Caregivers going door-to-door to help prevent spread of flu
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SEATTLE -- As the number of people going to the emergency room with the flu continued to rise through last week, a caregiver group is going door-to-door in an effort to stave off further spread.
Makaylaa Powers, who works for Visiting Angels, is delivering "Fight the Flu" kits to the elderly.
"We want to help protect from this flu that is going around," Powers said.
Powers was visiting the home of 68-year-old PJ McCraw Tuesday. With McCraw's health challenges he can't afford the flu. A dozen people have already died in our state from the flu -- the majority over 65.
McCraw says he's been using hand sanitizer two to three times an hour, "because I don't know how long it really lasts."
He's right -- studies show that hand sanitizers last about 2 minutes. It's yet another reason to just hit the sink with some good old fashioned soap.
"It's just really the action of scrubbing your hands and scrubbing between your fingers that kills the bacteria and the germs, not necessarily the soap," Powers said.
And to dry your hands, this Fight the Flu kit includes paper towels -- since germs can linger in fabric towels, used by several different people.
McCraw doesn't live alone -- his two adult daughters live there along with three caregivers who come into the house.
"This is why it's important to take the wipes and wipe down any and all surfaces that people are touching as they come and go and move about the house," Powers said.
Doctors constantly preach prevention when it comes to the flu - starting with a vaccination and continuing daily, with constant hand washing - coughing into your sleeve and staying home if you're sick.
Makaylaa Powers, who works for Visiting Angels, is delivering "Fight the Flu" kits to the elderly.
"We want to help protect from this flu that is going around," Powers said.
Powers was visiting the home of 68-year-old PJ McCraw Tuesday. With McCraw's health challenges he can't afford the flu. A dozen people have already died in our state from the flu -- the majority over 65.
McCraw says he's been using hand sanitizer two to three times an hour, "because I don't know how long it really lasts."
He's right -- studies show that hand sanitizers last about 2 minutes. It's yet another reason to just hit the sink with some good old fashioned soap.
"It's just really the action of scrubbing your hands and scrubbing between your fingers that kills the bacteria and the germs, not necessarily the soap," Powers said.
And to dry your hands, this Fight the Flu kit includes paper towels -- since germs can linger in fabric towels, used by several different people.
McCraw doesn't live alone -- his two adult daughters live there along with three caregivers who come into the house.
"This is why it's important to take the wipes and wipe down any and all surfaces that people are touching as they come and go and move about the house," Powers said.
Doctors constantly preach prevention when it comes to the flu - starting with a vaccination and continuing daily, with constant hand washing - coughing into your sleeve and staying home if you're sick.
Typhoid Mary, don't come to my door. Another do-gooder idea-with unintended consequences.Â
But shouldn't all the seniors have had their flu shots by now? If not their medical providers are slacking. Â It's a nice gesture, but perhaps they could send people out to do flu shots at senior centers and apartments. I was shocked when I see how many seniors die of a totally preventable disease each winter.Â
@DT To go along with the multiple strains that are not addressed in one vaccine as mentioned by another person you also have to look at the sheer numer of times a senior citizen will be exposed compared to the average person. Also take into consideration that they will very likely have a compromised immune system from the very beginning due to either prior existing medical conditions or the medications needed to treat those conditions. Add in those visits to doctor visits that are needed to get treatment and be bombarded with flu germs and it's a lousy combination for anyone with a compromised immune system.
The reason I mention it is I have a close friend suffering from complete Kidney Failure. He has had his flu shot, I promise! He's still considered high risk for getting the flu due to what I mentioned above. His body is under extreme stress and he's usually at one specialist or another 4-5 days out of the week right now.
 @DT The flu isn't preventable. It is a contagious respiratory infection caused by a virus. While the flu shot will help it wont prevent the flu in all cases, especially if you catch a different strain.Â
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You can prevent it by washing your hands and proper hygiene. However, it is not truly preventable since it is a virus and you can't see a virus. Until we come up with a vaccine that will kill all viruses we can't totally prevent the flu.Â
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To say they are slacking is ignorant. You can't force someone to get a shot that they don't want. Â
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Falls are preventable too - don't look at the statistics as to how many elderly die from falls then.Â
 @DT We have to die of some thing - better than AIDs