Flu Season: Emergency Room Tips

Flu season is here.  During the recent flu season, Centra Lynchburg General Hospital has seen a rise in the number of people seeking care in our emergency room. Centra Lynchburg General has one of the busiest emergency rooms in Virginia.  As the premiere stroke center, heart center, and the area’s only designated trauma center, we treat an unusually high number of critically ill patients.

A trip to the Emergency Room is never fun, especially during flu season. Here are some tips to help you with a visit to the Emergency Room during this busy time.

When you visit the E.R.:

• Bring any items you may need for several hours away from home.
• Bring any applicable insurance information.
• Carry pocket change for vending machines or pay phones.
• Inform the nurse if your child’s condition worsens while in the waiting room.
• Remember that patients in the hospital are sick. If you have any respiratory symptoms, please refrain from visiting patients in the hospital.

What the E.D. will need to know

• Allergies - This includes medications and food allergies.
• Medications - Include the dosage of any medication taken, and when it was last taken. Some medications react badly when taken together, so doctors need this information before they give a patient anything.
• Pre-existing illnesses - This information can have an impact on the type of tests and treatment administered in an emergency.
• Immunizations - It helps to have a written record of immunizations to give to health care providers.
• Height and weight - This can help doctors more accurately calculate medication dosage in an emergency.

Tips to prevent cold & flu

Help prevent the spread of the flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and keep your distance from others when you are sick to protect them too.
• Stay home when you’re sick and don’t run errands. By staying home from school or work, you’ll help keep others from catching your germs.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw your tissues away in a garbage can, and then wash your hands.
• Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. ALWAYS wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, eating, or using tissues or the restroom. Remember, FROG: Friction Rubs Out Germs. Rub your entire hand surfaces with soap for at least 15 to 20 seconds, rinse under running water, dry hands with a paper towel and use it to turn off facet.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
• Disinfect toys that kids could put in their mouths. Use warm, soapy water and paper towels to dry.