Swine Flu And You: 3 Secret Ingredients For Preparedness

After posting today’s official swine flu preparedness tips (please read the full list), I thought I should share with you my own three key ingredients for shooing away the flu: elbows, bendy straws, and the “Happy Birthday” song.
Elbows
Nowadays they teach elementary school kids to sneeze into their elbows, but many adults still use their hands. Think about it. You’re not going to pick up many things with your elbows, right?
Bendy Straws 
For me, an essential emergency kit item. If you do happen to get sick (whether with flu or even just Spring allergies), you will want bendy straws. Yes, they are the lazy man’s straw. And when I’m under-the-weather, the less I have to move the better. 
The “Happy Birthday” song
Washing your hands doesn’t have to be a burden. In fact, it can be fun. Humming a complete renditon of “Happy Birthay” while washing will not only entertain your stall mates, but also ensure that you’ve lathered long enough to get rid of most germs.
And there you go – the three secrets to staying well and getting well. (Again, read the full official list here.)

5 comments

  • Thanks for sharing your tips. Bendy straws actually allow you to drink faster, which means you’ll get re-hydrated faster.

    oh, and um, Robin- Does getting sick make you want to bite your arm?

  • Do they really allow you do drink faster? Nice! I should have done more bendy straw research and included that.

    It’s funny how little difference in facial expression there is between: sneezing, biting, and laughing. Which was I really doing? The world may never know.

  • I think the birthday song every time I wash my hands might make me feel like I’m aging too quickly. I’m already struggling with 25…it feels like a quarter life crisis!
    p.s. I *love* bendy straws.

  • Ha! Well “Row Row Row Your Boat” and the “ABC’s” are good alternatives for old ladies like you.

    Or… just rap this part of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song and you should be good:

    In west Philadelphia born and raised
    On the playground was where I spent most of my days
    Chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool
    And all shootin some b-ball outside of the school
    When a couple of guys
    Who were up to no good
    Startin making trouble in my neighborhood
    I got in one little fight and my mom got scared
    And said ‘You’re movin’ with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air’

  • I think we can guess which song I’ll choose…

    I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8
    And I yelled to the cabbie ‘Yo homes smell ya later!’
    I looked at my kingdom I was finally there
    To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air

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