Panic-->Positive Thought

I believe I'm safe in assuming that many others are blogging about the swine flu over the last few days, so I thought to throw my own voice into the communal conundrum, hopefully as a little light of hope.

Whether or not the swine flu will evolve into a global pandemic I cannot say.

But before people start to panic, start fist fights at the stores over supplies or go deep into the bunker mentality, I'd like to propose a few simple things that are much simpler and cost effective:

• Wash your hands - before eating, after using the rest room, after shaking hands, before touching your face, after wiping a child's nose, after blowing your own nose, etc. Simple soap and water can go a long way. Wash front and back of your hands and rinse under running water with your fingers pointing downwards so it doesn't wash onto your wrists/arms.

• Use tissues - sneeze or cough into a tissue and dispose of it right away; use a tissue for the toilet handle, restroom knobs/latches, or other areas where germs are high. If you must sneeze and there are no tissues around, sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow or on the upper portion of your sleeve. If you sneeze or cough into your hands, wash them right away. But certainly cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze.

• Clean doorknobs, phone headsets / handsets, keyboards, mice and other equipment that are used by multiple people or when you become ill.

• Use your hands to touch paperwork, shake hands, etc. unless you know for certain the person is ill or if required by local mandate. Then gloves would be recommended. We still need the human touch, don't be afraid of it. If you ARE sick, politely decline handshakes until you are well again.

• If you are sick, stay home. Otherwise, it will not only help spread what you have but it will also make your co-workers edgy and distracted at the workplace. If possible, make arrangements to work from home or on a different schedule when you are sick and cannot afford to be out.

• Keep informed and know from where you are getting the information. Does the person have authority or experience in the subject or are they just voicing their concerns, opinions or dismissal of what's happening? (If you're wondering, the information here is a compilation from CDC and other government sources that I've prepared to present to the company President and employees where I work).

• Does your company have any emergency or contingency plans in place? Before you say "No" or "Of course not" check with Human Resources or the President (or similar). Many organizations have been working on these plans a little more ethusiatically since Katrina.

• Does your community have a plan? Find out.

If you decide to take away only one thing from this post today, I would say forget everything else above and keep this one: THINK POSITIVE.

There is far more that positive thought can achieve than most people realize. Cancer patients and those who are seriously ill or hurt that have the "I will get through this" attititude, do! Those who think the worst and let the fear rise up and occupy their thoughts and conversations, fall. The same can and does apply to almost anything we encounter in this world.

Granted thinking "Your not going to hit this beach" at a tidal wave before you may not work. But then again, Someone once said that "If you tell a mountain to move and believe it will, the mountain will move." Human beings have been known to do the "impossible" time and again. Faith that we can do things often brings the impossible to the reality of the possible. If too many people believe -- sincerely believe -- this swine flu will bring humanity to its knees and end civilization, this very fear CAN become reality!

That's why I stress the need for Positive Thought. Do not just go around thinking "we'll get through this" but BELIEVE it, in your heart as well as your head. We can make a difference. If we believe, it too can become reality.

Believe.
Pass the tissues.
And God Bless You!

- ESA