Hello Parents, it's wonderful to be able to chat with you again! As most of you are not aware, December 2009 has been a write off for me, culminating in emergency surgery last Sunday. Through the grace of powers beyond, and the absolutely amazing powers of Surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Sawyer, the Emergency Staff , Dr. "Darryl" of Emergency, RN's Michi and Shelbey, anesthetist " Man With No Name" ( can you hear " Spaghetti Western" music in the background?) and all of the remaining people who saved my life on December 13, 2009, I hope and pray Santa spoils you! They all work at St. Josephs Hospital in Comox Valley. Put simply, St. Josephs Hospital saved my life on December 13, 2009! I thank everyone involved, and the hundreds of people who work everyday, to keep this wonderful Hospital clean, patients with meals, equipment updated and repaired, and most of all, the grace in which they do their jobs. Truth be told, I'm a brutal patient when I'm in agony, yet everyone I was involved with during that horrific day, showed complete tolerance and caring. I will never forget any of you. THANK-YOU! Steven Baird

During the last 3 weeks, I have broken an ankle, crashed our web site, then fried our hard drive. So if trouble always comes in three's, we should be safe for the next year. During this broken ankle episode, I've had a great opportunity to read and research many topics, including the H1N1 virus. I have come across many "terror" articles lacking in facts and few articles based on solid research done by credible experts. I'd like to share one such article with you. It answered all of my questions and I hope it does the same for you.

This article was published in The Vancouver Sun on 04/09/2009 , with sources from: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, British Medical Journal, New England Journal of Medicine, Bio-security and Bioterrorism, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ontario Ministry of Health, the Ottawa Hospital.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE  H1N1 SWINE FLU VIRUS?

Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people also report diarrhea and vomiting.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORDINARY SEASONAL FLU AND A FLU PANDEMIC?

The symptoms are the same, but they can be much more severe with a pandemic, which affects younger, healthy people who don't normally suffer as much from seasonal flu. THERE ARE OTHER DIFFERENCES: -seasonal flu happens every year, while a flu pandemic happens only two or three times a century - seasonal flu is usually around from November to April, a flu pandemic can come in two or three waves, with each wave lasting about two months -about 10% of Ontarians get seasonal flu each year, about 35% of Ontarians could get flu during a pandemic - most people who get seasonal flu recover within a few weeks, during a pandemic, more people who get the flu will recover more slowly - seasonal flu is hardest on people who don't have strong immune systems such as the very young, very old and people with certain chronic illnesses, people of any age could become seriously ill with flu during a pandemic

HOW LONG CAN AN INFECTED PERSON SPREAD THE H1N1 VIRUS TO OTHERS:

- people infected with seasonal flu and H1N1 flu can infect others from one day before showing symptoms to seven days afterward

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT:

People who are well but who have an ill family member at home with flu can go to work as usual. You should monitor your health every day, and take everyday precautions including washing your hands often with soap and water.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I GET SICK?

Stay home and avoid contact with other people, except to get medical care. This means avoiding normal activities, including work, school, travel, shopping, social events and public gatherings. If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health-care provider, who will determine whether flu treatment is needed.

WARNING SIGNS OF SEVERE FLU, REQUIRING URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION IN CHILDREN:

• fast or troubled breathing
• bluish or grey skin colour
• not drinking enough fluids
• severe or persistent vomiting
• not waking up or not interacting
• being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• flu-like symptoms improve, but then return with fever and worse cough

IN ADULTS, EMERGENCY WARNING SIGNS INCLUDE:

• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• bluish or grey skin colour
• bloody or coloured sputum
• chest pains
• sudden dizziness or confusion
• severe or persistent vomiting
• high fever lasting more than three days
• low blood pressure
• flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

CONTAMINATION AND CLEANING:

How long can flu virus survive on surfaces such as books and doorknobs? - studies have shown that flu viruses can infect a person for two to eight hours after being on surfaces. On nonporous surfaces, they can survive for up to a few days.

WHAT KILLS THE FLU VIRUS?

- flu virus is destroyed by heat as well as chemical cleaners with chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents, iodine-based antiseptics and alcohol-based cleaners.

IN CONCLUSION

I hope this answers your questions. As always, knowledge is power. I've read over a hundred articles and visited over a hundred web sites and the common theme through out is CONSTANT hand washing is the prevention key. Also, keep an eye on your children's school. Do they have enough hand washing stations. Are they ALWAYS supplied with the proper materials. There have been a lot of budget cuts at schools across Canada, and this is not the place to make cuts, so keep an eye on this situation.

If you have any other information on H1N1, Street Smart Kidz should tell our parents about, please contact us at www.streetsmartkidz.ca .

Last but not least, ignore the " sensational TV programs and articles". Just use common sense, practice the preventive suggestions and get help if you need it.

 Steven

They have contributed to the cost of our video being shot by VFH Video on August 8th in Comox with over 100 kids doing the "BACK PACK TOSS".

World Guiness will be there  to participate( to make it official)

Congratulations To the  continuing love and affection The Kinsmen of Port Alberni have always  shown the kids of Canada.