Swine Flu and Black Friday

[bfaddict1977]

I'm just wondering if you all think the swine flu epidemic will scare out a lot of shoppers this year? I definitely plan on going out. I'm just a bit scared being pregnant and all that some moron will be carrying the virus and still go out and spread it. What is everyone else's thoughts?

[nick_jenni_jocelyn]

I don't think it will get in the way of the crowds being too big or small. You will always have that person that they know they are sick but if they don't tell anyone while shopping, who will know? They will go out anyways.

All you can do is take precautions... wash your hands, use hand sanitizer and hope others are doing the same.

[mgmckny]

I'm just wondering if you all think the swine flu epidemic will scare out a lot of shoppers this year? I definitely plan on going out. I'm just a bit scared being pregnant and all that some moron will be carrying the virus and still go out and spread it. What is everyone else's thoughts?

Get a mask from the doctor's office next time you are there and wear it as a precaution....I ended up with a few extras when I was visiting my brother (double pneumonia and swine flu-spent 2 weeks in hospital with a week and a half in ccu). I figure that if it gets worse I might use them when I do the shopping. Although I was probably exposed as I took food to bro and my mom (who also ended up with pneumonia and regular flu) for several days before he was hospitalized....

[georgiapeach717]

i agree to keep purell on you all day long. use it 100 times if u feel you need to. :)

[len_mullen]

I'm just a bit scared being pregnant and all that some moron will be carrying the virus and still go out and spread it.
<del>If you go out into crowds during flu season pregnant -- it doesn't matter the crowd or the flu -- the moron you need to worry about is not the one spreading the flu.

You are crazy to put the health of your unborn child at risk (crowds, disease, cold) to save a few bucks. Be smart; stay home. Do your shopping online this year.

As for the rest of us, I wouldn't behave any differently than when I stand in any crowd...

1) limit up close talking to strangers -- especially those displaying symptoms
2) keep your hands away from your face
3) wash your hands, but not to excess (chapped hands offer entry to disease)
4) avoid public restrooms and drinking fountains
5) wash and dry hands before and after using a public restroom -- any restroom
6) use a towel or your sleeve to open doors
7) keep sores covered

It's just common sense. Your eyes, nose, mouth, fun parts, and any openings in your skin are the doors to infection. Keep these clean and you will be well.

Get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids, and eat well, too, so your body is strong to fight off infection.

This is true for pregnent and sick people. It's just that the consequences of getting sick are so much worse.</del>

Don't worry about going out into crowds during the flu season. I'm sure all the sick people will stay home and that those who have behaved badly in the past have learned their lessons.

[georgiapeach717]

wow, that was a tiny bit harsh calling her a moron....at least thats the way i read it. :(

[len_mullen]

wow, that was a tiny bit harsh calling her a moron....at least thats the way i read it. :(
Not the way I meant it. It's just crazy for sick, elderly, or pregnant people to stand out in the cold with lots of people. I'll make it a little less harsh...it doesn't read as well, but it's Christmas, right?

[conj]

pregnant is not sick.

Being in crowds at BF is no different than going to the grocery store on the 1st of the month, or any other busy place with the "public" there.

[len_mullen]

pregnant is not sick.
that's why I said "sick, elderly, or pregnant."

Being in crowds at BF is no different than going to the grocery store on the 1st of the month, or any other busy place with the "public" there.
that's why I said "it doesn't matter the crowd or the flu."

[civiclover88]

There is a major misconception that "being out in the cold gets you sick". This is not the case. Viruses and other germs are passed to you from someone that is ALREADY sick. So an elderly lady spending ten hours out in the cold won't get her sick, but the guy that has a cold and sneezed on her, will. Also, the OP didn't call herself a moron, just the person that goes out in public sick one.

[yuyi64]

wow, that was a tiny bit harsh calling her a moron....at least thats the way i read it. :(
I don't read it that way at all, and nowhere in the post did he call her a moron (you did). I think you're reading way too much into his comments. If my wife was pregnant I wouldn't want her fighting the crazies out there on BF either. Even huge strong healthy men have been killed during BF stampedes (see Walmart), so I definitely wouldn't want to see a pregnant woman caught in that melee!

