Calvert Memorial urges precautions during flu upswing

EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Friday, Oct. 16, 2009

"We're taking these extra steps to keep the flu from spreading," said Kasia Sweeney, director of public relations at CMH, in the release. "We really appreciate everyone's understanding and cooperation."

Sweeney said the hospital is discouraging anyone younger than age 12 from visiting patients at this time.

"This is for their own protection," she said, "since this age group is especially vulnerable to the H1N1 (swine) flu.

"We are also asking anyone who has had flu-like symptoms in the past 24 hours not to visit," she said.

These symptoms include a fever over 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, headache, extreme tiredness, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea.

If the number of reported flu cases jumps significantly, she said, the hospital will consider adding screening stations at its public entrances.

"We know the flu is on the upswing in the community," Sweeney said, "and we want to encourage residents to continue their vigilance and to follow everyday precautions against the flu."

These include washing hands frequently, covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing and staying home from work or school when sick with flu-like illness.

If the flu does come your way, health officials recommend you stay home, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, take over-the-counter medication as directed for fever, call your doctor and learn the emergency warning signs for when urgent medical attention is needed.

For children, these signs include fast or troubled breathing, bluish skin color (for fair tones) and grayish skin color (for darker tones), not drinking enough fluids, not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held, fever with a rash and flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough. For adults, these signs are difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness or confusion and severe or persistent vomiting.

"We are definitely seeing more people with flu-like symptoms but for the moment most of them are not seriously ill," Sweeney said.

There have been 16 lab-confirmed cases of H1N1 (swine flu) in Calvert, according to Sharon Nazarek, director of disease surveillance and response at the Calvert County Health Department.

"The most important thing that residents can do is to stay informed," Sweeney said. Regular updates will be posted on the hospital, www.calverthospital.org, and health department, www.calverthealth.org, Web sites. People can also call the health department flu line at 410-535-5400.

Nazarek said the health department is planning a major H1N1 school flu initiative and packets will be sent home later this month to parents with more information.

"We're also providing seasonal flu vaccinations to public and private students in kindergarten through fifth grade," she said, "and H1N1 when it becomes available." These vaccinations are free.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccination for seasonal flu is especially important for those people at high risk, such as young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions and those older than 65. H1N1 (swine) flu is more of a threat to children under 2, pregnant women and people with certain health problems like asthma, diabetes and heart disease, according to the CDC.

The health department has several seasonal flu clinics planned. They are:

4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Patuxent High School;

4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at Huntingtown High School;

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Calvert County Fairgrounds;

4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, at the Calvert County Health Department.

The cost is $20 by check or cash for all vaccinations. Children ages 5 to 11 receive vaccinations for free. Medicare Part B is accepted. The H1N1 flu vaccine will be provided, if available.

In the meantime, Sweeney said hospital leaders are meeting regularly to monitor the flu situation locally and are coordinating with county agencies and providing updates to the state.

Solomons Business Association to host fundraiser

The Solomons Business Association Community Fundraiser Silent Auction will be 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at the Naughty Gull Restaurant and Pub in Solomons. This event is a fundraiser for the entire community. The money raised from this event is used for the annual Solomons Fourth of July fireworks, the Solomons Christmas Walk, A Taste of Solomons and Solomons Paint the Town. Without help, these fun family events can't happen. Heavy appetizers of crab, shrimp and chicken and much more, along with complementary beer and wine will be served. Save some Christmas shopping for the silent auction. The cost is $25 per person in advance and $35 at the door. Seating is limited so be sure to make a reservation soon. Call 410-326-4855.

Patuxent High Key Club to run fundraiser for ‘Trick or Treat for UNICEF'

Members of the Patuxent High Key Club plan to raise money for UNICEF to help Operation Uruguay, which is a program sponsored by UNICEF to help kids in Uruguay have a safe place to come and simply be kids.

The Key Club will be hosting a competition within its school to see which class can raise the most money, as well as going out on Halloween to raise funds, according to a press release.

"Key Club is about service," said Miracle Washington, club president, in a press release, "and today, we have the chance to not only share that service, but to help make a difference that matters. The elbow grease we invest today will pay off in dividends for our communities, their children and their futures."

Key Club International is a service leadership program of Kiwanis International, and is the oldest and largest service program for high school students, according to the release. The Patuxent High Key Club is sponsored by the Calvert County Kiwanis Club. Over the past several years, members of the club have volunteered their time and talents in a number of ways, including helping Annmarie Garden with various events, collecting books for Project ECHO and helping to send school supplies to children in Iraq. For more information, go to www.keyclub.org or call 1-800-549-2647.

Police invite the public to unite

The Calvert County Sheriff's Office and the Maryland State Police Barrack in Prince Frederick invite the public to a free day of family fun and activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 17, at the sheriff's office, 30 Church Street in Prince Frederick. This is the 15th annual Police and Community United Together Day and will feature a bicycle rodeo and safety checkpoint, a child safety seat checkpoint and antique police vehicles.

Participants this year include MSP Motor Unit, K-9 Unit, Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal, Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse, D.A.R.E., Maryland Search and Rescue Dogs, Calvert County Board of Education, Optimist Club of Calvert, Calvert County Lions Club (offering hearing/eye tests), Calvert County Health Department, Calvert Elks, SMECO, Motor Vehicle Administration, Calvert County government offices, local fire and rescue units and many more. For more information, call 410-535-1400 or 410-5350-2800.