Protecting yourself against H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu)

Officials say that the next wave of H1N1 flu could arrive in September and governments worldwide are planning for a pandemic. No one knows for sure if it will continue to cause mostly mild illness or if it will strike with the vengeance of the 1918 Spanish flu, which hit with a mild form in the spring but returned in the fall to infect one-third of the world's population and contributed to the deaths of 50 million people.

Organ transplant recipients, who are immunosuppressed, need to be especially vigilant and use common sense to avoid infection, especially during the flu season.

Following the advice of experts, such as can be found at Flu.gov I plan to avoid large groups of people; wash my hands frequently with soap and water; avoid shaking hands; use a tissue when sneezing or coughing and place it in the trash. Our hands have poison on them and washing is a huge thing. I'll get a flu shot as soon as it's available and I've already had a pneumonia shot to protect against secondary infection.

I hope the epidemic doesn't come but I, for one, intend to protect myself. I hope you will also.

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Sign Your Donor Card & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario or Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network. NEW for Ontario: recycleMe.org - Learn The Ins & Outs Of Organ And Tissue Donation. Register Today! For other Canadian provinces click here

In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register

Your generosity can save up to eight lives with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants. One tissue donor can help up to 100 other people by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves

Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes.