Flu Prevention: Will You Wear a Mask?

Health officials are predicting a horrible flu season. This flu season, not only will we need to use flu prevention techniques against the three more common flu viruses but also the new H1N1 virus.

In my area, we are experiencing an early flu season. Today I spotted two people wearing a mask in my local grocery store. They had no problem with the stares and eye rolls from people who are not yet convinced of the need for this level of flu prevention.

Will you have a problem wearing a mask for flu prevention?

One of the mask wearers was a man and the other was a woman. A man will have no problem with wearing a mask. A woman wearing a mask, well that's another matter entirely. The problem for women will be their makeup or 'war paint', according to my Dad. Some women wear no less than an inch of foundation and others wear very little. I happened to notice the woman at the grocery was comfortable in her flu prevention gear. She wasn't wearing makeup.

I know women who would be hesitant to flee a burning building without their face fixed to perfection. Will they ruin their facial artistry by wearing a mask or forgo the unattractive accessory and risk contracting the even more potent flu strain, novel H1N1?

Have you ever thought about what it would be like if wearing a mask in public places became mandatory during the flu season? Talking wouldn't be very pleasant.

How masks will be made more interesting to encourage wearing for flu prevention

Masks will be available in pastels, neons, camouflage, flower prints and stripes.

Rhinestones arranged in intricate patterns.

Hatpins will be taken off hats to be put on masks.

Your kid's birthstones.

School logos.

The American Flag.

Pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness.

Yellow ribbon for support of our troops.

Red ribbon for aids awareness.

'Just do it'

Election/re-election campaigns such as, 'Vote for Sarah Palin 2012!'
People will sell their mask space for website and business advertisement.

Did you know a mask could handle all of this and flu prevention too?

How wearing masks for flu prevention will be made more pleasant

Masks will be scented and advertised as 'calming' or 'energizing'.

Purses will have a pocket made specifically for masks.

Dispensers for disposable masks will appear everywhere.

Masks made from natural, organic materials will be available.

Masks made from Hemp.

Many anti-bacterial masks will be sold but will be found dangerous and unnecessary.

Problems that will arise from wearing a mask for flu prevention

Women will have to reapply their makeup several times in a day.

Makeup will need to be fixed before the husband gets home, since wife was home all day.

Studies will prove that masks cause ADHD in children due to insufficient oxygen.

Lawsuits will be filed due to facial nerve damage caused by masks.

Studies will prove breathing through a mask for more than a year can cause cancer.

Support groups will meet for those adversely affected by wearing masks.

Fear of flu prevention failure will increase anxiety medication prescriptions.

Couples will divorce because a mysterious mask is found in various places.

Women will stop wearing makeup because it's too much trouble to reapply. Divorces will skyrocket since those husbands have never seen their wives without makeup.

CDC recommendations for flu prevention and staying healthy during this flu season

The humor in this article is not intended to belittle how serious the outcome of the flu season could be or those who have lost loved ones because of the flu. Being the mother of a five year old with asthma, I am too aware of how serious contracting the flu could be for her and others at high risk. Having a child at high risk has made me more closely adhere to these flu prevention techniques:

Influenza spreads primarily by an infected person coughing or sneezing on someone.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough.

Wash your hands often and use alcohol-based hand cleaners.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Stay home if you get sick.

The CDC also recommends finding healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety as a form of flu prevention. Finding a little humor in the middle of an tense time, has helped ease my flu season anxiety....slightly.

Will I wear a pink, bedazzled mask without hesitation? Yes. Then again, I don't wear makeup.