Orland Park Area Immediate Care Update February 2013

This has been quite the cold and flu season this year. The number of people we have seen at the Loyola Center for Health in Homer Glen’s Immediate Care Center have reached record levels. Though the number of patients we are seeing with the flu has diminished, we continue to see a high number of people with other viruses.

We saw 28  people in the clinic from February 1-13.

Here are some tips to help ward off those viruses.

Good sanitary habits are critical in preventing the spread of flu and other viruses. Good hand washing with soap and warm water for 15-20 seconds is very effective in reducing the transmission of viruses and bacteria. This would be the equivalent of singing “Happy Birthday” (at a normal speed) from beginning to end twice. Also be sure to rinse your hands with well under running water and then dry with a clean towel or just air dry.

If you can’t get to soap and water, hand sanitizers are also helpful.  Avoiding contact with persons with the flu, if possible, is another way to decrease your risks.  

The best way to prevent getting the flu is by getting the flu vaccine.  This year’s flu vaccine protects against the most common strains of flu virus appearing this season.  Once you receive your vaccine, it becomes effective after two weeks. It is important to get vaccinated every year since your immunity wanes over time.

Loyola Immediate Care Center in Homer Glen offers the flu vaccine Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm or Saturday/Sunday/Holidays 8am – 3pm.  No appointment is needed.   

For updates on the flu season you can follow Loyola’s Flu Central on Twitter @LoyolaFlu.