The CDC stated that H1N1 is still doing serious damage in the Southeastern region of the US.

WETKEYS just happens to be located in this area (Atlanta, GA). Luckily for us, we have washable keyboards and mice so we can keep our office clean.

You can keep yourself healthier too by going to our site and equipping yourself with one of our cleanable keyboards.

We have great deals on great products, so don’t hesitate.

The CDC has the new numbers on H1N1.

The FluView feature breaks down the figures. One main point is that the number of cases declined for the data set. This is backing up the figures from Monday saying Swine Flu may have peaked in the US.

Practicing proper hygiene helps stave off the flu and other viruses. WETKEYS has the products you need to practice proper hygiene at work, home or on the go.  All of our products are waterproof and washable. You can disinfect our cleanable keyboards where ever and whenever.

Check us out this holiday season.

We’ve all seen the coverage of Swine Flu. Now the statistics are in from the first wave.

From April to July, up to 5.7 million people were confirmed to have the virus in the United States. It’s possible the number of actual cases could have been 140 times higher.

Currently, we are back in flu season. The second wave of H1N1 is here.

To help reduce your risk of getting sick, WETKEYS has a vast line of products all designed to be cleanable. WETKEYS has cleanable keyboards, mice and accessories for this flu season and every season in between. You can even get a 10-pack and share the “health” with your friends.

So remember, wash your hands, wash your keyboard and stay healthy!

An early Happy Halloween from all of us here at WETKEYS!

We hope it is a scary fun night for all.  Here are some costume suggestions (WETKEYS style) for anyone still in need:

1. Mouse

2. Pig (referencing H1N1)

3. Keyboard Man (sign up to become an affiliate first,  then wear our keyboards as your costume. People will ask what kind of keyboards they are and might be interested in buying some from you. Make money and conversation!)

4. Dur T. Ness (use your imagination for this costume)

There you have it.  Stay safe and enjoy the festivities!

H1N1 Brings Early Flu Season to

 Colleges, Public Schools

Thursday, September 17, 2009
By Marrecca Fiore

Public schools and colleges are seeing an early and robust flu season thanks to the H1N1 virus, although some are scratching their heads as to why it’s not as widespread as health officials predicted it would be.

And so far, it appears to be far less deadly than its well-known cousin, the seasonal flu that comes every fall and winter and kills tens of thousands of people in America every year.

“There’s no doubt the flu has gotten off to a fast and early start,” said Tom Skinner, spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It is very unusual to see the amount of cases we’re seeing this time of year. It’s a long season and some campuses are being hit hard.”

Dozens of public schools across the country have reported both confirmed and suspected cases of H1N1. A Houston-area charter school with 200 students closed Wednesday to “disinfect” after a student tested positive for the virus. A high school in Kentucky canceled its Friday night football game on Wednesday after a player was confirmed to have the virus and several other players exhibited flu-like symptoms.

Meanwhile, colleges and universities across the country are reporting thousands of suspected swine flu cases.

Two weeks ago, a 22-year-old student from the University of Nebraska-Omaha died from suspected H1N1 just before starting classes there.

Still, only 600 Americans have died from the new H1N1 virus, a low number when compared to the 30,000 to 40,000 people who die annually from seasonal flu. Skinner said that could be due to whom H1N1 is targeting.

The very young, very old and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of contracting and dying from the seasonal flu. But a different group is most susceptible to the H1N1 virus.

“H1n1 is hitting a larger population of teenagers and young adults, people with robust immune systems, so we might not see the number of hospitalizations and deaths that we see with the seasonal flu,” Skinner said. “That’s kind of how things are shaping up early on, but it’s still too early to draw any definitive conclusions on how it will ultimately affect people.”

Colleges See Early Flu Outbreak

The American College Health Association reported that as of this past Monday, 83 percent of the 253 colleges and universities that the organization tracks reported influenza-like illnesses, up from 72 percent the week before. The organization tracked a total of 6,432 cases and 16 hospitalizations over the past week, according to its Web site.

