Geting ready for flu season

By Ellen Bartlett RN,
Infection Preventionist
Special to the Pioneer Times
    The school year 2009/10 is in full swing and fast approaching is our annual flu season! This year we will be dealing with seasonal flu and H1N1 flu. Houlton Regional Hospital (HRH) representatives attended the Maine H1N1 Summit on Aug. 20 at the Augusta Civic Center. For information on the Summit, go to  http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/boh/maineflu/h1n1-summit.shtml.
    Area schools have partnered with local health care providers and hospitals to be able to provide seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 flu vaccine to students in the school setting. There will be two separate vaccines.  Children nine and under will need two doses of seasonal flu vaccine spaced four weeks apart if they have not received it in the past. Information available at this time concerning the H1N1 vaccine recommends one dose for adults. And, it appears from preliminary clinical studies that children ages 10-18 many only need one dose of the H1N1 vaccine. However, both the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines are recommended for school children. But, they are optional and will only be given with parental consent.
    HRH will continue to have adult and pediatric seasonal flu clinics as in the past. Watch for upcoming dates. We will also be involved with a community-wide H1N1 vaccine clinic.
Current Situation
    Maine has identified 381 cases of H1N1, which include 19 individuals requiring hospitalization and one individual who has died. Of Maine residents with H1N1, 63 percent have been under 25 years of age. At this time there are no lab-confirmed cases from Aroostook County.
    In the event of widespread flu in our local area, there will be limited access to our facility. The main entrance will be used for all patients and a limited numbers of visitors. There will be a screening station set up at the entrance where we will take visitors’ temperatures and ask a few questions. Please have patience as this will help us provide the best care for you and help to keep you and others safe. There will be a separate entrance with screening for employees.
    Tips to stay healthy include: getting vaccinated, washing your hands, covering coughs, and staying home when sick.
    If you become sick with a mild illness, stay home and treat your symptoms. Stay home for at least 24 hours after you are fever free without the use of fever-reducing medications. A fever is a temperature greater than 100 degrees F. Then, limit contact with others, use good respiratory hygiene, drink plenty of clear fluids and get increased levels of rest and sleep.
When to seek immediate medical care
    The warning signs for children are: fast breathing or difficulty breathing, bluish or gray skin color, not drinking enough fluids, severe or persistent vomiting, not waking up or not interacting, being irritable and not wanting to be held, improvement of flu–like symptoms that return with fever and worse cough.
    The warning signs for adults: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, severe or persistent vomiting, flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough.
    Please ask for a mask when entering the hospital if you have a flu-like illness.
Who should get a seasonal flu shot?
    Seasonal flu shots are recommended for: children aged 6 months to 8 years, persons 50 years and older, residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities, children and adults with certain chronic health conditions, pregnant women, health care personnel. Seasonal flu shots are also recommended for caregivers and people in contact with children under 5 years. Particular emphasis is on vaccinating contacts of children aged less than 6 months, adults over 49 years, and persons with certain chronic health conditions.
Priority groups for H1N1 vaccine
    Vaccine supply may be limited initially. The following groups, in no particular order, should get the H1N1 flu vaccine: health care workers, emergency medical responders, pregnant women, persons six months-24 years, persons 25-64 years with underlying medical problems, caregivers and people in contact with infants under 6 months of age.
Covering a cough or sneeze
    Use a tissue, then personally throw the tissue away. If there is no tissue at hand, use your upper sleeve, not a bare hand. Hands touch many things, including other people and can easily spread germs.
    Please teach and encourage your children and family members to use good hygiene at home, school, or wherever they are.
Cough+fever = hand washing
    Use soap and warm water, and scrub every nook and cranny you can, rubbing your hands together for at least 15 seconds. Try to avoid using your newly clean hands to touch the faucet or door knob. Use a paper towel if available.  Use an alcohol-based sanitizer if soap and water is not available.
    The American Society for Microbiology sent researchers into public rest rooms to watch what people do. They found that four out of five people wash their hands after using the restroom. “Don’t be the fifth guy!”
Be prepared
    Start preparing for flu season now by picking up a few items to treat flu symptoms and household supplies every time you shop. That way if someone becomes ill, you will have what you need on hand.  If possible have enough items to last a couple of weeks. Stay informed! Visit www.mainecdc.gov or www.houltonregional.org. Or call the HRH informational message line at 521-2210 for local updates.
    The Maine Center for Disease Control has a general number — 888-257-0990. Their number for the deaf and hard of hearing is (207) 629-5751, Monday – Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.