A4 Mercer Island Reporter Wednesday, December 15, 2004
How to avoid the-flu this holiday season
N'o flu shot for
you this year?
Can you keep
yourseff healthy? Yes!
Even though flu
viruses may be lurk-
ing at the next holi-
day party you attend,
you can take simple
steps to avoid the bug. V I C K ]
Prevention can mean
the difference between RACKNER, MD
a joyous holiday sea-
ON HEALTH
son and a miserable
week in bed coughing
and sneezing.
The holiday season is a so-
cial time. Many of the things
Miss Manners tells us to do to
be part of civilized society, con-
tribute to the spread of the flu:
Shaking hands, talking in close
groups of people, sharing food.
I invite you to challenge the
boundaries of conventional eti-
quette to stay healthy.
Re-think hand shak-
ing. Have you ever won-
dered what to do if some-
one sneezes on his right
hand, and then extends
it in a hand shake? You
could say, "Nice to meet
you," without extending
your hand or, "Nice to
meet you. I'd shake your
hand except I'm coming
down with something,
and I don't want to pass
it along to you." Or you
can shake hands and then
go directly to the bath-
room and wash.
You may elect simply not to
shake hands by saying, "It's flu
season, let's just smile and nod
and keep our own germs" Others
may appreciate your thought-
fulness. Passengers on board
cruise ships infected with virus-
es these past few seasons found
themselves creating their own
sort of handshake-- an elbow
touch.
At parties change a health report with the
Think before you eat. Wash option to re-schedule if some-
before you eat, especially finger At home
food. Flu germs are spread by Have a family meeting and
hand-to-mouth transmission. So ask, "What can we do to stay
when someone with the flu healthy this season? How can Elsewhere
sneezes, the germs land on the we remember to wash our Cough and sneeze into the
doorknob, where they can live hands?" Write down all ideas crook of your elbow or upper
for a few hours. You open the from all family members, in- sleeve. You don't generally touch
door, transfer germs to your hand cluding the wee ones. Then de- things with that part of your body.
and then grab a carrot at the snack velop a plan. Notice when your Be proactive about health at
table, kids and partner do things to work. Approach your team leader
Is that my wine? Identify your which you agreed. Remember, or human resources department
glass A nice hostess gift is dec- kids get great delight in mastery, and say, "We're not vaccinated
orative wine glass jewelry for They're wired to please you. this year. One sick employee
the stems of her guest's glasses Develop a family non-touch could get many of us sick. How
If you're using a paper cup, write greeting to replace kisses. Maybe about if we develop a policy that
your name on it. Or keep your a Spock Vulcan hand gesture with goes in writing that states we'll
glass in your hand at all limes. Set "May the force be with you." stay home if we're sick. That
it down on a table, and you're You can have a family contest way we'll have a productive work
inviting a mixup, and give a prize for the winner, force."
Have soap (n0n-antibacteri- Use caution at the gym. Clip
al) and disposable towels for dry- a little hand sanitizer bottle to
ing in the kitchen and bathrooms your belt for use after touching
and hand-sanitizers in your purse, weight equipment or any hard
briefcase or backpack. Keep a surface.
bottle in your car to use after Be proactive with your rela-
punching numbers into the ATM tives. Write an e-mail that says,
or handling money at the drive- "We look forward to our fami-
through windows. Always squirt ly holiday gathering. Nellie is
a little into everyone's hands af- going through chemotherapy and
ter shopping and touching grocery we want to make sure she stays
carts, healthy. Consider asking, "What
If someone is sick at your do we do if someone gets sick?
house, call your invited guests Will we stay home? Have a'spe-
and let them know. You can say, cial place for sick kids?"
"We'vebeen looking forward to Be sure all health care
having you over. Just want to let providers wash before they ex-
you know that Lee came home amine you. If you don't see them
early with a fever. It doesn't look wash, ask politely if they will
serious and I think the risk to your do so again in your presence.
family is low. Just want to give Your goal is to keep you, your
you the option ofrescheduling.", family and co-workers healthy
When you're invited as a guest this holiday season. Protect your-
you can say, "We didn't get flu self with good hand washing and
vaccine this year, and I'm tak- common sense. Be considerate,
ing health seriously. Would it so you don't pass your cold or
work for you if I called the day flu germs if, despite all your pre-
of the event and we could ex- vention techniques, one happens
to make you sick.
And remember, health is your
one's sick?" home. Even though you are in
the same room as germs, your
immune system does a brilliant
job of keeping you healthy.
Vicki Rackner MD, president
of Medical Bridges, is a board-
certified surgeon who left the
operating room to help employ-
ees become active participants
in their health care. She is a
consultant, speaker and author
of the Personal Health Journal
and the upcoming book
"Bouncing Back." She can be
reached at DrRackner@
MedicalBridges.com or 425-
451-3777
Marvin Anthony
For over 40 years the Clampitt family has been
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Ca iNites Aw
Islanders honored by Red
Cross as 'Everyday Heroes'
Mercer Island residents Sid survive. The group, along with
and Sigrun Shaudies were hon- Dennis, agreed there was nothing
ored on Dec. 2 by the American more they Could do to save
Red Cross as two of its 2004 Piccola.
"Everyday Heroes." "It was the best coordinated ef-
The Shaudies performed life- fort by a group of strangers,"
saving measures in a marathon Dennis remarked. "They did
effort to save their friend, George everything they could."
Piccola, who went into cardiac Bellevue Fire Department
arrest during a hike on the medics Rich Burke and Greg
Mailbox Peak in the Cascade Clifford responded to the call by
Mountains. hiking almost three hours to reach
When Piccola was stricken,the group. They advised the res-
a group of friends and strangers cuers to get down off the moun-
worked together to save his life tain as night approached.
while Piccola's wife, Margaret The Shaudies were two of the
Dennis, started making calls for 25 people from King and Kitsap
help. counties, honored at the ninth
Friend and hiking companion annual Heroes Breakfast --
Sid Shaudies began rescue breath- "Everyday People, Everyday
ing while another hiker, Shannon Heroes."
Burcham assisted. Sigrun The American Red Cross is
Shaudies kept Piccola warm. A the country's leading disaster re-
group of Seattle University stu- lief organization, providing im-
dents hiking nearby that includ- mediate emergency relief to those
ed, Laurie Canaan, Nicholas in need and helping people pre-
Lofing, Heather McEvoy, Mary vent, prepare for and respond to
Emily Wells and Andrew Koehn, emergencies.
stopped to help. Lofing helped For more information about
perform CPR with Burcham. American Red Cross programs
The group kept CPR going and services locally, visit the
on Piccola for almost two-and-a- Web site at www.seattlered-
half hours, but Piccola did not cross.org or call 206-323-2345.
Serving ]vlercer
lslar~, Eastside
and Seattle for
all your Real
Estate needs.
206-396-1061
mar fin@vdndermere com
To See. To Schmooze. To Shop.
~vesh arfisa~ jo4aica o
Exceptional Gift Registry
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RAISED
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(~ ~I~
M A R K E T
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A
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