2009, The Washington Post You've probably heard about swine flu. Maybe you've seen news reports or talked to your parents about the new kind of influenza virus. But you may not know some of the ways in which this flu, also called H1N1, is unlike other types of flu. First, flu viruses typically disappear when the weather gets warm, but this one kept going all summer. Second, kids seem to get this flu more than any other group. A new government report shows that school-age kids are especially likely to get infected with the virus. That has health officials worried that this particular flu will infect a lot more people now that kids are back in school, where germs can easily spread. A vaccine for the virus will be ready next month. But there are things you can do now to protect against the flu. Here are some tips to help you, and others, stay healthy: -- Wash your hands. It's so simple, but washing your hands frequently, with soap and water, is very effective at preventing illness. Lather up really well and wash your hands all over. Try this trick: Wash for as long as it takes you to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice in your head. If you can't wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand gel. Or do both. -- Sneeze into your sleeve. Don't sneeze or cough into your hand or the air. Either cover your mouth with a tissue (and throw it away!) or cover your mouth with your arm. Once you get in the habit, you'll find that it's just as easy to raise your arm so you sneeze into the crook of your elbow. This keeps germs off your hands so you won't spread them around. -- Get vaccinated. When your parents or teachers tell you it's time for your swine flu vaccine, don't complain! You might be able to get the nasal spray version of the vaccine rather than a shot. But even if you have to get a shot, it's still much better than feeling awful for a week or more. Plus, the H1N1 virus has spread especially quickly among young people, so many medical experts are saying that kids really need to get vaccinated. -- Prepare for both flu viruses. This year you will need to get vaccinated for the regular seasonal flu and for the swine flu. The two viruses are different, so they have different vaccines. The regular flu vaccine is available now; you may have already gotten it. -- Stay home. Don't go to school if you get sick, and stay home until 24 hours after your fever is gone. If your doctor tells you that you definitely have swine or regular flu, health officials want your siblings to stay home for five days so they don't spread it around their classrooms. Stock up on good books, because staying home means staying home, not spending the day at the mall, the movies or the park! 