Each week, we are going to share news and updates with you about what our providers have been seeing and treating over the past week in their ER/Urgent Care. These updates come from Tony Hamilton, DO, Chief of Emergency Department and Urgent Care.
This weekend continued to show the run of the mill chest pain, abdominal pain, exacerbation of chronic pulmonary disease, regular accidents, etc.
However, there were actual admissions for Influenza this weekend. No real rise in Influenza volume, just a few people sicker than we have been seeing. Of note is that it continues to be more prevalent in the younger population.
Over the last week or so, we have seen an increase in hunting related injuries; and more importantly, there has been an increase in exertion related chest pain in hunters.
We urge hunters to take it easy in the field, and pace exertion in the field at a level that is consistent with regular daily activities when not on the hunt.
It appears that our area has become more diligent with the universal precautions that keep the spread of illness down, but Influenza continues to circulate.
The Holiday Season is here, and families are going to be traveling and getting together for gatherings.
This is going to be where Universal Precautions around the home is going to become increasingly important. This includes precautions while traveling, as well as precautions while visiting, or having visitors in the home.
When traveling, keep tissue, and cleansing wipes or sanitary hand solution available.
When visiting or having visitors, if there is a family member or guest who is sick, trying to limit their exposure to the rest of the group can be as simple as letting that person stay in a room and use a bathroom that others will not be using.
Make sure soap, cleansing solutions or wipes, and tissues are kept handy and available.
Wipe down contact surfaces with disinfectant solutions, cleansing wipes, or just water with some bleach in it regularly. Contact surfaces such as faucet handles, countertops, door handles, railings, etc. are very common areas for family members to spread illness.
Don’t leave children’s cups or glasses sitting out, and when children who might be sick play with toys, make sure to wipe down those toys as soon as possible after the child is done playing.
Influenza is still out there, and where we fail to follow the things we do commonly on a regular day, is when our routing is different. By keeping these things in mind, there is potential to avoid illness we might otherwise be exposed to and affected by.
That’s what’s going around, and a few tips on how to try to limit exposure to illnesses over the upcoming holidays.
