# 3425
It’s an old adage, a bit of wry medical humor that is funny because it is essentially true.
Hospitals are basically a confined area where doctors gather together all of the sick and infectious people in a community so that they can more easily share their germs.
And that is never more true than during a pandemic.
Hospitals can be lifesaving, of course. But take it from an old paramedic – you don’t want to be in one unless you have to.
Luckily, it appears that for 98% of swine flu victims, the illness passes without any major crisis. Not that these people aren’t sick and miserable. They are.
But most are able to recover at home, and without any medical intervention.
With somewhere around 100 million Americans expected to contract the H1N1 virus this coming fall and winter – and fewer than 1 million hospital beds in the country (most of which are occupied) – those who can be treated at home need to be treated at home.
Of course, some people will require hospital or emergency department care. They will need IV fluids, ventilator support, a variety of IV drugs, and intensive nursing care.
Influenza can, on rare occasions, be a true medical emergency. And for some small percentage of cases, going to a hospital isn’t optional. It can be life saving.
But hospitalized patients are also at increased risk of picking nosocomial (HA or hospital acquired) infections. MRSA, C. Diff, and HA pneumonia are major causes of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients.
It is hoped that for somewhere around 98 out of every 100 flu cases, their illness will be mild enough that they can be cared for at home by family or friends.
At least – that’s the plan.
Every family needs to be prepared to deal with influenza in their home this winter. With 1/3rd of the population expected to contract the virus, the odds are pretty good that your household will be affected at some point.
Right now basic items such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, surgical facemasks, vinyl or latex gloves, and even basic cleaning supplies are readily available. Come flu season, we could begin to see spot shortages in some areas.
Now is the time to lay in a supply of the things you will need to deal with flu.
The CDC has some guidance available to help you take care of a flu victim at home:
Interim Guidance for H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu): Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home
They also recommend When to Seek Emergency Medical Care
Get medical care right away if the sick person at home:
- has difficulty breathing or chest pain
- has purple or blue discoloration of the lips
- is vomiting and unable to keep liquids down
- has signs of dehydration such as dizziness when standing, absence of urination, or in infants, a lack of tears when they cry
- has seizures (for example, uncontrolled convulsions)
- is less responsive than normal or becomes confused
The Canadian government has a similar document entitled:
Influenza Self-Care: It's In Your Hands
And of course, one of the best guides is Dr. Grattan Woodson’s free guide on the treatment of Influenza, available from his website.
In all likelihood hospitals are going to be slammed this fall and winter with flu cases. At the same time, the medical staff will be hit hard by absenteeism due to virus. Hospitals are going to be struggling to cope with the most serious flu cases.
Unless you absolutely have to, you really don’t want to interject yourself into that scene.
If you have any of the pre-existing conditions that put you at greater risk with influenza, and you develop symptoms, by all means contact your doctor. You may be prescribed antiviral medications to lessen the severity of the virus.
And if you live alone, or you are the sole adult caregiver in a family, you need to be making arrangements to have a `flu buddy’ (see Pandemic Solutions: Flu Buddies).
A `flu buddy’ is someone who can check on you every day if you are ill, fetch medicines, or call for medical help if you need it, and who can help care for you (or anyone in your care) should you be unable to do so yourself.
Whether you fall into the category of needing a `flu buddy’ or not, please consider volunteering to be one – for a friend, a relative, or a neighbor.
A pandemic – even a mild or moderate one - is, without a doubt, a crisis.
But it needn’t become a disaster if we are willing to work together to mitigate its effects.
Being able, and willing, to take care of most flu victims in our homes will take a tremendous burden off of hospitals. For those with non-life threatening illness, home care is undoubtedly both safer and more comfortable than going to a hospital.
And when you look at the number of staffed hospital beds available, and the number of likely flu cases, it’s not as if we are going to have any choice.
