Don't kid yourself, if you have Swine Flu, you can have the best doctors in the world taking care of you, but the name of the game is Flu Prevention, and the question is how do you resist getting the Swine Flu or any other flu for that matter? You need to get the germ into your body in order to contract the Swine Flu, and that means it has to get into an opening.



Even if you get the germ on your skin, it doesn't guarantee you will contract Swine Flu because it must enter via the mouth, nose, or eyes. Those are the pathways into the body. If you have or are having a surgical procedure done, such as a hospital patient, than the surgical site itself is also a pathway for germs to enter the body.

I am going to give you a few basic ideas about how to prevent the Swine Flu, and for that matter, colds and viruses in general.

- Wash those hands, and keep washing them. Every time, you shake hands with someone, you are shaking hands with everyone else they have shaken hands with, since they last washed their hands. If you do shake hands, then before you touch any other part of your body including your nose, mouth, and eyes, you must get those hands clean.

- A person who is infected can pass the germ to you a day before symptoms appear, and up to 7 days after symptoms appear. You get the virus by contact with such a person directly, or by contact with an object that they touched. It is debatable how long an object such as a doorknob can retain the live germ.

- Beware of door handles. About the most germ infested surface you can touch is a door handle or the faucets you turn the water on and off with, especially in bathrooms that others use. Once you touch either of these objects, it is as though you never washed your hands at all. Our suggestion is to use the same paper towel you dry your hands with as a barrier between your now germ free hand and the door knob or water faucet.

- At work, we keep bottles of Windex handy. Just spray the bathroom doors, and the faucets and the door handles to people's offices and let the air dry them which only takes a minute or two. If you immediately dry the surface, you destroy most of the germ inhibiting barrier.

- Go to a major discounter like Wal-Mart and stock up on hand sanitizers. Easily carried 2 to 4 oz bottles that can fit in your pocket, are less than a $1 and give one to each member of the family. They are fabulous for cleaning hands, and the residue evaporates within seconds. Doctors use them all the time. It's cheap insurance.

- If and when the Swine Flu hits your area, than order some masks that are N95 rated. They are recommended by the Center for Disease Control, and are very inexpensive. Go online and Google "Swine Flu Masks", and check prices.

Follow these simple rules religiously, and we think the Swine Flu will be bypassing you and your house this season. Good luck.