[GRAMMIE6]

If you're pregnant you really should get vaccinated when it's available in your area, but still observe precautions. I second the "shop online" suggestion ~ think about all the crazy BF shoppers who are not considerate of others, even if you're pregnant! Best wishes, by the way! :)

[jenirvt]

I am 4 months pregnant and my "plan" is to follow the same good hygeine habits I always do, whether it's flu season or not. I wash my hands thoroughly and frequently, keep hand sanitizer always available (in my purse, in my car, at my desk, etc) and avoid being anywhere near people who are exhibiting any signs of illness. I always sanitize shopping carts with the wipes, and use hand sanitizer after pumping gas or using a keypad after a credit card swipe at a cashier. I keep my hands away from my face, always wash my hands before I eat, and use paper towels to turn on faucets/open doors, etc in public restrooms, and the first thing I do when I get back to the house is wash my hands. These are things I always do and they have proven to be quite effective for me.

While I realize that BF isn't a necessity, being pregnant doesn't mean you can just quit living life...you still have to get out there and be exposed to the public....grocery shopping, shopping for other household necessities, going to work, etc. You could pick up H1N1 or anything else going around simply by going to work and touching a shared surface like the copy machine. I have a child in elementary school in which there have been several instances of H1N1 and the flu. She is also in dance class where several kids have gotten sick. She could bring it home, too...but I can't just stop life and not send my daughter to school based on the fear that she *may* get the flu...or 1000 other bugs out there. Just practice good hygiene, take your vitamins and do what you can.

[bpr]

Just remember, being in these 'big' stores, you will still be in 'close quarters' with lots of people. The check-out lines especially, lol. Your odds of catching something could increase somewhat over just normal shopping.

[len_mullen]

No, Jenirvt, but BF is different in that you will be standing in close proximity to lots of strangers for long periods of time. As you move from store to store the number of strangers you are in close proximity to for long periods of time increases. As the number increases, the liklihood of you being exposed to something increases.

Being pregnant doesn't mean stop living life, but you should be more careful since your behaviors will be affecting a more delicate creature. So, we eat better, see the doctor more often, lay off drugs and alcohol, curtail physical activity, and minimize exposure to disease.

You can do what you, but I think you should be careful.

[bpr]

I would try to limit it by just trying to hit only the stores I really needed to, which I might do myself. Hmmm...

[dbaby4ever]

My personal opinion is if the good lord sees it for you to get the swine flu then you are going to get the swine flu and there is nothing you can do about it. That doesn't mean not to use common sense like hand washing, sanitizer, etc. I wouldn't let it stop me from going shopping on BF.

[Illinoismom]

I don't read it that way at all, and nowhere in the post did he call her a moron (you did). I think you're reading way too much into his comments. If my wife was pregnant I wouldn't want her fighting the crazies out there on BF either. Even huge strong healthy men have been killed during BF stampedes (see Walmart), so I definitely wouldn't want to see a pregnant woman caught in that melee!

you didn't see it because he or she edited their post and removed that comment

[stacy0479]

Everyone knows I am pregnant with twins. I still do plan on going out on BF. I did get the seasonal Flu shot but am against getting the H1N1 shot (and its not up for debate). I am not going to stay home and not go out on BF. Like someone else stated above, going shopping on BF is the same to being anywhere else in public like the grocery store. As long as I have my hand sanitizer and wash my hands frequently, I feel I am fine to go. Calling a pregnant person a moron, whether you changed your post or not, is harsh. We aren't morons. This is what we want to do.

I am going to the doctor every 2 weeks so *if* I were to come down with something, they would be able to catch it *if* something did come up and I did get the Swine Flu. Again, I am not concerned with getting it. My son goes to public school, his chances of getting it are high also, but I don't keep him out, do you think I should so I don't get the Swine Flu? I don't think so, so limiting my outings isn't something I plan on doing either.

[len_mullen]

Like someone else stated above, going shopping on BF is the same to being anywhere else in public like the grocery store.
It's not the same. You have sustained contact with more people for a longer time.

