How to Take Care of Someone that Has Swine Flu

If someone in your household has swine flu then you are going to need to know how to take care of them and protect the rest of your family. First thing you need to do is get a professional medical diagnosis that the person does in fact have the swine flu. Once that is verified then other steps need to be taken.

Tip #1 How to Take Care of Someone that has Swine Flu

Check with your doctor whether or not antiviral medications for the swine flu need to be taken. Some people can recover from the swine flu without taking the antiviral medications. Remember that special care will be needed for ill pregnant women and people with other conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.

Tip #2 How to Take Care of Someone that has Swine Flu

Make sure that the infected person stays home for seven full days after the swine flu begins to show signs and the fever is gone. The patient needs to get plenty of rest during this time and drink lots of fluids to include: water, broth and sports drinks.

Tip #3 How to Take Care of Someone that has Swine Flu

Be sure that the person who has the swine flu is covering their nose and mouth when they cough and sneeze. Keep an alcohol-based hand cleaner next to the ill person so that they can clean their hands all the time. Make sure that there are additional bottles of hand cleaner throughout the house for the other members of the household to use all the time also.

Tip #4 How to Take Care of Someone that has Swine Flu

If you are the caregiver of someone that has the swine flu make sure that you spend very little time face-to-face with the ill person. Do not allow them to cough in your face if it can be avoided. For very small children make sure that you place their chin on your shoulder or pointed away from your body when they cough.

The Center for Disease Control recommends that the caregiver wear a mask when they need to be face-to-face with someone who is infected with swine flu. They also recommend that the caregiver wear a mask when they leave the house so that they do not possibly infect others.

Tip #5 How to Take Care of Someone that has Swine Flu

Keep the infected person in a bedroom that is separated from the main living areas of the home, perhaps a spare bedroom or guest room that has its own bath. Be sure to keep the bedroom closed to help in the containing the swine flu from other family members. The room and bath need to be cleaned daily with household disinfectant. If the ill person needs to leave the room then have them wear a surgical mask, especially if they need to leave the house to see the doctor or to go to the hospital.

Tip #6 How to Take Care of Someone that has Swine Flu

Know when to seek emergency medical care for someone that has swine flu. If the infected person has trouble breathing or complains of chest pain, if the lips of the infected person turn blue or if they are vomiting and can't keep liquids down then seek emergency medical care. Also if there are signs of dehydration, seizures, or if the person is nonresponsive then emergency care should be sought immediately.

These tips should help you in taking care of someone in your household that has the swine flu. Remember to watch for signs in yourself and other members of the family to see if the swine flu is spreading. Seek professional medical attention if signs become evident.