Like other Santas, Lake Elsinore man worries about H1N1 virus

Members of the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas who favor swine flu vaccinations for Santa Clauses. Shown from upper left to right, John Hauck, Thomas Guilliams, Robert Miller and lower row, Robert Flemming, the organization's president Nicholas Trolli, and Jack Satter. Trolli, president of the nation's largest volunteer Santa Claus group, wants Congress to declare Santas a high-priority for the swine flu vaccine, given their extensive exposure to children. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Richard Brown has seen his share of runny noses and coughs over the six years the Lake Elsinore resident has played Santa Claus at office gatherings, children’s parties and special events.

Brown, 72, never gave it a second thought as the never-ending stream of children - some who looked to be fighting colds and flu symptoms — sat on his lap and let Santa know what they wanted for Christmas.

That was before H1N1.

“I think about it now,” said Brown, who is about to start his busiest time of the year. “You can’t help but think about it.”

Brown is not alone in his thinking.

Swine flu has become such a concern that the Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas featured a seminar on the illness at a recent conference in Philadelphia. The group also urged its members to use hand sanitizer and take vitamins to boost their immune systems.

The president of the organization said he also hopes parents will keep sick kids away.

“We don’t want any child to go without seeing Santa, but it’s not worth bringing your child to the mall, infecting the Santa and infecting the other children,” Nicholas Trolli said.

Ernest Berger, president of another group called Santa America, asked an Alabama congressman last week to designate Santas as priority group for the swine flu vaccine, like health care workers or infant caregivers.

Berger hopes the Jolly St. Nicks will use hand sanitizer and encourage children to do the same, without turning the experience into a hygiene lecture.

John Scheuch of Prairie Village, Kan., said he might suggest to parents that they come back another time if a child is visibly ill. Scheuch, executive director of Santa America, has taken some personal precautions. “I’ve had my H1N1. I’ve had my seasonal flu shot. This is my year for my pneumonia booster” he said. “I don’t know what else I can do except encapsulate myself in plastic.”

Dr. Jodie Dionne-Odom, New Hampshire’s deputy state epidemiologist, said going gloveless and using gel between each child would be the best option. She cautioned that viruses can live on unwashed hands for two to eight hours.

Dr. Jack Turco, director of health services at Dartmouth College, said Santa might consider greeting children from a few feet away rather than holding them on his lap, or asking children with coughs to stand in a separate line.

In Lake Elsinore, Brown said he wears gloves as part of his costume and will have to depend on parents to monitor their children’s health.

“If I see someone with sniffles, I’ll look over at the parents,” he said.

Wearing a mask is out of the question, he said, because that would not be Santa-like.

Brown and his wife, Tricia, who plays Mrs. Claus, will be spending the next few weeks attending office gatherings, senior centers and children’s parties. Recently, he spent the evening at Wilson Creek Winery in Temecula, shaking hands and greeting people at a Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce mixer.

Brown said the event went off without a hitch, but it was almost all adults. The parties and gathering with children are coming up.

“We just have to be more careful,” Brown said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

To contact Richard Brown, email him at pat5thwheelusa@aol.com

Tags: Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas, H1N1, Lake Elsinore, richard brown, santa, SDNN, SWRNN

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