The nationwide attack rate last week was 21.5 cases per 10,000 college students, 20 percent higher than week before. The most cases were reported in the Northwest, with considerable activity also occurring in the Southeast, according to the college health association.

Skinner said the flu’s unpredictability is one reason why H1N1 is hitting some regions harder than others.

“There’s no rhyme or reason as to how it spreads and when it hits a particular region,” he said. “Last week, we, in Georgia, saw a lot of activity at colleges with some areas being hit harder than others.”

Although some regions have yet to see upswing in flu cases, Skinner warned people not to become complacent.

“Even if an area is not being hit hard now, our message continues to be that we want to make sure that those in high-risk groups get vaccinated,” he said.

________________________________________________________________

Well, there is no doubt that flu season is upon us. Do all you can for you and your family’s health and invest in a washable keyboard and mouse from Wetkeys.com. These items are sanitary and heavy duty, low-cost and high-quality. Typical keyboards harbor disease-causing germs and bacteria, but with Wetkeys keyboards, there is nowhere for them to hide!  

According to the CDC:

Flu activity is increasing in most of the United States with nearly half of all states reporting widespread influenza activity. So far, most flu is 2009 H1N1 flu (sometimes called “swine flu”). CDC expects both 2009 H1N1 flu and seasonal flu to cause illness, hospital stays and deaths this season. CDC has recommendations on who should get vaccinated against seasonal flu and
2009 H1N1 flu.

As an extra precaution it’s a great idea to purchase items that will help reduce the chances of germ-spreading. One idea is to purchase washable keyboards and other technical equipment from Wetkeys.com. This way, you can keep what was once a breeding ground for germs, a sanitary area.   

New York Times:
It sounds so simple as to be innocuous, a throwaway line in public-health warnings about swine flu. But one of the most powerful weapons against the new H1N1 virus is summed up in a three-word phrase you first heard from your mother: wash your hands.

A host of recent studies have highlighted the importance and the scientific underpinning of this most basic hygiene measure. One of the most graphic was done at the University of California, Berkeley, where researchers focused video cameras on 10 college students as they read and typed on their laptops.

The scientists counted the times the students touched their faces, documenting every lip scratch, eye rub and nose pick. On average, the students touched their eyes, noses and lips 47 times during a three-hour period, once every four minutes.

Hand-to-face contact has a surprising impact on health. Germs can enter the body through breaks in the skin or through the membranes of the eyes, mouth and nose.

The eyes appear to be a particularly vulnerable port of entry for viral infections, said Mark Nicas, a professor of environmental health sciences at Berkeley. Using mathematical models, Dr. Nicas and colleagues estimated that in homes, schools and dorms, hand-to-face contact appears to account for about one-third of the risk of flu infection, according to a report this month in the journal Risk Analysis.

 

Washing your keyboard strengthens your hand washing efforts. Get a keyboard that can be washed and disinfected from WETKEYS.com. They have a great selection of cleanable keyboards.

With all the news reports of H1N1 headed our way this flu season from CNN, Bloomberg, and the World Health Organization, it’s incredibly important to do all we can to protect ourselves and those we care about; especially the elderly and children.

Wetkeys.com helps you do this with their low cost, high quality washable computer keyboards and other equipment. They got your health at the forefront of their minds. These are heavy duty keyboards that are silicon keyboards and washable keyboards. A great addition to the health of your loved ones.

 Interested in fundraising? Wetkeys.com is a great place to fundraise for multiple reasons! These include: 

• High profits for your organization
• No fundraising time limit (you can sell our keyboards year round)
• Unlimited earning potential
• Customizeable products (We can add logos or customize keyboard colors to help promote your organization)
• Totally new fundraiser program with a vast market
• Marketing materials available for your fundrasier
• WETKEYS will donate a combo pack (1 keyboard, 1 mouse and a carrying bag) for every 250 units sold
• Long-lasting, useful product that people use every day
• WETKEYS is already a success story at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, University of Texas and Purdue University

With the CDC, CNN, WHO, and Bloomberg cautioning about H1N1 this flu season, it’s important to protect yourself and your family against harmful germs and bacteria. With Wetkeys.com washable keyboard and other products you give your family a big advantage. 

