Swine Flu- Closed Captioned

Swine Flu

Symptoms of Swine Flu

General Instructions for Disposable Respirators

Swine Influenza and You

Questions & Answers

( From http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm )

Swine Flu website last updated April 29, 2009, 10:55 PM ET

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• 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, 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.
• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
IIf you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands — with soap and warm water — that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn’t need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

 

How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

What is CDC doing in response to the outbreak? April 29, 2009, 10:55 PM ET
CDC has implemented its emergency response. The agency’s goals are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by the new virus. CDC continues to issue new interim guidance for clinicians and public health professionals. In addition, CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) continues to send antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and U.S. territories to help them respond to the outbreak.

What epidemiological investigations are taking place in response to the recent outbreak?
April 29, 2009, 10:55 PM ET
CDC works very closely with state and local officials in areas where human cases of H1N1 (swine flu) infections have been identified. In California and Texas, where EpiAid teams have been deployed, many epidemiological activities are taking place or planned including:

• Active surveillance in the counties where infections in humans have been identified;
• Studies of health care workers who were exposed to patients infected with the virus to see if they became infected;
• Studies of households and other contacts of people who were confirmed to have been infected to see if they became infected;
• Study of a public high school where three confirmed human cases of influenza A (H1N1) of swine origin occurred to see if anyone became infected and how much contact they had with a confirmed case; and
• Study to see how long a person with the virus infection sheds the virus.
• Links to non-federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the federal government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.

Winners Named in National Math Competition at RIT/NTID

Math competition winners announced
For Immediate Release
Contact: Greg.Livadas@rit.edu
(585) 475-6217 (V/TTY)

Winners Named in National Math Competition at RIT/NTID

Rochester, N.Y. – More than 90 students with hearing loss from 13 states participated in the RIT Math Competition for Students with Hearing Loss. The competition, featuring MATHCOUNTS problems, was held April 4 at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf on the RIT campus in Rochester, New York.
This competition – specifically for middle school students who are deaf or hard of hearing – is designed to promote math as fun and engaging.
The competition had three rounds that tested speed, accuracy, teamwork and additional “mathletic” skills. All winners received a plaque and trophy; first-place winners also received $100; second-place winners received $75 and third-place winners received $50.

Top scorers
• First place: Ted Zoerner, Venado Middle School, Irvine, Calif.
• Second place: Vivian Chen, Haggard Middle School, Plano, Texas.
• Third place: Jason Antal, Florida School for the Deaf, St. Augustine, Fla.

Top Teams
• First place: Texas School for the Deaf, Austin (Maggie Kopp, Ilan Ben-Moshe, John McClymond and Chad Cummings).
• Second place: Haggard Middle School, Plano, Texas (Vivian Chen, Casey Lyon, Sam Bowerman and Margaret Teague).
• Third place: Venado Middle School, Irvine, Calif. (Ted Zoerner, Tyler Pugeda and Carly Zwick).

Top Scorer
• Maggie Kopp, Texas School for the Deaf, Austin.

Team with most spirit
• Top Team: Illinois School for the Deaf, Jacksonville (Austin Bernal, Rebecca Hoffman, Jacob Bowen and Lorenzo Turner).
• Honorable mention: Texas School for the Deaf, Austin (Maggie Kopp, Ilan Ben-Moshe, John McClymond and Chad Cummings).

MATHCOUNTS is a national enrichment, coaching and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement through grassroots involvement in every U.S. state and territory. This competition was partially underwritten by a generous grant from the Sprint Foundation.
RIT is internationally recognized as a leader in computing, engineering, imaging technology, fine and applied arts, and for providing unparalleled access and support services for students with hearing loss. NTID, one of RIT’s eight colleges, enables its 1,300 deaf and hard-of-hearing college students from around the world to study, live and socialize with 15,000 hearing students. U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked RIT among the nation’s leading comprehensive universities. Visit www.rit.edu/NTID/newsroom for more NTID news.

MEDIA NOTE: Photographs of the winners listed above are available.

Marlee Matlin in Chicago

By Jimactor, JFLMad and Fookem

Summary: We all went to the Borders bookstore in Oak Brook, IL on Friday night (April, 17, 2009) to meet Marlee Matlin at her book signing. Read summary about her life book, “I’ll Scream Later”.

Deaf Illinois Awards 2009

Deaf Illinois Awards was founded by Raymond Rodgers. The ceremony is bi-annual event. The first one was in 2007. There were 20 categories with over 100 nominations altogether. Food were served by Deaf Chef Matt Krueger. We had several performances/shows and they were NTD (National Theatre of the Deaf), Deaf Elvis performance by Tom Adamo, and some dancers giving various shows. Read below for the winner of each category, be sure to click the winner’s name to go to their website if you want to read more information. Not all of them have the website link. Click the pictures below to enlarge for better view.