As long as I have my hand sanitizer and wash my hands frequently, I feel I am fine to go..
You may feel fine, but you are *very* likely to be exposed to a virus as you chat with people waiting in line.

Calling a pregnant person a moron, whether you changed your post or not, is harsh. We aren't morons. This is what we want to do..
It's harsh (Encarta defines moron as an offensive term that deliberately insults somebody's intelligence), but I was playing on the words of the original post. While my intent was not to instult, I seriously question the intelligence of someone willing to put the welfare of a baby at risk to save a couple dollars.

I am going to the doctor every 2 weeks so *if* I were to come down with something, they would be able to catch it *if* something did come up and I did get the Swine Flu. Again, I am not concerned with getting it. My son goes to public school, his chances of getting it are high also, but I don't keep him out, do you think I should so I don't get the Swine Flu? I don't think so, so limiting my outings isn't something I plan on doing either.
You are right that your son being in public school is a risk, but to equate the risk associated with getting an education with that of saving a few bucks is irrational. If your son comes home sick, you can take measures to avoid getting sick yourself. What measures can you take to avoid inhaling virus in line at Walmart?

Look, I'm not going to pull a pregnant woman out of line and send her home. Someone asked about the risk of being in line with morons who have the virus. There will be people in line who are sick. Some won't even know. If you are at risk -- and pregnant people are -- you should reconsider. I hope you never have to regret waiting in line on BF, but, mark my words, some will.

My advice to the OP and others who are at risk is to play it safe. What you do with that advice is up to you.

[tinkrbel]

the first line of the offending comment was edited, but to my point.

My best friends daughter was diagnosed w/swine flu 2 weeks ago and bf was deathly worried about her safety and that of her unborn baby when she started getting flu like symptoms at approx 8 months pregnant. She called me in tears to tell me that pregnant women don't do well with swine flu (i.e. many have died) and I did my best to seem calm and comforting. Coming from a pharmacist who can and had argued all the points for and against the vaccine at her shower a few days earlier I was shaken to the core. She has since recovered, more than likely was psychological.

I'm not trying to scare anyone and as a single young person haven't really paid swine flu much attention, but please look after yourselves in this already hectic shopping season. I'd hate for anyone to suffer needlessly for the sake of (more than likely) unnecessary stuff. It might also help to remember that many stores have most of the sales online as well and some pffer free shipping too.

[Buckeye Shopper]

I personally think we will all be exposed to it at some point this winter. I also think that the stores are crowded all Christmas season not just on BF, and there will be other times when you are exposed. From what I understand the H1N1 virus is contagious before the person shows symptoms, so you could come in contact with it without even knowing the person is carrying it. I think that more than anything you need to stay rested and of course wash your hands very often. They have also said that unless your hand sanitizers contain alcohol they will not kill H1N1. Honestly, if it were me I think I would skip it just because I think it is utterly exhausting and when your body is tired it's less likely to fight off viruses. BTW, early intervention is key with this virus, my 10 yr. old is recovering from H1N1 at home. The doctor told us we did the right thing in getting him treated early. He is taking tamiflu and so far is recovering fine. If you feel sick don't wait.

[georgiapeach717]

thank you illinoismom, the sentence *did* read something to the effect of "the moron you should be worrying about isnt the one sneezing" or something along that line. I am the last person to call a pregnant BF shopper a moron...see "have you ever shopped on BF while pregnant".

anyhow i stand by my original suggestion of throwing some purrell in your purse and enjoying your day! :) Happy shopping!

[AuntieJul]

Definitely take purel or some other antibacterial stuff with you and wash all day long.. avoid the store bathrooms... and use your gloves to open the doors. Or skip it all together and do BF online! ;)

[manxwnch]

may be a lot of people will stay home and I can get some of the specials this year

[baraginfinder]

The area I live in has already been hit by the swine flu. Several schools in the area were closed on Thursday and Friday due to high levels of absent kids. There were about 180-200 kids sick on Wednesday. My daughter and both ended up having swine flu and we were fine in a few days. Our doctor said it is really no different than the seasonal flu. So just be sure to wash your hands frequently. I don't know why they are making such a big deal out of it. There is really no reason to panic.

