South Orange Rescue Squad

The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 4 to phase 5.

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Prevention of exposure is the goal:

This flu is the same as any other flu and is transmitted via respiratory droplets and close personal contacts.

There are 5 key messages to controlling transmission:

1. Stay home if you are sick
2. Consult your physician but call first to avoid transmission at the physician’s office
3. Practice regular hand washing
4. Practice good respiratory etiquette (such as covering your mouth when you cough)
5. Proper infection control measures – Recommend to first responders take precaution (mask) to symptoms presenting of flu respiratory symptoms

Additional information is available at the following sites:

• Official swine flu updates from the CDC
• Official swine flu updates from the WHO
  
• JEMS Connect discussion on swine flu
  
• Harvard Health Publications.
  “Swine Flu: How to understand your risk and protect your health.”
  
• IAEMSC Recommended Planning for Pandemic Influenza Readiness
  
• IAEMSC Pandemic Flu Reference Sheet
  
• IAFC Guidance on Swine Flu
  

I would like to invite all fire/EMS members to the first of these monthly trainings on Sunday, May 3rd at 18:00.  Dr Jose Cabanas from the UNC Emergency Department will be speaking about “New Advances in the Management of Cardiac Arrest”.