Midland Memorial Hospital, Odessa Regional Medical Center, and Medical Center Hospital are partnering together to ensure all West Texans have the right information when it comes to the upcoming cold and flu season.
With the growing concern around H1N1, the hospitals want to make sure all community members know the right plan of action to take if they or a family member thinks they may have flu-like symptoms. As the cool weather moves in, the Emergency Departments in both cities are seeing an increase of cases that involve flu-like symptoms, and the Centers for Disease Control has put several standards in place to help prevent the virus from spreading. If you or a family member are suffering from flu like symptoms such as fever greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, sore throat or nausea and vomiting, especially in children, the Centers for Disease Control suggests the following non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs):
- Please remember to wash your hands FREQUENTLY!!!
- Cover your coughs & sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. NOT your hands.
- Disinfect surfaces at work & at home. This includes your phone & keyboards.
- Use social distancing (keep 6 feet (two arms length) away from others) for those coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid crowds or shop at off hours
It is not suggested that you go to the ER unless you’re experiencing complications associated with pneumonia such as:
- If at any time or in the next 24 hours symptoms worsen, esp. shortness of breath more than usual OR
- If younger than 5 years of age and especially if younger than 2 years of age with fast or trouble breathing, bluish/gray color of skin, not drinking enough fluids, severe or persistent vomiting, too restless to be held, not waking up or interacting, or flu symptoms improve but then return with fever or worse cough; see Primary Care Physician and get anti-viral medicine, Tamiflu or Relenza and take for 5 days. Tamiflu is FDA approved for children less than 1 year old
- If older than 64 years of age with health conditions, i.e. Compromised Immune System, HIV, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Lung Disease, Asthma, COPD, Renal Disease, Sickle Cell, Liver Disease, morbidly obese; see Primary Care Physician and get anti-viral medicine, Tamiflu or Relenza
This will help prevent the spread of the virus to others. If you feel that medical attention is necessary you should call your primary care physician FIRST. To help protect yourself and your family, it is suggested that you receive the REGULAR SEASONAL flu vaccination, now available, from one of the various locations now offering it. The Novel H1N1vaccine will be available in limited quantities to high risk people in October.
