Keep You and Your Patients Safe During Flu Season

Even though flu season comes around every year, it can be helpful to remind yourself about symptoms and best practices.   

How Does the Flu or Other Respiratory Infections Spread?

The most common way to catch the flu, COVID-19, or any kind of respiratory infection is through the airborne particles of those infected who cough, sneeze, or talk. It can also be spread when touching a surface that someone sick previously touched and then touching your face, nose, mouth, or eyes. Individuals with the flu or respiratory infections are most contagious during the first three days of their illness. Young people and people with weakened immune systems can be contagious for longer periods. 

The first warning signs of the flu, specifically in children, include the following:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish lips or face
• Ribs pulling in with each breath
• Chest pain
• Severe muscle pain (child refusing to walk)
• Dehydration (no urine for 8 hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying)
• Not alert or interacting when awake
• Seizures
• Fever above 104 F° 
• Fever or cough that improves but then returns or worsens
• Worsening of chronic medical conditions

Wear a Mask

Whether you are experiencing symptoms of the flu or not, it’s highly recommended to wear a mask to help lower the risk of respiratory virus transmissions. The CDC recommends wearing N95 or K95 respirators as they are a better fit and have better protection. These kinds of masks are comfortable and easy to breathe in. When going to visit patients in the home, make sure to put on a mask before walking in the door. 

Stay Up to Date on Vaccinations

Vaccinations help strengthen the body’s natural defenses against various kinds of respiratory infections. They work by imitating a weaker version of a bacteria or virus and preparing the body in the case of a real infection. 

Whether your patient or family gets flu and COVID-19 vaccines or not, you should stay updated on your vaccines to decrease the risk of getting sick and spreading the illness to them. Simultaneously, getting your vaccines can help you stay protected in case your patient or their family gets sick.   

Practice Good Hygiene & Boost Your Immune System

If you cannot get vaccines due to health reasons or belief systems, it’s still important to practice good hygiene during flu season. For example, the best way to stop the spread of common colds, flu, or COVID-19 is by washing your hands. To wash your hands successfully, lather your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available.   

When Your Patient or Their Family Member Gets Sick

If your patient or a family member gets sick, it is important to isolate the person and contact their doctor. Make sure to follow their specific plan for managing illness which can include adjusting medications, or providing additional supportive care depending on the severity of symptoms. 

At Thrive SPC, we are dedicated to providing high-quality clinical home care to medically fragile children and always take precautionary measures to ensure nurses, patients, and their families are protected during flu season and all year round.