FLU VIRUS --- H1N1 Flu and the Church

Tips for Churches and Individuals from the Minnesota Department of Health:

• Wash hands often.
• Cover nose or mouth with a tissue each time you sneeze or cough. Throw the tissue in the waste basket. 
• For the Fall (at least) don't Pass the Peace... figure out another way for this to happen without using hands.
• Have hand sanitizers either in each pew or certainly when you enter the building and leave.
• Avoid contact with people who are sick.
• Eat nutritious foods... get enough sleep ... exercise.
• Consider how you share the Sacraments ... avoid hand contact.. no common cup.. even consider not passing the trays in the isles.
• If you are sick, stay home.
• Develop email listings or facebook ways of keeping in touch with members, especially if a congregagtion (large gathering) would not be allowed.
• The most vulnerable of the population is the young and those under 50 years...they should definitely get a flu shot for H1N1.
• Should not go out in the public until at least 24 hours after the fever has lifted...whole process is about 7 days...but it may be a number of days after contact with an infected individual before one may show signs of the illness.
• Signs of the illness are fever (above 100 degrees), cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting.
• If you have mild case of H1N1 stay at home unless you have prior health conditions that put you at risk so emergency facilities are not overrun.
• Consider not having potlucks during this flu season...and for any meals be sure that no one who is coughing or sneezing is preparing the food.
  

Additional resources and information can be found at:

BASIC FACT SHEET: H1N1 Flu
WHAT YOU CAN DO: H1N1 Flu

Congregational Preparedness checklists (Pandemicflu.gov)

National Council of Churches
Church World Service
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
United Church of Christ

Center for Disease Control
Minnesota Department of Health

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