Your health is in your hands

Tribal and County Health officials are promoting seasonal illness awareness with “Your health is in your hands.” This is especially true during influenza season. The Tribal Health Department, Lake County Health Department and health care providers continue to monitor for influenza like illnesses as both seasonal and the H1N1 strain of influenza are expected to be in our area this fall. The coughing and sneezing of an infected person, touching things that have the virus on them, and then touching your mouth or nose, spread influenza. A person can spread the virus for two days before the symptoms develop and 7-10 days after becoming sick.

The following signs need urgent medical attention, especially in children; fast breathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids, not waking or interacting, fever with rash, and flu symptoms that improve but return with fever and worse cough.

Symptoms of influenza are:
    • Fever greater that 100 degrees
    • Cough and/or sore throat
    • Chills
    • Body aches
    • Stuffy nose
    • Fatigue
    • Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also accompany above symptoms.

People should be prepared to spend up to a week at home in case they get sick and those that are ill shouldn’t be going to the store for the last minute supplies. People that are ill need to stay home from work or school until they have been fever free (without Tylenol or other fever control) for 24 hours. The current recommendation is that health care workers need to stay off work for 7 days.

Recommendations are:
   •Get the seasonal flu shot as soon as it is available
   •Stay home when you are sick
   •Cover you mouth and nose with your sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Avoid touching mouth and nose.
   •Wash your hands frequently, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective if you are unable to wash your hands with soap and water.
   •Wash you hands after shaking hands, before eating or preparing food, touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
   •Limit you contact with others that may be ill.
   •Make sure to take enough fluids while are sick.
   •If you are an employer, encourage your employees to stay home if they are sick.
   •If you do develop possible fly symptoms and you want to consult your health care provider, call before going in for an office visit. You may not need to go in.

Being prepared to stay at home is important as this helps prevent spreading the influenza to others.

Items to have at home at all times:
   •Food so you don’t have to go to the store. If possible have enough for 2 weeks.
   • Juices, soups, formula-if you have a baby.
   • Prescription Medication
   • Over the counter medications to relieve the influenza symptom
   • Bulb syringe for babies
   • Cool mist humidifier

As the flu season is upon the area, remember to take care of your self and your family, encourage county and tribal health officials.

Employers, now is the time to plan how you will continue to keep you business open in the event that several of your employees are home sick or have children that are home ill. There is a prediction that 30 percent of staff may be off at a given time due to influenza like illness.

Encourage your employees to stay home when they are sick.

Post reminders about washing hands and sneezing/coughing into elbow or shoulder.

Encourage staff to wipe phones and other object they touch with cleaning wipes.

Identify strategies that will allow your business to function, if staff are ill.

Discuss your plan with you staff.

Encourage you staff to receive the seasonal flu vaccine.

Discuss cleaning techniques that you janitorial/housekeeping staff is using. Instruct them about the surfaces that need to be cleaned at least daily and additional cleaning as needed.

A vaccine is being tested for the novel H1N1 influenza, however at this time the vaccine has not been released for use. When it is released, the vaccine will be given to groups as identified by CDC and will need to have a booster in a designated time frame. The Tribal and County Health Departments will be giving the vaccine as identified by priority groups over the next several weeks/months as the vaccine is available.

Again, tribal and county health officials wish to remind everyone: your health is in your hands, so make sure you wash your hands often and stay home when you are sick.