[lorilwayne]

I think it may play a very small roll in decreased spending however I think the effects of the economy, unemployment, housing crisis etc will play a HUGE roll in what happens BF. My prediction- more violent shoppers due to feeling despirate. (See my post on thie discussion re: I'm not going shopping BF- heres why- any comments)

[wx4svr]

I don't think it will hinder people from shopping. You may see some people being more cautious, but not skipping BF all together.

I had the flu a few weeks ago... it really does suck. :(

[CatandJacks]

Oh for pete's sake. I am going to venture to guess len mullen is either a man or a woman who hasn't been pregnant recently. Newsflash: There is NO avoiding H1N1. Most of us will get it at some point no matter we do. There is no reason to panic or alter your life. You should be washing your hands and keeping your sores covered ( lmao at that one) anyways regardless of what illness is going around.

Being pregnant doesn't make you disabled. I will be 24 weeks with IVF twins aka high risk pregnancy and will be out shopping. Why? Because there is no reason not to. Getting in a car accident is more probable and worrisome than getting swine flu on BF.

[gemini1567]

This goes to all people....not just you horrible people risking your unborn childrens lives by going out BF (I'm being so sarcastic here....I was BF shopping at 8 months pregnant last year & we survived ;))

While you do need to wash your hands frequently (any time of they year...staff is just as nasty as H1N1) you need to make sure you are applying lotion to your hands also. The more you wash your hands (or apply sanitizer) the more they dry out, making them chaffed & easier to get cracks...which give germs more entrances to your body.

Second....if your hands are cracked...skip the sanitizer...most of them only skim the surface of your hands, they don't get into the cracks to kill any germs there.

Also, please don't think if you are unaffected, that a mask will save you....the virus can enter in through your eyes also. Masks are best used for those already infected, to not spread it further.

Germs can live on your clothes, just as they do on that door knob you are opening up with your sleeve. So how soon are you going to wash your sleeve next, versus how soon are you going to wash your hands next, is something to consider?

Finally, the virus is in its incubation period 3 days before you see any symptoms...so there are tons of people out there that have no idea they are sick.

And with that....H1N1 will not be deterring me from my holiday shopping. I'm out constantly, probably the most of which at my daughters school, where I work in the lunch room 3 days a week with 300+ kids. Bring on Black Friday!

[stacy0479]

Ok heres one for you len mullen, what if I worked retail, oh say Target, Walmart or Toys R Us and I was pregnant. Would you want me to quit my job because of the fear of H1N1?

[wnc_mom]

ok...all the people that i know that have had it says its better than having the regular flu? So whats the big deal? People die every year from the reg flu and other viruses so why is this any different? I just dont see what the big fuss is about? Wash your hands,and watch when u rub your eyes.nose,mouth etc. & U will be fine!;) I keep Germ-x on me at all times And i havnt had anykind of flu or stomach virus in 6 years nither has my son or hubby! The worst sick we get is about 1 cold a year...Just keep clean!!! :D

[len_mullen]

Ok heres one for you len mullen, what if I worked retail, oh say Target, Walmart or Toys R Us and I was pregnant. Would you want me to quit my job because of the fear of H1N1?
A better example would be that your husband hadn't worked in thirteen years, you were pregnant with your seventh child in four years, and your boss would fire you if you refused to work on Black Friday. The OP was talking about shopping not feeding her kids and I was talking about reducing the risk of infection not fear of H1N1.

Stacy, the original question was...

I'm just wondering if you all think the swine flu epidemic will scare out a lot of shoppers this year? I definitely plan on going out. I'm just a bit scared being pregnant and all that some moron will be carrying the virus and still go out and spread it. What is everyone else's thoughts?
My thoughts were, and are, that it would be a bad idea for a pregnant woman to stand in line close to strangers for hours on end in the cold during flu season. Never mind that these strangers have been known to trample people on occasion.

I was a little flip with the OP because 1) she characterized someone carrying the virus who would go shopping on BF as a moron, and 2) she implied that other people should stay home so that standing line would be safer for her baby. I don't think that someone who shops with the sniffles is a moron. I do think that 'at risk' populations should do whatever they can to minimize risk -- especially when the risk is to a third party.

