Floods are generally considered to deadliest natural disaster on earth. The worst flood recorded is known as the 1931 China floods, in which up to 4 million people were killed. As devastating as this was, there was another – even worse – event.
Beginning in January of 1918, an outbreak of the flu infected 500 million people and took the lives of 50-100 million. The effects of this Spanish flu (as it was called) came on very fast.
According to flu.gov, “people felt fine in the morning but died by nightfall.” Up to 40% of the world’s population was effected by this pandemic. In the United States alone, over half a million people died from this flu pandemic. Big cities suffered the worst of it, but even small communities
incapacitated so many people that entire towns had to virtually shut down. Things weren’t good, to say the least.
This wasn’t the only time the world was devastated by disease. Ignoring other pandemics (such as the black plague, cholera, etc.), the flu has had a devastating effect on the world’s population.
According to The Weather Network, “four major flu pandemics have spread across the earth” in the last 100 years (1918-1919, 1957-1958, 1968-1969, and 2009-2010). According to math and deduction, that means you’ve most likely been around for at least one of these pandemics, and quite possibly more. Apart from those major outbreaks, there have been plenty of other smaller outbreaks that still effected many, many people.
As mentioned in a previous post about fashionable face masks, surgical masks have become widely used in many Asian cities to protect themselves from high levels of pollution. When it comes to staying healthy amidst airborne illness, such a strategy may also prove helpful.
[caption id="attachment_19747" align="alignright" width="300"]
"Camp Funston, KS - Influenza Hospital" by U.S. Army photographer[/caption]
When flu season comes around (which is in full swing, as of this posting), be sure you take
proper precautions. Frequently wash your hands with soap and water. Stay home from work or school if you have flu symptoms. Cover your mouth when you sneeze. And of course, having a flu shot can’t hurt, either.
I’ll be posting a few more articles about preparing for the flu, so check back here to our blog next week when I’ll discuss flu vaccines.
How do you prepare for flu season? Let us know in the comments!
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23 comments
Jones Foxx Jr.
I wash my hands and face almost excessively. Take plenty of vitamins and don’t care about the strange looks i get in the stores when i wear a N95 mask during flu season
Gertrude Ezell
I try to keep my family in good vitamins, we use good old bar soap, use essential oils and we try to get as many fresh, raw fruits and vegetables we can each day.
Michael
Keeping healthy now definitely is a help. While avoiding social contact is the best way to avoid contracting diseases, sometimes that is not practical. Keeping healthy is a great everyday living practice.
Nicole Lancaster
I prepare during the summer for Flu and Cold season. I purchase Zinc lounges, Elderberry Syrup, Vitamin C and D ,herbal teas, and essential oils like Doterra’s On Guard to prevent or weaken the Flu and Cold bug.
Irene Menge
I try to avoid going where there are large congregations of people. I don’t use public transport if I can help it. I take echinacea and Vitamin C. I wash my hands frequently and avoid finger foods. And, of course, I get a flu shot.
suzy
I work in a hospital and hand washing is the most important thing they teach us to prevent the spread of germs. Make sure when washing to also rub fingertips into palms to reach the germs that are under fingernails and keep nails short. At work we wipe everything down with 70% rubbing alcohol, which is also what I do at home for counters, knobs, remotes, ect. And when I do get sick I make sure to drink plenty of tea, orange juice, and spoonfuls of honey (honey is antibacterial so it helps for bacterial but not viral infection. but also does help immune system)
Valerie Z
We prepare by eating a healthy variety of foods. A good store of food in case we need to hunker down at home for a few weeks.
Craig W
I load up on vitamin C
Sarah D.
How we prepare for illness: Stay away from sick people as much as possible; wash hands; take vitamin C; eat healthy, real foods; and, use essential oils. Don’t get the vaccine if you want to stay healthy. ;-)
Holly
I think shopping ahead, planning ahead, having enough food and supplies to hunker f down a couple weeks while you’re sick is a great way to prepare.nothing worse than having to get up and go grocery shopping when you’re really sick!
Heather
I always fight germs and sickness with essential oils. On guard has been particularly helpful.
Chris Mckenzie
Keep your hands clean and away from your face. Limit exposure to others if possible. Make sure you eat right and maintain a good immune system. In the case of a pandemic, a little luck is good, too.
Rita Spratlen
I try to wash my hands often and long enough!! I try to keep clean things that are touched often.
patricia delgado
wE TAKE VITAMINS, PRACTICE GOOD HYGEINE AND HAND WASHING AND CLEAN REGULARLY
LaRene Grover
Lots of good info!! It really helps to have a refresher course. Really enjoy the articles that you have at the end of your blog.
Roger Morris
I keep my hands away from my face and keep sanitation gel with me at all times When in public walking around I give people a wide berth. If they are coughing i run the other way :]
Mary Toleson
I try to keep my distance from people when talking to them. I take a lot of vitamins and drink a lot of orange juice and such.
Jackie Strader
Only time I ever had the flu was when I got a flu shot. I make sure I eat right and wash my hands constantly.
Chairle Bass
We take more vitamins than usual .Everyone reminds everyone else to wash their hands. We wipe down door knobs and keyboards and cabinet handles and any other things we all touch in the house on a regular basis.
Mary Anne Mandel
I wash hands every time I come home, take extra vitamin C and D, and also take an essential oil blend that fights germs.
WIL
I get a flu shot. I also wash my hands as much as possible.
Dawggie Lost
Good Luck to all on Give Away
Karen Kasica
Cold temps are viruses enemy…I don’t care how cold it gets, I always leave at least one window in each room cracked allowing cold fresh air to circulate. With school aged children they bring home EVERYTHING, so the first thing they have to do when coming home is WASH their HANDS…I’m almost neurotic about it, lol.