Monday, January 14, 2013
Hand washing is one of the ways to keep kids healthy.
The following information is from the Red Cross: Health officials are reporting widespread influenza outbreaks in 47 of 50 states, up from just a week ago. One age group hit particularly hard is children, and the American Red Cross has some steps parents can teach their kids to help them avoid getting sick. WASHING HANDS Kids have a way of picking up colds and other illnesses. Parents should teach children proper hand washing techniques and how to correctly cover coughs or sneezes. Wash hands withsoap and warm water. When using soap and water: If using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer: SAFETY STEPS The most important thing parents can do is get children six months of age or oldera flu vaccine as recommended by the Centers for Disease …
Saturday, January 12, 2013
WHDH is reporting the death of a six-year-old, as the city continues to be under a public health emergency.
A fifth person in Boston has died from the flu—a child under the age of six, WHDH reported Friday. The Boston news station had no further details but said city health officials had confirmed the death. On Wednesday, during a press conference declaring a public health emergency in Boston, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, reported that four people had died already this season from flu-related complications. All four of the individuals were 65 years or older. Residents in both age groups—over 65 and around five and under—are at particular risk to develop serious problems because of the flu, as are pregnant women and people with underlying health conditions, Ferrer said. Across Massachusetts, 18 …
Friday, January 11, 2013
“Piggy,” a daughter’s new boar-bristle hairbrush, sends my youngest running, shrieking at the thought of its real-animal, scratchy touch. I don’t dare tell her about 2009 and the swine flu….
Mayor Thomas Menino’s declaration of a public health emergency this week reminded me of the last time we took the flu so seriously, during the 2009 pandemic. On an October Saturday that year, my family stood in line for 2-1/2 hours with one Red Sox player, his wife and kids, and dozens of others at our pediatric practice to receive the H1N1 vaccine. At the end of that line lay nasal mist, thankfully, no injections. Because a month before, our children had already received the seasonal vaccine. And they needed another dose of H1N1 spray one month after the first to provide protection. We made three doctor’s visits just for the kids' flu vaccines that year, but I was relieved to do it. The unfortunately named swine flu, which contains …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
City health officials want "thousands" to get vaccinated this weekend.
Mayor Thomas Menino and Boston health officials are asking residents of all ages to get flu vaccinations this weekend, during a series of free clinics set up to battle what Menino declared as a “public health emergency.” During a press conference held Wednesday afternoon at Parkman House on Beacon Hill, Menino urged residents to protect themselves against “an increasingly tough flu season” by getting vaccinated. “We are less than halfway through the flu season, but Boston has already seen about 700 confirmed cases of the flu since Oct. 1. That’s 10 times the amount of total cases we saw all of last year,” Menion said. “Today, we are announcing that this weekend in partnership with our community health centers, we will be offering free flu…
Boston's seen a ten-fold increase in flu cases over last year.
Mayor Thomas Menino declared a health emergency due to Boston's flu outbreak. There were over 700 reported cases in the city this flu season, according to the Boston Public Health Commission. That's 10 times the average number of cases last year, according to WBUR. Fortunately, there's plenty of vaccine to go around this year, and the mayor's office recommends everyone get the shot. The city website has a calendar of free flu vaccine clinics. They also have a page devoted to flu information and prevention tips. You can also use the widget above to find flu shots at pharmacies, clinics and other locations near you. The Red Cross offers several tips to reduce your exposure to the flu, like washing your hands often, coughing and sneezing into…
Outbreaks are earlier than normal in the area.
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Wednesday, January 9
The Red Cross said there's still time for folks to get flu shots and be covered from what is considered to be a more active flu season. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said flu outbreaks are high for this time of the season, with "widespread activity" in Massachusetts. How do you prevent the flu? According to the CDC, in addition to getting the vaccine, you can: How do you know if you have the virus? Symptoms include: high fever, severe body aches, headache, being extremely tired, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and vomiting and/or diarrhea (which is more common in children). When should you call the doctor? According to the Red Cross, if you think you have the flu, your doctor should be consulted immediately if you …
Sunday, October 23, 2011
From Boston-based CVS pharmacist, Minh Do.
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Sunday, October 23, 2011
1. Even if you were vaccinated last year or early in 2011, you still need to get a flu shot this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that anyone ages six months or older should get a flu shot, including those who were vaccinated last season. The flu vaccine’s ability to help protect you declines from one year to the next. So even though the vaccine has the same ingredients as last season, you still need to get a flu shot. Remember that vaccination is your first line of defense against the flu. 2. You should get a flu shot as early as possible. It takes about two weeks for your body to develop full protection against flu symptoms. Seasonal flu can be unpredictable, and even healthy people can get seriously …
Friday, October 7, 2011
But don't panic. The flu is preventable. And although the city's first victim was a man in his 40s, he had underlying health conditions.
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Friday, October 7, 2011
A Boston man in his 40s is the first death linked to influenza this year in the city, the Boston Public Health Commission said today. The patient had underlying health conditions. Boston health officials recommend that everyone take the following steps to reduce their risk of illness:
Charles Street festivities; first flu death; city fights Walmart; yard waste collection begins Oct. 17; and a high of 60.
1. It's been an eventful couple of days along Charles Street, with the Concierge Stroll Wednesday night, and the parties for Moxie and for Hingham Bank Thursday night. See Beacon Hill Patch today for coverage of all three fesitivities. 2. The city's health commission is reporting the first flu death this fall and officials are reminding people how to reduce the odds of contracting or spreading the virus: wash your hands often, cover your mouth when you cough (but not with your hand); sneeze into your sleeve; and get vaccinated. 3. The city is refusing to support Walmart's bids to open a store in Roxbury, the Globe reported. In a private meeting, city officials reportedly shunned a proposal by developers to build a Wal-Mart store, complete…
Upset
10:32 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Last year on the night of Jan.9,2012,my mom was brought from the hospital to a home for the old people.It was a VERY,VERY COLD NIGHT AT 7 PM. She was put into an ambulance ,she wear a thin pajamas with an open on the back with a thin blanket on top of her. When she got to the home,they want to get her at rehab,so that she can walk around the floor to get her healthy.During the walk around the … more ›