Clearing the AIR
One major issue that you will have to confront during a bird flu outbreak will be how to care for your sick loved ones while still protecting the other healthy family members? The CDC recommends patients sick with avian flu be placed in an Airborne Isolation Room. This is a type room where the air supply is separated from that of the main home and is cleaned or refreshed periodically within the room.
Hospitals have the resources to setup expensive air systems like this, but what can we do at home?
There are some simple home air control procedures that can be put in place very inexpensively. The idea is to create a room in which the air is separated from the air in the rest of the home. This is the room where any sick patients will stay while ill.
Choose a Room
Ideally this is a bedroom with a window and a door that can be closed separating it from the rest of the house. A bedroom with a connected bathroom is the best.
Separate the Air
If you have central air conditioning, it is a good idea to close any air return vents in the room. These are not the vents that blow air out. These are the ones that suck the air back in to the central air unit. Seal it with plastic and duct tape. Also try to seal the cracks at the top and bottom of the door. You can simply use rolled-up towels for this.
Circulate or Exhaust Air Out
Clean the Air
Use an air filter to clean the air in the room. This will prevent the chance that infected air will escape into the rest of the home air system. The CDC recommends using a HEPA air filter at the very minimum. This is even more important if no window exhaust fan is used.
If you already have a HEPA filter, use it. If you plan on buying one, take a look at the latest air quality product from Sharper Image. You have heard of their revolutionary Ionic Breeze products. Now they have an Air Sanitizer that goes a step farther than ordinary filters. It uses ultraviolet (UV) light to kill airborne microbes - not just filter them. It is effective at killing airborne viruses (including H5N1), bacteria and mold.
How the Sharper Image AirSanitzer works:
- Air is drawn into the purification chamber.
- The mirrored chamber amplifies high-intensity UV (ultraviolet) light to kill viruses, bacteria, and mold in the air.
- Purified, microbe-free air is expelled back into the room.
Note: This unit does not filter particles from the air. It only kills microbiological organisms. It does not create ozone in the process like ionizing filters do.
If you are looking at a buying new air purifier, I recommend looking at this product closely. If you are allergic to mold like I am, it is a life-changer!
Benefits of a UV air sanitizer:
- Purifies the air - kills viruses, bacteria, and mold in the air.
- Reduce chances of developing deadly bacterial pneumonia, the largest cause of flu related deaths.
- Added protection to other family members against avian flu.
Read More:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/infect-control.htm
Sincerely,
Clint Fountain
Fluplan.com