My sister thinks she should be able to walk through the combat zone in Boston at three o'clock in the morning naked waving hundred dollar bills. I agree with her but don't think it would be a good idea. Same here. I think pregnant women should be able to drag their toddlers through the stores on BF, but I don't think it's a good idea.

Be safe.

[civiclover88]

Len Mullen... What combat zone in Boston are you talking about? Fenway Park after a Red Sox loss? I will agree with the naked and waving money thing and there are some rough areas of Dorchester, Roxbury and others, but I would not consider them a "combat zone". I have walked through all of Boston, night and day, with no problems.

[bfaddict1977]

I wasn't trying to start a debate here. I was simply asking a question. I will definitely be carrying hand sanitizer but I am NOT a "moron" and I also do not believe I should be quaratined to my house for being healthy but pg and wanting to shop on bf. It's NOT a disease to be pg. Sorry if I've ruffled people's feathers. Half the fun of bf is being out and shopping.

[georgiapeach717]

((big hugs))

purrell and lotion and some christmas music and you should be good! have fun!!! :)

[CatandJacks]

I don't think you have ruffled anyones feathers, don't even worry about it. The next person who has some ridiculous reason as to why I shouldn't do x,y and z I am going to tell " Please pray for my fetuses" and move on. Gah. With so much to worry about in this world a pregnant stranger should be at the bottom of people's lists.

[len_mullen]

Len Mullen... What combat zone in Boston are you talking about? Fenway Park after a Red Sox loss? I will agree with the naked and waving money thing and there are some rough areas of Dorchester, Roxbury and others, but I would not consider them a "combat zone". I have walked through all of Boston, night and day, with no problems.
It's been cleaned up. Used to be where Chinatown and the Theater District met (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22washington+street%22+boston+map&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=Washington+St,+Boston,+MA&gl=us&ei=YrzlSvbhKMu6lAfKioToCg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ8gEwAA). I think it was mostly on Washington Street. If you were dining or drinking in Jacob Wirth's, you might see call girls out one window and a family going to a play out the other. Video history here (http://blog.redfin.com/boston/2008/08/chinatown_and_the_combat_zone.html).

My youngest sister routinely did things that, to me, escaped the bounds of common sense. When I encouraged her to think about the consequences of the proposed action, she would defiantly insist that she had a right to do anything she wanted and that if she wanted to walk through the combat zone naked waving hundred dollar bills, it was her right to do so (which, of course, it wasn't). I would routinely respond that just because it was her right didn't make it a good idea.

[len_mullen]

The next person who has some ridiculous reason as to why I shouldn't do x,y and z I am going to tell " Please pray for my fetuses" and move on.
She *did* ask. I guess I should have assured her that there was no risk and that she was heroic for venturing out in her condition. Let me fix my first post (http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?p=1625108#post1625108).

[delphernina]

She *did* ask. I guess I should have assured her that there was no risk and that she was heroic for venturing out in her condition. Let me fix my first post.

rofl

I don't think you were supposed to give your true opinion. Hugs and snuggles only. :razz:

[CatandJacks]

She did ask. Her fault for asking a complete stranger to give medical advice of which they are clearly not qualified to give. So high fives for both of you.

[len_mullen]

My advice was sound. It comes from my doctor. And he is qualified. I cannot take the vaccine for medical reasons and the suggestions I posted were his recommendations for someone who hasn't had the vaccine. He also noted that the practices were sound for all since there are many flu viruses and you can get one even having been vaccinated.

Do what you want with it.

[jellybean051901]

I am a nurse. The majority of the patients we have to admit with the flu have other health problems already. This is just another thing that the media has blown out of proportion

[leefamily23]

I don't think it will change anything. As for protecting ourselves. If you're going to go out Christmas shopping at some point during the season then you're going to run the same risk as you will on BF.

The only thing it might effect, is if a certain store has a widespread outbreak amongst employees that weekend. That could mean for much longer lines if they are down staff by 25-50%. However, I don't know how many stores will encounter a widespread outbreak that particular weekend. I'm sure at least 1 in this big country will, but I don't think we'll see it simutanously at all of them that weekend.