American Academy of Pediatrics 

Frequently Asked Questions About H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)

(August 18, 2009)
1. What should parents do to protect their children from the swine flu?

• Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Wash hands for 20 seconds, which is about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice. Alcohol-based hand cleaners also work well.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow.
• Alternatively, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Stay at least six feet away from people who are sick. Avoid crowds. This will limit the spread of illness.
• Stay home when sick to keep from spreading illness.
• Children and adults who are sick should stay home at least 24 hours after they are free from fever (100°F) or signs of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• Seek medical care if you are severely ill, such as having trouble breathing. Antiviral medicines may help.

The CDC answers common questions about swine flu.

2. Are face masks necessary?

• Handwashing and avoiding close contact with sick people are more important than wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the virus.
• If you are caring for a child or other person who has swine flu, a face mask can be used to help reduce the chance of spreading germs.
• Follow the recommendations of local and state public health authorities.

The CDC offers guidance on face masks.

3. How do you know whether or not to be concerned about swine flu in your area?

• Know what the public health authorities in your area are saying.
• Follow their recommendations to reduce your risk of catching the virus.

4. What’s the most important thing parents should do now, just in case infections are reported in their own area?

•  Plan now what you would do if your child’s school or child care center was to be closed.
• Consider what you will need to do to arrange for child care at home for your children.
• Stock up on supplies and non-perishable food at home.
• Have your pediatrician’s contact information handy.

5. What advice do you have for parents with children in school or child care?

• Parents should not take children out of child care or school unless public health authorities have recommended such a step.
• We do not have to close schools and other gathering places to prevent infection except in those areas where the public health authorities have determined that school closings are necessary.
• If the virus is causing significant illness in a particular area, authorities may close child care programs and public events.
• If the school or child care program closes and your children are healthy, you should still keep them home and not participate in social activities. Working parents may team up with other parents to take turns staying home with children; such groups should be kept to small numbers of children (<6) to minimize the risk of spreading germs.
• Parents should remind their children about proper hygiene, including sneezing and coughing into a tissue or sleeve, and frequent handwashing.
• Parents should advise children to go to the school nurse if they start to feel sick during school. Children who are sick should stay home at least 24 hours after their fever is gone.

6. How can parents avoid overreacting?

• Be aware of what’s going on in your area and follow the recommendations of public health authorities.
• It is not necessary to withdraw your kids from school or child care, if there are no reported cases.
• Start preparing for what you would do if schools and child care centers do close.

The CDC offers advice for parents on talking to their children about H1N1.

7. What are the symptoms of swine flu in children?

• Classically, children with influenza have a sudden onset of high fever, chills and respiratory symptoms. Children will develop mild nasal congestion and cough. Older children may complain of headache, scratchy or sore throat, and muscle aches.
• Influenza is very different from the common cold. Typically, a child who has fever and no nasal symptoms likely has influenza. A child who has no fever, but significant nasal symptoms, likely has a cold, not influenza.

8. What should parents do if their child has flu-like symptoms?

• If your child has mild illness, he or she should stay home from school or child care.
• Any child younger than 3 months who has a fever should see a pediatrician. In a child older than 3 months, how high the fever is, is not as important as how he or she feels and acts.
• Any child with a chronic medical condition (for example, heart or lung problems, weakened immune system, chronic kidney disease, sickle cell disease, asthma, or a severe neurologic disorder), who has even mild flu symptoms should see a pediatrician.
• Signs that warrant a visit to the pediatrician include lethargy, irritability, fast breathing, vomiting and inattention to the environment.
• If your children are uncomfortable because of fever, you can give them medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil). Do not give aspirin-containing products.
• If they are not eating well, encourage them to drink liquids.
• Call your pediatrician for advice. Your doctor can help you decide whether your child needs to be seen or if they may need to be tested and/or treated for swine influenza.

