Protecting Others in the Home Dehydration The sick person should not have visitors other than caregivers - a phone call is safer than a visit All persons in the household should clean their hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, especially after every contact with the sick person or the person's room or bathroom If you must use cloth hand towels, change them at least daily and launder in hot water Maintain good ventilation in shared household areas by keeping windows open in restrooms, kitchen, and other common rooms If the person with the flu needs to leave the home for medical care, they should wear a mask Have the sick person wear a mask if they need to be in common areas or when being cared for Plastic toys may be cleaned in a dishwasher or with dish detergent and dried Protecting the Caregiver Avoid being face-to-face with the sick person When holding small children who are sick, place their chin on your shoulder so that they will not cough in your face Clean your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub after you touch the sick person or handle used tissues or their laundry Contact a telephone hotline or health care provider if the caregiver or other household members start showing symptoms Be sure to get adequate rest, nutrition, and breaks Signs of Dehydration: Little to no urine output, dark yellow in color Weakness or unresponsiveness Decreased saliva/dry mouth and tongue Sunken eyes Skin tenting (turgor): • Check this by picking up layers of skin between your thumb and forefinger and gently pinching for 1 second • Normally, the skin will flatten out into its usual shape right away • If the person is dehydrated, the skin will "tent" or take 2 more seconds to flatten out /* • This is best checked on the belly skin of a child and on the upper chest of an adult For infants, fewer than 3 wet diapers in the last 24 hours Dehydration in infants and the elderly can be dangerous - seek medical attention immediately if symptoms continue to worsen Patients who are getting enough liquids should urinate at least every 8-12 hours Prevent and Treat Dehydration: Dehydration occurs when the body loses too much water and it's not replaced quickly enough. It can be serious. Follow these tips: v. In addition to plenty of liquids, give light, easily digested foods, such as soup and broth Give ice chips Give fluids that contain electrolytes — avoid alcohol, soft drinks, or soda pop If drinking liquids makes nausea worse, give frequent, small sips or spoonfuls until the person can drink again Continuation of breastfeeding is recommended for infants - you may need to give the child smaller, more frequent feedings With treatment you should observe an increase in urination, a lighter color of urine, and improvement in the person's overall condition