[conj]

Len Mullen... What combat zone in Boston are you talking about? Fenway Park after a Red Sox loss? I will agree with the naked and waving money thing and there are some rough areas of Dorchester, Roxbury and others, but I would not consider them a "combat zone". I have walked through all of Boston, night and day, with no problems.

THE combat zone. there is only one. We had tons of fun there.... if you knew the right people...

[sastolfi]

It concerns me a bit. A couple of years ago at Easter Time my husband and I went to Walmart to get a couple of video games and I was price matching. I gave the guy my ad to get the price match and he handed it back to me. Afterward I heard him say to a co-worker that his wife and baby were home sick with the flu. Sure enough I ended up with the worst flu the next day. So we are taking our chances on getting out there with people who are are not smart enough to stay home when they are sick or have been exposed!!!

[georgiapeach717]

sastolfi i think the flu has a 7 day incubation period....looks like you were more likely just doomed to get the flu that year. :(

i know i am getting it, my kids will get it, i know this, i have accepted it. the swine flu has made it into my son's clasroom now and we are all without flu shots, sooooo now its just a waiting game! ;)

[sastolfi]

My DH's High School just sent an email yesterday that they have a confirmed case of the H1N1.

[dmintelsgt]

My daughter said there were 8 kids absent from her 4th grade class yesterday - it is just starting to hit our school district - yikes! Maybe we will be done and over it before BF!!

[misstaken]

My 11 year old dd and 8 year old ds had positive results for swine flu last week. They are still home but only because the school won't take them back. Ds is high risk so he did a round of Tamiflu and is bouncing off the walls, wanting to go back to school. Dd was a little sicker, but is coming around now-no fevers for either one for days.

I also now have it. Started Tamiflu yesterday and am taking it easy at home. I had pneumonia last year over Christmas and it was MUCH worse than this. I think getting it early before it mutates is better in the long run..it will only be harder to treat then. H1N1 responds nicely to Tamiflu at this point.

Also, my kids were the first two confirmed cases of swine flu at their school. However, they have not been anywhere but school and home so obviously there are some people running around untreated. Nothing we can do about it. Just have to weigh risks and rewards, I guess.

[georgiapeach717]

misstaken, i am glad your kids are gettng better and hope you get better soon! (hugs)

gotta love the infamy(sp?) of being the first confirmed cases at your school! ;)

[AuntJamelle]

Whew! Lots of strong feelings about this topic!!!:eek:

I am just sharing a couple of thoughts:

If pregnant, are the alcohol based hand sanitizers a good idea to use heavily? I had heard - and this could be totally wrong - that you do absorb some alcohol from it? So if you are using it ALOT in a short period of time - could that be similar to having more than the "allowed" glass of wine that most doctors say is okay for pg women?

I had been told by a friend that using peppermint oil, diluted in water, is an alternative to the hand sanitizers since peppermint is a natural disinfectant.

However, another poster mentioned that only alcohol based sanitizers would do any good against flu like germs?

ACK! All so confusing! That is really the thing with H1N1 this year - all the information and misinformation and rumor. It makes it really hard to know whats what!

I am going to be at about 31 weeks when Black Friday rolls around this year and I personally have made plans to try more online shopping this year. More because of the 3rd trimester exhaustion I'm expecting than anything else.

I am considering going to our Meier this year - a couple of hours after BF prices start - because every year the store on our side of town is EMPTY at that point. The first rush has gone through and there are usually plenty of doorbusters left to be had.

We're talking walk up to a register with no wait kind of deal - which is so nice! That is the kind of thing I would totally be able to handle that day.

