Influenza vs. Common Cold

I found this very interesting - it was forwarded to me by a teacher friend. I hope that you also find it helpful.

Know the Difference between a Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms

Symptom

Fever
Fever is rare with a cold.

Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu.

Coughing
A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold.

A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1 flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).

Aches
Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold.

Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1 flu.

Stuffy Nose
Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week.

Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.

Chills
Chills are uncommon with a cold.

60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills.

Tiredness
Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold.

Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu.

Sneezing
Sneezing is commonly present with a cold.

Sneezing is not common with the H1N1 flu.

Sudden Symptoms
Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days.

The H1N1 flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.

Headache
A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold.

A headache is very common with the H1N1 flu, present in 80% of flu cases.


Sore Throat
Sore throat is commonly present with a cold.

Sore throat is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.

Chest Discomfort
Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold.

Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu.


Here is the second bit of information you should have.
Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital ,Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).


The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global
epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into
contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1
infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms
and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official
communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any
part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't
trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/
nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple
gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has
the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*


5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C
(Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin
C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can.
*Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the
reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat
into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

Welcome!

Welcome students! With our new school year about to begin, I thought that I would put some pictures up of our classroom. Enjoy the picture tour, and I look very forward to seeing you in a week!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Edwards

As you enter the room, you see our carpet area, as well as our reading group table.

Our table work space.

A view of our free reading area, the tables, and our new mailboxes, and computer center.

Week of June 9-12

Well, it is officially the last week of school. I still can't believe how quickly this year has gone. Here are some reminders for these very busy four days.

Monday - Como Zoo field trip. Students need to wear comfortable walking shoes and remeber to bring a bag lunch (or pick up the bag lunch from school).

Tuesday - Our SFAS End of the Year Program will start at 6:30. Students are to report to skills groups by 6:20. It will be an enjoyable evening celebrating the accomplishments of another year.

Wednesday - Swedish Festival Day. The bus will be leaving school at 10:00 and we will return around 1:30. Again, students need to bring a bag lunch or pick one up from school and dress for the weather. Also, we will be cleaning out lockers.

Thursday - The last day...

This week will be working on wrapping up some assignments, creating some art (please send plastic or glass jars if you have any - we can't do the art project without them), and cleaning out cubbies/lockers. Parents, you may want to send a paperbag with your child for them to carry home their "treasures".

This year has been a pleasure. I have enjoyed working with all of you to provide the best education possible for your student. See you in the fall!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Edwards

Week of May 19-23

Hello! Can you believe that this upcoming Monday is Memorial Day? I can't. Time sure is going quickly.

Spelling words for this week:
There aren't any! We have completed our cirriculum for this year! However, we are starting some literature groups, so we may have a few vocabulary quizzes that go along with words in the texts. Dates of these are still to be determined, but the students will know in advance.

Special:
Monday - P.E.
Tuesday - Music
Wednesday - Art
Thursday - Social Skills
Friday - Writing Lab (we will miss specials on Friday due to the Prince Caspian movie)

Reminders:
Book orders were mailed on Friday, so hopefully they will arrive in the next 2-3 weeks (just in time for summer break).

Swimming concludes this week. Our last day will be Tuesday.

Friday we will be attending the Price Caspian movie at the Cambridge Theatre. If students want a snack for the movie, they must bring spending money along with them (I believe that the 'kids pack' is about $4.50).

June will be a very busy time for us at school. June 9 we will be venturing to Como Zoo in St. Paul. It will be a day long trip and students need to bring (or buy from school) a bag lunch. Permission slips went home today, and need to be returned to homeroom teachers ASAP.

June 11 we will be visiting the Swedish Festival at Cambridge Lutheran Church. We will school around 10:30 and return about 1:30. Again, a bag lunch must be brought (or purchased at school).

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or email me. Have a wonderful week!

Week of May 12-16

Greetings!

Well, the countdown has begun.  There are only 5 weeks left of school.  It amazes me at how quickly this school year is going.   

Reminders:

Two separate book orders went home last week.  If your child is ordering books, please write one check for the total (whether one order or two) to Scholastic Books.  Book orders are due May16, 2008.

Also, our class will be attending Prince Caspian, the movie on May 23.  If your child would like snacks, s/he will need to bring money on that day.  We will leave at 8:30 and return around 11:30.

Swimming (4^th grade) continues this week.  We will be going on Monday and Thursday.

The school carnival is this week: Friday from 5-8pm.

Spelling words this week are:

Group A: shouted, continued, itself, else, plains, gas, England, burning, design, joined, foot, law, ears, grass, you’re, grew, skin, valley, cents, key

Group B: teach, tears, club, tight, arrow, barn, familiar, none, flew, trap, neither, popular, twenty, gain, onto, quarter, spider, unless, atmosphere, diagram

Week of May 5-9

Greetings.

Spelling words for this week are:

Group A: trip, hole, poor, let's, fight, surprise, French, died, beat, exactly, remain, dress, iron, couldn't, fingers, row, least, catch, climbed, wrote.

Group B: eastern, message, apart, judge, smoke, bus, disease, flights, brush, forth, neck, pocket, clock, simply, steam, fold, title, escape, extend, sweet.

Specials:

Monday - Writing Lab

Tuesday - P.E.

Wednesday - Media

Thursday - P.E.

Friday - Music

Reminders:

4th graders continue swimming this week.  We will go on Wednesday.  Next week our days are Monday and Thursday (May 13 and May 15).  

May 16, 2008 from 5:00-8:00 P.M. IIS/SFAS will be having a school carnival.  If you would like to volunteer to help at the event please let me know, or call the school office (552-8800).  We will be having food, games, and inflatable obstacle courses in the gymnasium for students.  A silent auction will also be held to raise money for teacher supplies and field trip scholarships.  

The school variety show will be May 19 (four students from our room are participating).

Our field trip to see Prince Caspian, the movie, will be on May 23.  We will be leaving school promptly at 8:25.   

Flat People are due back by May 30.  If your flat person arrives at your house, please remember to return him/her to school.  We will be having a welcome back party and sharing time.  

Week of April 27-May 2

Greetings.

Spelling words this week are:

Group A: lot, stone, act, build, middle, speed, count, cat, someone, sail, rolled, bear, wonder, smiled, angle, fraction, Africa, killed, melody, bottom.

Group B: Negro, pronounce, stared, we're, pitch, dad, duck, fixed, hungry, operation, slipped, curve, frame, shook, writer, freedom, slightly, television, blank, cowboy.

Specials:

Monday - Media

Tuesday - P.E.

Wednesday - Music

Thursday - Art

Friday - Social Skills

Reminders and Upcoming Events:

4th grade swimming has started.  Our swimming days are April 28, May 1, May 7, May 12, May 20, and May 23 (tentatively).  

We will be taking a field trip to the movie theater on May 23 for a showing of Prince Caspian.  This is a reward for our students meeting February's I love to Read goals.  

3rd graders will be attending a performance this Friday, May 2, at the CIHS PAC.  The play will be "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie", and it is put on by the Children's Theater Company.   

As always, if you have any questions, or concerns please call or email me.  I know that the next month is crazy with dates to remember, so I will try and post updates often.