Wachusett Medical-Reserve Corps

03/09/2020

How can you care for someone at home with COVID-19?

- DESIGNATE A SICK ROOM away from the rest of your household. Close the door and open a window if possible for additional air circulation. Disinfect daily. Stock with thermometer, medications, humidifier and anything else your patient may need.
- CHOOSE ONE CAREGIVER if possible. Do not allow additional visitors. Encourage the sick person to cover their coughs and frequently wash hands.
- KEEP YOUR PATIENT HYDRATED! Encourage frequent sips of water and other clear fluids, like broth, sports drinks, Pedialyte, ice chips and popsicles Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
- LIMIT CONTACT WITH PETS: We don’t yet know whether this virus can be transmitted to pets.
- LOOK OUT FOR SEVERE OR WORSENING SYMPTOMS. Call your doctor or public health department with any concerns.
- WASH YOUR HANDS! Before and after providing care, before and after eating or using the bathroom, every time you enter or leave the sick room. Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth.
- TAKE CARE OF YOUR OWN HEALTH. The first rule of caregiving. If you get sick, you can’t care for anyone else. Get enough sleep, eat your fruits and veggies, drink enough water and, by the way, did I mention, wash your hands!

For more information visit:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/general/influenza_flu_homecare_guide.pdf

03/04/2020

What should you do if you think you or someone in your family has COVID-19?

Unless symptoms are severe, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay at home. Most cases can be handled at home with tried and true home remedies to alleviate symptoms. By visiting your P*P or the local ER, you risk infecting others and take away resources from those with severe symptoms. There is a real risk of overwhelming our healthcare system, which is already stretched thin this flu season.

Next, please self-isolate. Don’t go to work, the grocery store or even that music concert you’ve been waiting for. Don’t get other people sick. Notify your primary care provider or your local health department for further instructions.

Tomorrow, we’ll discuss how to care for a person with Coronovirus at home.

03/02/2020

Shake Off the Flu....or the coronavirus... 🎶 by our very musical colleagues over at BIDMC

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Shakes It Off to keep the flu away! I’ve got body aches I got a fever and the shakes So what was my mistake? Did I forge...

03/02/2020

Let’s start by talking about prevention - because that’s what everyone cares about, right? How can you avoid getting COVID-19? Good hand hygiene is the NUMBER 1 best way to protect yourself and your family from getting sick!

Scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry with a clean towel. If soap and water is not available, hand sanitizer containing 60% alcohol can be an effective alternative as long as your hands are not visibly dirty.

Wash your hands:
- Before, during and after eating or preparing food
- After using the bathroom
- Upon returning home
- After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
- Before and after caring for someone who is ill
- Other times as necessary throughout the day

This is the first post of a multi-part series on the coronavirus, or COVID-19...stay tuned for more!

12/30/2019

Everyone stay safe today! The Wachusett Medical Reserve Corps is standing by in case of large scale power outages. In the meantime, here are a few generator safety tips.

11/06/2019

Though va**ng is generally viewed as a safer alternative to ci******es, it has been linked to thirty seven deaths and more than 1800 cases of e-cigarette or va**ng associated lung injury (EVALI). EVALI causes cough, chest pain and shortness of breath, which sometimes progresses to respiratory failure. While the cause of EVALI has not be confirmed, there is a strong link between the illness and THC-containing va**ng products, especially those purchased off the street. Want to know more? Join us on November 14th at the Leominster EOC from 6-8pm!

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-ci******es/severe-lung-disease.html

10/12/2019

Keep yourself, your family and your community healthy this flu season! Even if you don’t “need” or want it yourself, getting the flu vaccine helps to protect those in our community with immature or compromised immune systems.

07/19/2019

Please don’t forget our four legged friends in this heat!!!

07/19/2019

Summer is here, folks!!! Extreme heat is predicted for the weekend, with heat index values ranging from 107 to 112 on Saturday. Please check on your elderly neighbors, keep your children and pets safe, and stay hydrated. Don’t worry, we’ll be complaining about the cold again before you know it!

03/08/2019

A great reminder...

When you change your clocks this coming Sunday be sure to also change the batteries in your smoke and CO detectors! It’s also a good time to check to see how old your detectors are, if they are older than 10 years they should be replaced

01/28/2019

With all the terrifying news reports, it can be difficult to know whether or not to see the doctor for a case of the flu. Most people with the flu can - and should - be treated at home with rest and fluids. Treatment at home limits the spread of the infection and frees up resources for those who need it most.

This infographic from Children’s Health is an excellent reference to use when deciding if your child needs medical care. In adults, emergency warning signs of the flu include difficulty breathing, pain in the chest or abdomen, dizziness, confusion, and symptoms that initially improve, but then return with fever and cough.

This post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.