Waiting in long lines in the cold - not for me this year! But maybe I'm just a wimp! :cheesy:

[CatandJacks]

As long as you don't put your hands in your mouth before rubbing in the sanitizer you are good to go. Not that you would do that or anything.. :p

[GinaInIL]

My story is similar to misstakens. My DS 10 and DD 7 are both being treated for this wonderful sickness. My son has been labeled the carrier and wears a mask (Dr.'s orders). Both children are on Tamiflu, Robitussin, Tylenol, and Ibuprofen. My husband and I were prescribed Tamiflu as a preventative. Tamiflu is expensive even with good insurance (which we have through my husbands union). I spent $135 yesterday on Prescription and OTC meds for us. This flu is scary and hits the pocketbook. I say if the risk in your area is high (I personally know of 7 and have heard of others in our town of only 3000) the money you spend fighting this flu will be more than what you save of BF. That $135 only covers the meds and not the 3 doctor visits! I have already missed 4 days of work caring for my kids and I am sure there will be more. Seeing as we get 3 sick days a year, I'm losing more money there. Its just not worth it! Something to keep in mind!!

[we_say!]

I am a nurse. The majority of the patients we have to admit with the flu have other health problems already. This is just another thing that the media has blown out of proportion

I heard same thing from someone I know who's a nurse in the ER. H1N1 is no different than the regular flu and that no more people die from it than any other flu and those who do usually have other health issues. People hear of one death and panic, but they don't tell you how many people get it and are completely fine.

[len_mullen]

According to Popular Science (http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-09/instant-expert-return-swine-flu)...

Seasonal flu tends to be genetically similar from year to year, which means that over time, people develop some immunity to it. Novel H1N1, however, is genetically unique; its genes call for proteins with different amino-acid configurations than standard flu. So most of us don’t have immunity to it. Strangely, some people over 60 have antibodies against the virus, perhaps because they encountered something similar when they were young.

[Buckeye Shopper]

I am not by any means an expert. The info I shared was what the doctor told us. My son is recovering from H1N1, he is doing well but was treated very early with Tamiflu. I wouldn't take for granted that this is just "any" flu. It is running rampant in our area and is not affecting everyone the same way, some mildly and some more severe. The flu came very quickly and hit very hard. My son came home sick on Friday with a fever, and complaining his legs hurt. By Saturday morning he could barely walk and felt like he couldn't breathe. I do believe it is out there and very hard to avoid. I hope I didn't offend anyone with my .02, it was just that, my opinion.

[magickallight]

Always safe to shop online... except for computer viruses that is... :::wondering if a computer Swine Flu will hit this year:::... ;)

[bigjimslade]

I am not worried anymore. I just got my swine flu shot. There is a clinic in Texas that will give one to anyone with a heart beat and $20.

I think if you keep your hands clean everything will be ok.

[dbaby4ever]

Wow Jim! That shot is supposed to be free of charge. The gov't is giving them for free! I bet that clinic would be in BIG trouble with the Feds if they knew they were charging for it!

[pampam]

A couple of weeks ago I read that private clinics can charge a service fee. $20 isn't too bad but free is definitely better.

[sassyME]

I wouldn't let the flu stop me from shopping on BF....would any of you really stay home if you were sick? Unless I am in the hospital sick I'll be standing in line, miserable or not, waiting for my deals.

[bigjimslade]

The way I see it is for $20 I did not have to stand in a 5 hour line at the county health clinic. I was in line for maybe 10 minutes at the most.

The clinic wont get into trouble. The state is not happy that they got 30% of the states supply but the clinic did apply for it the right way and the CDC granted them 30k doses.


Wow Jim! That shot is supposed to be free of charge. The gov't is giving them for free! I bet that clinic would be in BIG trouble with the Feds if they knew they were charging for it!

[Flava04]

I waited in line for 5 hours last Friday at my County Health Dept. for the vaccine, so I'm not worried. That is your best bet (if you're in one of the "target" groups for the vaccine, which includes pregnant women). Actually, at my County's clinic, they were grabbing pregnant women out of line to get it first (before all the kids who were waiting and people like me, who have babies under 6 mos.)

[Kme1958]

I'm not a vaccine type of person. I didn't get it, and don't plan on it. I'm not really worried about. Sick or not I'll be right there in line! LOL!

[JohnnyLaRue]

I can't afford to be sick as the customs people in Europe and Russia would not be amused when I go there in December. My main gf told me her country will quarantine you if you show flu like symptoms upon arrival.

I don't think swine flu victims will be standing in line or shopping as they are too sick to be doing so. But better safe than sorry.

