Redlands Community Hospital Says It's Time to Prepare for Flu Season

The season often marks the start of flu season as physicians and hospitals prepare for the rush of patients experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 5-20% of Americans contract the flu each year. The seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness that infects the throat, nose and lungs, causing mild to serve symptoms. Common flu symptoms include high fever, severe aches and pains, headache, dry cough, sore throat, and an upset stomach. Doctors at the Emergency Department at Redlands Community Hospital suggest people prepare for flu season by learning how to prevent illness and reduce the spread of the virus. “The best thing you can do to prevent contracting the flu is get a flu shot,” say Redland’s ER experts. “Flu vaccines are available at most doctors’ offices, pharmacies, clinics, college health centers and some schools.” Redlands Community Hospital also recommends taking preventative actions to stop the spread of flu: Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them. Anyone can get the flu from direct contact with someone who is infected with the flu or by touching a surface that has the virus on it. While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that certain people get vaccinated, including seniors, young children, and people with chronic health conditions who are more susceptible to the virus. Before going to the emergency room, the hospital recommends to try to break your fever using Aspirin, Tylenol or Ibuprofen, drinking plenty of fluids, getting plenty of rest, and calling your doctor for a prescription over the phone. If more serious symptoms arise, such as persistent fever above 103 degrees or coughing blood, patients should go to the emergency room. Elderly or chronic illness patients should go to the emergency room for lesser symptoms.