around and by eliminating possible nesting sites. If you find a dead animal, spray it and any nesting materials with disinfectant before moving it. Follow local regulations regarding disposal. Then (all together now) wash your hands. If you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal, apply first aid then call your doctor immediately. |yy|>[| William Pmh Life, November 2000 5