Flu season is starting. Get ready now!
The flu season is here and will last through the fall and winter. More than one kind of flu virus will be spreading this season, including seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 flu. If you get the flu, you can get sick and can spread the flu to others at home, at work, and in the community.
Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose,
body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Also remember to cover your coughs and sneezes and wash your hands often with soap and water. Use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available.
If a severe flu outbreak hits our community, we will take additional steps to avoid spreading the flu virus at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals and protect the health of our patients and visitors.
New Visitor Restrictions at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals:
St. Rose Dominican Hospitals has adopted recommendations from the Catholic Healthcare West Multidisciplinary H1N1 Flu Task Force and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in anticipation of the flu season.
- St. Rose Dominican Hospitals will supplement existing visitor and infection control guidelines by transitioning to higher levels of protection for patients, visitors and hospital staff during this high risk flu season.
- Due to large numbers of identified cases of H1N1 flu in young people, St. Rose Dominican Hospitals is implementing a temporary age restriction for visitation in certain areas of the hospitals where patients are considered in the high risk population.
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Visitors 16 years and under will not be permitted to visit NICU, Pediatric ICU, Pediatric and Maternal Child Care units.
- Exceptions to the 16 years or under restriction will be made in special circumstances for compassionate care patients or critically ill patients. Exceptions will be considered on an individual basis. The visitor will be screened by the house supervisor to assure that they do not have a fever and are without influenza like symptoms.
Thank you for helping us to protect our patients and staff.
Tips for Staying Healthy at Work
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
- Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles.
- Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, and doorknobs.
- Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. If you need to use a co-worker’s phone, desk, or other equipment, clean it first.
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Don't spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home. Symptoms of flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit) or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. CDC recommends that workers stay home if they are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines. Health care workers who care for immunocompromised patients may be asked to stay home for seven days or until symptom free or may be reassigned to a safer environment.
- Get vaccinated against seasonal flu, when vaccine is available. If you are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications, you should receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.
What You Should Know about H1N1
(Catholic Healthcare West brochure) - PDF Form
For the most current information on the H1N1 flu pandemic, visit the following public agencies:
(Updated 10/26/09)
