H1N1

• Ensure childcare group are kept small to reduce the risk of viral exposure. Ensure schools and childcare groups have adequate and easily accessible hand cleansers and soaps for washing and cleaning of hands
• Advise older children and teenagers not to congregate at public places that may expose them to the disease.
• Arrange with Family Doctors or Specialists for adequate supply of medications for the time being if parents have history of chronic diseases
• Teach the children on maintenance of proper hygiene.
  1. Regular and proper hand washing. Proper hand washing requires the use of soap and water. Rinse hands under running water and dry them thoroughly. (SSWT)
  2. Teach children not to touch their eyes, nose or mouth without proper hand washing.
  3. Teach the children proper coughing etiquette e.g. coughing into a tissue paper and dispose the tissue paper appropriately.
  4. Teach the children to wash their hands before meals, after using the toilet, after sneezing or coughing.
  5. Video resource on "Hygiene Tips For Kids"
• Toys should be kept clean. To prevent transmission of any pathogens, it has been recommended that toys that are mouthed should routinely be cleaned and disinfected. Other toys should be cleaned and disinfected if they become contaminated by body fluids e.g. saliva or nasal discharge. Disinfection can be carried out as follows for toys with non-permeable materials
  1. Rinse under warm running water to remove gross soiling
  2. Wash in warm water with detergent
  3. Rinse under hot water (70 degrees Celsius)
  4. Air dry
• Toys such as soft toys should be washed regularly and dried.
• Regular mopping and cleaning of the household. Mops and equipment used should be soaked in the disinfectant solution after use and rinsed thoroughly with water. The solution should then be promptly disposed off down a drain pipe. An appropriate disinfectant is the use of diluted household bleach.

Family Members with Chronic Diseases

Discuss with your healthcare provider regarding:

• Care plan should there be a pandemic e.g. how to obtain medication, what can one do for self monitoring of condition such as blood glucose monitoring for diabetic patients etc.
• The feasibility to obtain longer supply of medication especially if control of chronic disease is stable.
• The possibility of consults via phone or email for stable chronic diseases to minimise coming to the clinic.

General

• Stockpiling of essential items such as food, baby milk powder and medicine for 2 weeks or more.
• Minimise outings to public places that are crowded and enclosed such as cinemas, spas, shopping malls etc
• Do not throw leftover food on the floor or in the open.
• Do not leave food in common areas for stray animals.
• Do not spit on the floor and common areas.
• Throw used masks, tissue or litter into rubbish bins.
• Use a serving spoon when sharing food from a common dish.
• Do not share personal items such as toothbrushes and towels.
• Institute self home quarantine if you should fall sick. You should also minimise contact with other family members e.g. sleeping separately and having meals separately.