Tips and Advice on Preventing Illness at Cheer Camp

By Valerie Ninemire

Recently four cheerleaders were diagnosed with swine flu (H1N1 virus) while attending cheerleading camp in Boulder, Colorado. The cheerleaders were from Kansas and the Kansas medical officials along with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed and verified the four swine flu cases.

With cheerleading camp season ramping up, it’s important to know that there are some things you can do to avoid or minimize your chances of getting ill at camp. Here are some recommendations from the CDC for not only preventing the swine flu, but also most communicable viruses:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water (at least 15 to 20 seconds), especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home if you are sick for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. This is to keep from infecting others and spreading the virus further.

Symptoms and Signs of the Swine Flu from the CDC

• The symptoms of the H1N1 flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu.
• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
• Also, like seasonal flu, severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.