And shame on that clinic for charging $20.

[stacy0479]

I'm not a vaccine type of person. I didn't get it, and don't plan on it. I'm not really worried about. Sick or not I'll be right there in line! LOL!

And I hope if you are sick, you wear a mask or cover your coughs with your arm or something to not spread it. I don't need to get sick from people that are going to be shopping "sick or not".

[rogue1230]

Ya know, pregnant, not pregnant, flu, swine or no.... this is meant to be FRIENDLY board. I found NOTHING in that post that was of a friendly nature. I am most certain that the board has rules about posting hostilities ( that are not directed at stores that issue C&D letters).

She already voiced she was nervous, a little bit of the gentle touch for the pregnant woman is not a terribly hard thing to do.

[stacy0479]

Ya know, pregnant, not pregnant, flu, swine or no.... this is meant to be FRIENDLY board. I found NOTHING in that post that was of a friendly nature. I am most certain that the board has rules about posting hostilities ( that are not directed at stores that issue C&D letters).

She already voiced she was nervous, a little bit of the gentle touch for the pregnant woman is not a terribly hard thing to do.

Who is this referring to?

[rogue1230]

it was in reference to Len who was entirely too harsh to the our pregnant BF poster who began the thread.

[stacy0479]

it was in reference to Len who was entirely too harsh to the our pregnant BF poster who began the thread.

Oh ok. Yeah, don't get me started on that one. LOL

[sassyME]

No need to worry about me being in line sick...we are all just getting over H1N1 at my house...so I guess I am good!

[getzjd]

stop freaking out over the swine flu. I would venture to guess that you have a better chance of being killed or seriously injured in a car accident than you do dying of swine flu. Guess you all better not drive on black friday lol

[rogue1230]

A better example would be that your husband hadn't worked in thirteen years, you were pregnant with your seventh child in four years, and your boss would fire you if you refused to work on Black Friday. The OP was talking about shopping not feeding her kids and I was talking about reducing the risk of infection not fear of H1N1.

Stacy, the original question was...

My thoughts were, and are, that it would be a bad idea for a pregnant woman to stand in line close to strangers for hours on end in the cold during flu season. Never mind that these strangers have been known to trample people on occasion.

I was a little flip with the OP because 1) she characterized someone carrying the virus who would go shopping on BF as a moron, and 2) she implied that other people should stay home so that standing line would be safer for her baby. I don't think that someone who shops with the sniffles is a moron. I do think that 'at risk' populations should do whatever they can to minimize risk -- especially when the risk is to a third party.

My sister thinks she should be able to walk through the combat zone in Boston at three o'clock in the morning naked waving hundred dollar bills. I agree with her but don't think it would be a good idea. Same here. I think pregnant women should be able to drag their toddlers through the stores on BF, but I don't think it's a good idea.

Be safe.



There has not been a "combat zone" in what going on 10 years now?? Good god. Murderpan, yes, combat zone- no.

[teach2nuts]

I am a teacher and there is a better chance of my catching the flu at school than in the stores. Most people if they have the flu will be too sick for shopping. I have the flu almost every year and I lay in the bed for a week. Use precautions if you are worried. Wipe your shopping cart off with a clorox wipe before rolling it throuhg the store. Use a lot of hand sanitizer. Do not put your hands near your mouth, eyes or nose. I use a lot of precautions because of my job. You can never be too safe. If you do not want to take the time to wipe the cart off make sure you use hand sanitizer after handling the shopping cart. I hope this advice will help any die har shoppers such as myself. I will be out there with you all at 3:00 a.m. I live for this day every year!!!

[desertgirl351]

I'm pregnant and will also be shopping BF this year. I will do what I always do to just not get sick. Take lots of vitamin c. Lots!!! Grapefruit seed extract is amazing and will stop just about anything dead. If your body has what it needs you probably won't get sick. The vax is way too scary. But just take care of yourself and you will be fine. We are pregnant. There is nothing wrong with us. It is normal and we should do what we feel up to doing. BTW, it is much easier to shop pregnant than with kids so enjoy it! So have fun and happy shopping! :gdthums: