Here we go again! The flu season is upon us. On top of the annual threat of influenza, we can expect the usual rounds of colds and stomach bugs.
There is never a good time for anyone to get sick, and having the flu or another ailment work its way through the family is exhausting on the main caregiver – usually you!
While you may not be able to keep everyone healthy this season, armed with your planner you can be organized and ready to deal with seasonal sickness.
When to Call a Doctor
Anyone who is pregnant, very young, elderly or already dealing with other medical problems like asthma are at high risk for flu complications and should be seen by a medical professional if you think they have the flu.
For folks not in a high-risk group, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) most flu cases can be treated at home without a doctor visit or prescription medications.
High risk or not, if anyone in your family is sick with severe symptoms you should get them medical attention right away. Severe symptoms may include:
- Breathing problems like shortness of breath or chest pain
- Blue color around the person’s lips or fingers
- Dehydration symptoms like a crying child with no tears
- Decreased urination
- Changes in skin color or texture
- Mental confusion or excessive sleepiness
Trust your instincts. If someone in your family is sick and you are worried, get them checked out!
Setting Up Your Planner
Don’t wait for someone to get the flu to create a medical information section in your planner. Or, go ahead and create a separate planner just for emergencies that includes medical information for your household.
Planning for Emergency Contacts
Have a page with contact information for each doctor or medical group that your family normally visits. Remember to include telephone numbers for after-hours calls.
On the contact page, include your local hospitals, urgent care and pharmacies.
If your regular pharmacy does not offer 24-hour emergency service, find the nearest one that does so you won’t have to hunt that information down in the middle of the night if you ever need it.
Do you have pets that would need to be cared for if you had to be at the hospital for a day or two? Is there a friend or neighbor you can call if that happens? Include that contact information, too.
Family Medical Information
You might have your family‘s “vital statistics” in your head or in your wallet, but what if you are the one that is sick, or you have your hands full with a sick child?
Having all the information in one place will be a huge help to you or someone else who is caregiving if you are flat on your back.
For each person in your family, create a page with their full name, date of birth, and social security number (often used by medical providers to identify medical records). For children, it would be helpful to include a current weight.
Make a copy of each person’s medical and pharmacy insurance cards.
List any current medical conditions, and the name and dosage of any medications the person is taking, including vitamins and herbal supplements. Note if the person received the flu or pneumonia shot this year.
Remember to list any known allergies!
Calendar a reminder to update this information section regularly.
Organizing Your Home
The last thing you want to have to do is drag yourself or a sick kid to the store for supplies if there is illness in your house.
Start now to gather the things you will want to have on hand for care and comfort if any of your peeps come down with colds, flu or a stomach virus.
Groceries for Cold and Flu
Chicken soup, of course! Canned soup is shelf stable and easy to heat and eat.
Fluids are very important so lay in a supply of ginger ale, herbal teas, sports drinks like Gatorade and special drinks like Pedialyte if you have little ones.
Popsicles can be helpful for getting fluids into someone with an upset stomach or sore throat.
Some easy to prepare and digest foods to keep in the pantry are a variety of juices, soups, puddings, Jello, crackers and toast.
What would you like to have if you are the one that is sick?
Have on hand over-the-counter age-appropriate cold remedies and fever reducers as recommended by your medical providers.
If you have pets, remember to keep items like pet foods and cat litter on hand so you don’t have to run to the store for pet supplies while you are already busy or sick yourself!
Germ Warfare
You will want to have disinfectant wipes and cleaning solutions for wiping down bathrooms and sick rooms, and generally around the house to prevent spreading germs.
There comes a time for every mom when she ends up cleaning up puke and diarrhea. Have a box of disposable gloves and masks that you can wear when handling soiled bed linens or clothes.
Disposable is definitely the way to go. Paper towels, paper cups and plates, and lots of plastic trash bags for lining wastebaskets, puke buckets, and laundry baskets.
Tip: For older kids and adults that may watch television in bed, cover the remote with a zipper-type plactic bag to keep it clean!
Do not cover a baby or small child’s pillow or mattress with plastic bags, they could suffocate! Use a waterproof mattress cover made for that purpose.
Stock up on boxes of tissues. It is amazing how many boxes of tissues can get used up by someone with a bad cold! I like to include the tissues that are infused with lotion in my stash because they do help prevent sore noses.
Toilet paper. You definitely do not want to run low on toilet paper. Flushable moist wipes are very soothing for someone who is spending a lot of time in the bathroom.
Paper lunch bags are great for collecting dirty tissues. Fold the top of the lunch bag over to keep it open and fasten it to the side of the bed with a binder clip. Throw the bag away every day or as soon as it is full.
Entertainment
Have some special things to bring out to entertain your recovering patients. Remember that coloring books are not just for kids anymore!
Small puzzles, playing cards and books on tape can be enjoyed by someone that needs to stay in bed.
What are your tips and tricks for taking care of a sick family member? Will you be organizing and planning in advance for this flu season?
Do you want to hear more on the subject of planning for family illness?
Please leave your questions and comments below!