As we brace for the emerging Swine Flu epidemic I’m reminded that our response and preparation encompass what we at MyHealthVillage.com like to call the 3 C’s:  choice, competence and connection.

·         Choice to get actively involved, take care of yourself and your loved ones, and become an active participant in your own health.

·         Competence -  both individually and collectively.  Individual competence means knowing how to avoid exposure to the virus, recognize early symptoms, and seek appropriate care if symptoms develop.  Collectively, we as a nation rely on a competent (informed and coordinated) group of scientists and administrators within the CDC and Department of Homeland Security to understand the virus, its spread, and the appropriate measures to prevent its spread and limit its impact.

·         Connection – coping with this epidemic to avoid a worldwide pandemic requires timely and effective communication and coordination between citizens, scientists, public health officials, governments and private entities.  As citizens, we need to watch the news and talk with people within our individual communities to understand our unique level of risk and availability of resources.

What shall we do?  Whatever we can – and for most of us that means frequent hand washing, sneezing or coughing into a tissue, avoiding touching our face or eating with our fingers, tuning into news updates, and  seeing a physician if we become ill with fever, chills, cough,fatigue and muscle aches. 

Hopefully, months from now we’ll look back on this public health emergency as a small “blip” on the screen of the nation’s health.  Doing so will mean that our response has been a public health success – a pandemic averted due to the 3C’s.

I hope that you and those you care about are untouched by this epidemic.  And if you are, I’d encourage you to explore the 3C’s as they relate to other health issues you may be dealing with – What are the choices you make that affect your health?  Could they be better?  What competencies (knowledge or skills) might help you cope better?  And what do your human connections do to impact the way you cope?  We’re here for you for all 3C’s.  Use the Village as a way to live better, longer.

Jan