Consumer Reports Swine Flu Survival Kit Prepares Consumers for Potentially Tough...

Consumer Reports Swine Flu Survival Kit Prepares Consumers for Potentially
Tough Flu Season This Fall

Consumer Reports shows how to avoid drugstore traps, and which remedies are
most effective

YONKERS, N.Y., Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the U.S. prepares for a
possible second wave of H1N1 or swine flu, as well as for the annual scourge
of seasonal flu and colds, a new report from Consumer Reports helps households
prepare for, prevent, and treat cold and flu symptoms safely and effectively,
including recommendations for what to pack in an emergency kit for a flu
outbreak. The report is available in the September 2009 issue of Consumer
Reports and online at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

How to Prepare a Swine Flu Emergency Kit

In case the second wave of swine flu is severe enough to warrant home
confinement, consumers should pack an emergency kit in advance. You will need:

-- A two-week supply of food and water.
-- Fever reducers, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen.
-- Cough and cold medications containing chlorpheniramine,
diphenhydramine,
oxymetazoline, and pseudoephedrine and lozenges with dyclonine,
glycerin, or honey can help ease symptoms.
-- Electrolyte drinks, such as Gatorade or Powerade, to keep you
hydrated.

-- Hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol, such as Purell, to
kill
viruses when

soap and water aren't available.
-- Surgical masks with an FDA rating of at least N-95 to help prevent
spreading the flu. Masks need to be replaced often and disposed of
after
use.

For all emergencies, Consumer Reports recommends packing at least three days'
worth of nonperishable food; at least one gallon of water per person, per day;
a first-aid kit that includes any prescription or over-the-counter medications
your family might need; as well as antihistamines for allergic reactions, pain
relievers, stomach and antidiarrhea remedies, and antacids.

The government is currently preparing a vaccine against the swine flu that
will likely be recommended for school-age children and other high-risk
individuals, such as pregnant women, those with chronic illness, and those who
live or work with infants, preschoolers, or older adults. In the meantime,
Consumer Reports recommends that everyone -- but especially high-risk people
-- get vaccinated against regular, seasonal flu before December when that
infection usually arrives.

"This could be an especially big year for flu, so people need to take every
precaution and double their efforts to safeguard their families," says Joel
Keehn, senior editor, Consumer Reports. Even when the vaccine doesn't prevent
seasonal flu, it often lessens its symptoms. In terms of treatments, certain
antiviral drugs can not only ease symptoms of seasonal flu but also shorten
its duration and possibly prevent complications as well. Some of those drugs
probably help against swine flu too. Antivirals work best if taken early on in
the illness, so it's best to take them at the first sign of symptoms.

Brands to Buy and Brands to Skip

Also in this issue, in a side by side comparison, Consumer Reports identifies
the Consumer Reports Best Buy Drug choices to treat eight common conditions,
including Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), heartburn, and
insomnia that can save consumers hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year.
For example, consumers who need to lower their LDL ("bad") cholesterol by
less than 30 percent can save nearly $1,000 a year by taking Lovastatin, a
generic statin, instead of taking Lipitor, a more expensive brand-name drug.
Launched in December 2004, Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is a public health
initiative that rates more than 200 prescription drugs using comparative
effectiveness research. Best Buy Drugs reports are available for free at
www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org/BestBuyDrugs. By opting for Best Buy Drug
choices, consumers can realize significant monthly savings while receiving the
most effective and safest treatments for their condition.

As the new school year approaches and weed pollen allergen levels peak,
Consumer Reports also lists other useful information for treating colds and
allergies without medication. For colds, the best remedies are the simplest
and can often be found in your kitchen, not a drugstore. For example, you can
soothe a sore throat with a saltwater gargle, or try honey or nonmedicated
lozenges for a cough. Controlling allergies starts by limiting exposure to the
triggers, keeping windows shut when outdoor triggers are high, and using an
air conditioner or a dehumidifier to reduce humidity. To treat allergy
symptoms with over-the-counter drugs, Consumer Reports recommends using
generic versions of Claritin and Zyrtec -- loratadine or cetirizine.

Avoiding Hidden Drugstore Traps

No matter your ailment, consumers need to watch out for the following traps at
the drugstore when shopping for remedies:

-- Brand-name extensions. Drug manufacturers often use brand names to
launch related but different products. There are 34 Vicks products and
14 Sudafed products, and countless store brands and generic versions.
With so many products to choose from, people might take medications
that
are inappropriate or even risky.
-- Recommendation: Choose remedies by active ingredients, not the
brand.
-- "Shotgun" remedies. Many products are loaded with multiple
ingredients to blast several symptoms at once. That's a misfire,
since some added ingredients can increase risks, and any ingredient
that
treats a symptom you don't have is unnecessary. Such products can
increase the risk of overdoses if you take multiple medications.
-- Recommendation: Opt for medicines with just one active ingredient.
-- Prescription drugs that became over the counter (OTC). Direct access
to
medication can introduce new risks if people turn to them when simpler
remedies would suffice or if they treat problems without a doctor's
diagnosis.

-- Recommendation: Before trying a drug that has become available
over
the counter, talk with your doctor to make sure that it's right
for you, that you need it, and that the condition doesn't
require medical supervision.

SEPTEMBER 2009
The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not
be used for commercial or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports(R) is
published by Consumers Union, an expert, independent nonprofit organization
whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all
consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To achieve this
mission, we test, inform, and protect. To maintain our independence and
impartiality, Consumers Union accepts no outside advertising, no free test
samples, and has no agenda other than the interests of consumers. Consumers
Union supports itself through the sale of our information products and
services, individual contributions, and a few noncommercial grants.

SOURCE Consumer Reports

Carol Lin Vieira, +1-401-714-0821, cvieira@burnesscommunications.com, for
Consumer Reports, or Tildy La Farge of Consumer Reports, +1-914-378-2436,
lafama@consumer.org