Good News Friday: The ten best things about swine flu
- Posted by Jo Easton
- on May 1, 2009 1:32 PM
This week we’ve been asking people in the Network how they’re handling the swine flu alerts — and if they work in public health, how they gauge the situation. Some people are sobered, some see very real potential downsides to their personal or business lives, and others have lots of advice. But amongst it all, there’s some good news:
1) 
Respirators are selling like hotcakes. Not bad for 3M, one of the world’s largest producers of medical masks. Industrial hygenist Elizabeth Tobias of Minneapolis wants you to know: “More expensive is not better. If it’s a respirator and it states NIOSH N-95 - then the protection is all the same. The difference is in optional features or models to accommodate different facial structures/features.”
2) Good PR for the Boy Scouts. How many times have I heard “be prepared” this week?
3) Falling out of favor ever since the invention of the refrigerator, the pantry gets fashionable again. Where are you going to put all that rice, B&M beans and canned veggies? The larder!
4) Better manners. Aren’t we all supposed to wash our hands and cover our mouths when we sneeze or cough anyway?
5) Mormons get it right. The LDS church is famous for encouraging its members to lay in a year’s supply of food and essentials. A lot more people than just Mormons are looking for that expertise right now.
6) Job security for school nurses. Who sent up the flare when a bunch of students recently returned from Mexico suddenly turned up sick? That’s right, the school nurse. A reminder, in case you needed it, that they’re not there just to figure out if your kid is faking that headache. Private school nurse Mary Agnes Kuehmichel of Elm Grove, WI points out people need to be educated about “the incubation period, as spring break was just 2 weeks ago.”
7) Job satisfaction for health workers. If you work in public health or a related field, an outbreak — especially of a new disease — can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And everyone wants to feel like they made a difference at the end of the day, right?
8) Cheap pork! If we’re all are afraid of eating pig meat, get ready for some deep discounts and stock that freezer….
9) Unexpected bump in tourism at US ports-of-call. Cruise lines have rearranged their itineraries to avoid Mexican ports. The winners here? San Francisco, Key West, and other non-Mexican North American destinations.
10) Your pick here: What else should be on this list?
Discussion: 2 Comments
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- Posted by Catherine Adams on May 4, 2009 2:52 PM
Introverts finally come into their own!
- Respond to Catherine Adams
We get to say/write things like: Aporkalypse! Snoutbreak of epig porkportions tests the chops of healthcare system.