The AAP offers advice on taking a child’s temperature .

To help guide parents, the CDC has posted tips on caring for a child with flu-like symptoms:

• Keep your child at home. Don’t let him go to school or child care until he has been fever-free for 24 hours.
• Keep a sick child away from other people as much as possible.
• If your child has underlying health problems, see a doctor when symptoms start.
• If your child is otherwise healthy, call a doctor to see if an appointment is needed.
• When holding a small child who is sick, place the child’s chin on your shoulder so that he or she will not cough in your face.
• If your child has severe symptoms, has been to an area where there have been cases of swine flu, or been directly exposed to a swine flu patient, call your doctor for advice.
• Wash your hands with soap and water often, or use an alcohol-based hand gel if soap is not available.
• Keep surfaces (including toys and bedside table) clean – wipe them down with a household disinfectant.
• Wash bed sheets and towels with laundry detergent in hot water. Avoid “hugging” the dirty laundry on the way to the washing machine, and wash your hands right after handling dirty laundry.

9. What are the signs that my child with flu-like symptoms is getting worse?

• Trouble breathing or fast breathing
• Not drinking well
• Not urinating as much as usual
• Bluish or gray skin color
• Being irritable even after their fever goes down
• Not waking up normally or interacting normally
• Rash
• The fever goes down and flu symptoms get better, but then get worse again a day or two later

10. Are any medicines recommended to help children with swine flu?

• Children with influenza should not get any product that contains aspirin. Tylenol (acetaminophen) Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen) are fine to treat fever and body aches in children.
• Cough and cold medications do not help, and should not be used, especially in young children under 4 years of age.
• Antiviral medications like Tamiflu and Relenza, which are in adequate supply, work against the H1N1 swine influenza virus. It is expected that Tamiflu will be more effective if taken soon after the onset of symptoms, rather than later in the course of the illness. Based on a recent study, Tamiflu may have more side effects in children than in adults; your pediatrician can help you decide if this medication is right for your child. Relenza is not for young children.
• Although recommendations may change, at this time treatment may not be needed for everyone, even if you are proven to have H1N1 infection.
• Your pediatrician will decide when treatment is indicated and which drug is best to treat your child.
• Based on current recommendations, your pediatrician may prescribe Tamiflu or Relenza for members of the family who have been in close contact with a child diagnosed with H1N1 swine flu.

The CDC offers advice for taking care of a sick person with swine flu.

11. Is flu more dangerous for very young children?

• Children under age 2 have a higher risk of complications and hospitalization due to influenza than older children.
• Children of any age who have an underlying medical condition, such as asthma, diabetes, another metabolic disease, chronic kidney disease, or sickle cell disease are at greater risk of complications.

12. Is the swine flu worse than the “regular” flu?

• We don’t know the answer to this yet. As we learn more about the people who have been affected by the H1N1 virus, recommendations for prevention and treatment may change.

13. Should I use antibacterial soaps and/or alcohol-based hand rub products?

• Washing hands with warm running water and soap (antibacterial soap is fine but not necessary) for at least 20 seconds ( the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice) has been shown to kill the H1N1 virus.
• Alcohol-based rubs can be used when soap and water are not available, such as after hand shaking or touching objects that carry germs. Keep in mind that alcohol-based products are toxic if ingested by children. (The amount left on hands after use is not a concern.) Please keep these products out of the reach of children and supervise their use.

14. Can mothers who have swine flu continue to breastfeed?

• The influenza virus is not transmitted by breastmilk.
• Mothers who believe they may be infected should be sure to wash their hands before breastfeeding their baby.
• Be sure to use clean burp cloths, and consider wearing a face mask.

The CDC offers guidance on breastfeeding with swine flu.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

These tips offer great information on how to deal with Swine Flu. Another helpful tip is to purchase washable keyboards for your families and schools. Washable keyboards are durable, waterproof, silicon keyboards that are easily disinfected after using without damaging the keyboard. These healthy gadgets can be purchased at wetkeys.com.