Health experts offer Devon parents swine flu advice
HEALTH experts at NHS Devon are reminding parents and guardians of children returning to school of important steps to take to reduce the rick of catching swine flu.
HEALTH experts at NHS Devon are reminding parents and guardians of children returning to school of important steps to take to reduce the rick of catching swine flu.
The trust has reissued national advice to "Catch It, Bin It, Kill It" as children return to school for the start of the autumn term.
Tracey Polak, assistant director of public health, said: "We all know the importance of cleanliness, but it's absolutely crucial when there is a pandemic.
"Following the Catch It, Bin It, Kill It advice is the best way of limiting the spread of the virus and it's vital that families reinforce this message."
Parents should heed the following advice:
CATCH IT: germs spread easily. Always carry tissues and use them to catch your cough or sneeze.
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BIN IT: Germs can live for several hours on tissues. Dispose of them as soon as possible.
KILL IT: Hands can transfer germs to any surface you touch. Clean your hands as soon as you can.
Swine flu symptoms include a high temperature (over 38C/100.4F) and any two of the following: tiredness, headache, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath or cough, loss of appetite, aching muscles, diarrhoea or vomiting.
People should not attend walk-in centres, NHS hospitals or GP practices in person if they have symptoms and should instead visit the national pandemic flu line www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or call 0800 1 513 100.
People in high-risk groups* should call their GP if they believe they have swine flu.
High risk groups include:
* Pregnant women
* Sick children under one year old
* Adults and children whose condition suddenly gets much worse
* Adults whose condition gets worse after seven days (five days for a child).
