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To the Editor:
As you are aware, there have been many articles printed regarding the current flu pandemic and how to prevent illness. Unfortunately, not everyone in our community is practicing prevention or is aware of its importance. I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the steps that the Arkansas Department of Health and CDC recommend:
• Clean — wash your hands often;
• Cover — cover your coughs and sneezes;
• Contain — stay home if you are sick.
I would like to stress the importance of this last step. In years past, when a highly communicable disease was identified, households would be quarantined to control the disease and to prevent the spread. Unfortunately, many of our friends and neighbors are too young to remember when this was the norm in these situations. This is not a requirement in today’s health care system. However, public health officials often recommend self-quarantine by those who have diseases to protect the vulnerable populations in our community and to protect their friends and loved ones.
I would like to make a plea to those persons who have been diagnosed with the flu, whether seasonal or H1N1, to STAY HOME, especially if you work with the public, with children or with pregnant women.
Current recommendation is that you stay at home until fever has been gone for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.
Other steps that will help are calling your doctor’s office before you show up in the waiting area to infect those who are only there for a routine visit or making arrangements for someone else to pick up groceries or medications at the pharmacy. Prevention requires us to use common sense in these types of situations.
I would also like to encourage the public to tune into the Town Hall roundtable discussion that will be televised on Ch. 9 after Thursday’s City Board meeting [which begins at 5:30 p.m.]. Area physicians, the county health officer and health unit officials will discuss the flu and county flu clinic plans with the public.
In addition, the health unit will discuss the urgent need for volunteers for the upcoming school and mass flu clinics. Call 870-246-4471 for more information.
Cindy Humphries, RN
Public health nurse
ADH Health
District Manager
To the Editor:
As you are aware, there have been many articles printed regarding the current flu pandemic and how to prevent illness. Unfortunately, not everyone in our community is practicing prevention or is aware of its importance. I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the steps that the Arkansas Department of Health and CDC recommend:
• Clean — wash your hands often;
• Cover — cover your coughs and sneezes;
• Contain — stay home if you are sick.
I would like to stress the importance of this last step. In years past, when a highly communicable disease was identified, households would be quarantined to control the disease and to prevent the spread. Unfortunately, many of our friends and neighbors are too young to remember when this was the norm in these situations. This is not a requirement in today’s health care system. However, public health officials often recommend self-quarantine by those who have diseases to protect the vulnerable populations in our community and to protect their friends and loved ones.
I would like to make a plea to those persons who have been diagnosed with the flu, whether seasonal or H1N1, to STAY HOME, especially if you work with the public, with children or with pregnant women.
Current recommendation is that you stay at home until fever has been gone for 24 hours without fever reducing medication.
Other steps that will help are calling your doctor’s office before you show up in the waiting area to infect those who are only there for a routine visit or making arrangements for someone else to pick up groceries or medications at the pharmacy. Prevention requires us to use common sense in these types of situations.
I would also like to encourage the public to tune into the Town Hall roundtable discussion that will be televised on Ch. 9 after Thursday’s City Board meeting [which begins at 5:30 p.m.]. Area physicians, the county health officer and health unit officials will discuss the flu and county flu clinic plans with the public.
In addition, the health unit will discuss the urgent need for volunteers for the upcoming school and mass flu clinics. Call 870-246-4471 for more information.
Cindy Humphries, RN
Public health nurse
ADH Health
District Manager