Founder Raymond Rodgers

Deaf Chef Matt Krueger

Deaf Elvis Tom Adamo, Liz Tannebaum and Jim Lomanto

Jim Lomanto and NTD Executive Director/President Aaron Kubey

ISD Superintendent Marybeth Lauderdale and Jason Lomanto

Best Elementary School – Illinois School for the Deaf

Best High School – Illinois School for the Deaf

Best After-School Program – Chicago Park District, Deaf & HH program

Best College – Harper College

Best Interpreter Training Program – Harper College

Best Social Services – Schaumburg Township, Disabled Services

Best Health Service – Mt. Sinai Hospital

Best Government Agency/Department – IDHHC (Ilinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission)

Best Membership Organization – WCRAD (Windy City Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf)

Best Interpreting Service – DCI (Deaf Communication by Innovation)

Best Accessibility Provider – ITAC (Illinois Telecommunications Access Corp.)

Most Accessible Business – Apple Store in Chicago

Most Accessible Theatre – Victory Gardens Biograph Theatre

Best Video Relay Service – Sorenson

Best Deaf Event – Deaf Nation Expo

Best Monthly Social Event – WSAD (West Suburban Assoc. of the Deaf)

Best Local Entertainer – Deaf Sabor (Latino Dancers)

Best Politician – President Obama

Best Hearing Advocate – Father Joe Mulcrone

Best Deaf Activist – Howard Rosenblum

Marlee Matlin’s experiences with abuse, drugs and violence

Marlee Matlin writes a book (I’ll scream later) about her experiences with abuse, drugs and violence.

Marlee Matlin entered our lives as the deaf pupil turned custodian audiences fell in love with in Children of a Lesser God, a role for which she became the youngest woman ever to win a Best Actress Oscar. More than twenty years after her stunning big screen debut, the Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated actress is an inspirational force of nature — a mother, an activist, and a role model for millions of deaf and hard-of-hearing people around the world.

In I’ll Scream Later, Marlee takes readers on the frank and touching journey of her life, from the frightening loss of her hearing at eighteen months old to the highs and lows of Hollywood, her battles with addiction, and the unexpected challenges of being thrust into the spotlight as an emissary for the deaf community. She speaks candidly for the first time about the troubles of her youth, the passionate and tumultuous two-year relationship with Oscar winner William Hurt that dovetailed with a stint in rehab, and her subsequent romances with heartthrobs like Rob Lowe, Richard Dean Anderson, and David E. Kelley.
Though she became famous at the age of twenty-one, Marlee struggled all her life to connect with people, fighting against anyone who tried to hold her back. Her own mother often hid behind their communication barrier, and Marlee turned to drugs before she even started high school. However, she found in acting — with the encouragement of her mentor, Henry Winkler— a discipline, a drive, and a talent for understanding the human condition that belied her age and her inability to hear. By the time Hollywood embraced her, she had almost no formal training, a fact that caused many other deaf actors to give her the cold shoulder, even as she was looked upon as a spokesperson for their community.

She has played memorable roles on wildly popular television shows such as Seinfeld, The West Wing, and The L Word, danced a show-stopping cha-cha-cha on Dancing with the Stars, and now, with uncompromising honesty and humor, Marlee shares the story of her life — an enduring tale that is an unforgettable lesson in following your dreams.

Actress Marlee Matlin appears on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Monday night to talk about her sexual abuse. [Read more...]

For Chicago people, Border Books on 16th St. in OakBrook at 7 pm, Marlee Matlin will be there to sign the book tomorrow night (Friday, April 17th). So, it is your chance to meet her in person.

Local Schedule Appearances (For booksigning)

April 17th – Borders #20, Oak Brook, IL
April 18th – Monteverde Academy, Orlando, FL
April 19th – NTID, Rochester, NY
April 20th – Unique Lives, Denver
April 21st – Cal State Northridge, CA
April 26th – LA Times Book Festival, CA
April 27th – Unique Lives, San Jose
May 6th – Star Ceremony, Hollywood Walk of Fame, CA
May 8th – Barnes & Noble #2089, The Grove, LA

Spread the words to your friends.

My Perspective about Video Phones (VP)

By Jimactor

Summary: I want to discuss with you about different video phones (vp) that I hear many stories of how my friends talk about good or bad things about video phone products. Keep in your mind, I am in neutral position, I just want to explain you what I think of. The video phones company are Sorenson, CSDVRS (Z340), HOVRS (MVP), Viable (VPAD) and SnapVRS (OJO). 

Make the summary short, when you have a problem with one of these video phone product, please call your Customer Care or Tech support to solve the problem, not your friends.

P.S. Share with your friends and remind them to do the right way.

ASL FILM IS COMING TO COLORADO April 18th

The Legend of the Mountain Man film will be shown at

Pinnacle Charter School, 1001 W. 84th Ave, Federal Height, Colorado.

Movie Rated PG. $10 Admission. April 18th 3pm-5pm and 7pm-9pm. 

 You can buy a ticket online at www.veditzcenter@org until April 15th. Also, you may buy a ticket from the salespeople anytime until April 18th, contact Bucky at bucky@veditzcenter.org  and he will tell you where to buy a ticket.

For more information about this film at The Legend of the Mountain Man Offical Site:

http://www.aslfilms.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=71