Photo Credit: www.renfrewhosp.com
COVID-19 and a surge of winter flu are set to put strain on our local hospitals, but there are ways you can help.
Dr. Kristian Davis, the Director of Renfrew Victoria Hospital’s Emergency Department, tells myFM that planning ahead is key: get your flu shot and make sure all your prescriptions are up to date and filled.
He also says to keep an eye on your primary care provider’s holiday schedule and know what your options are if they’re unavailable when you need non-emergency care, such as:
- Renfrew County VTAC 1-844-727-6404
- Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000
- Health Connect Ontario 811
Dr. Davis says that keeping non-essential trips to the ER low will minimize the strain on the hospital and ensure services available for those who need them the most.
If you do need to call in a medical emergency (e.g. shortness of breath, chest pain, loss of consciousness, etc.), dial 911 as usual.
Parents are also urged to call 911 or visit their local ER’s if their children show severe symptoms of COVID-19 or the flu, such as straining to breathe (i.e., lower chest moves more than normal, child is grunting, or nostrils are flaring), bluish skin, unable to breastfeed or drink, very sleepy/difficult to wake, peeing less than usual, fever with rash, seizures or convulsions, fever in an infant younger than three months.
If you do need to visit an Emergency Department, Dr. Davis says to have your health card and all medications on you and to keep in mind that wait times over the holidays will be longer than usual.
He adds that staff and physicians will be doing their very best to treat everyone over the holidays, and that violence or abuse towards them will not be tolerated.
(written by Kasey Egan)
