H1 N1 (Swine Flu)

       As you may have heard the H1N1 Influenza Virus has caused ilness ranging from mild to severe. There is a strong possibility that this flu season will be severe. The World Health Orginization has declared a pandemic. H1N1 is a very communicable virus. The Center for Disease and Prevention recomends the following:

To lower your chance of getting H1N1 flu

• Wash your hands often.

• 
  
  

  Avoid people with the flu (keep a distance of more then 6 feet)

  • Avoid Crowds

  To protect yourself from the flu

  • Get the sesonal flu vaccine

  • Get the H1N1 vaccine, when avalible.
    

People with H1N1 flu who are cared for at home should:

• Check with their health care provider about any special care if they are pregnant or have diabetes, heart disease, asthsma, or emphysema.
  

• Keep away from othes as much as possible, to avoid making others sick.
  

• Do not go to work or school while ill.
  

Get medical care right away if the sick person at home has:

• has trouble breathing or chest pain

• has purple or blue discoloration of the lips

• has vomiting and is 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 crying

• is less responsive then normal or has become confused.
  

Some influenza symptoms include:

• Headache
  

• Dry cough
  

• Sore throat
  

• Muscle ache
  

• Fever
  

• Runny or stuffy nose
  

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Reprinted from The Pocono Record on 3/20/08:

Bushkill Corp. remains primary emergency provider for M. SmithfieldMarch 20, 2008

Middle Smithfield Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved at its monthly meeting on Thursday last week a memorandum of understanding signed by the four companies that will provide emergency services to the township with Bushkill Emergency Corp. remaining the primary provider.

The 12-page contract, settled after a 10-month period in which there was no written agreement after the pact with Bushkill Emergency Corp. expired, came after months of meetings, a $10,000 study by two consultants authorized by the state and their subsequent report and after all four emergency responders agreed in a meeting last week on billing and response issues.

The arrangement will start on April 1 and will run for a six-month trial. During that time, there will be monthly meetings to iron out any problems that arise.

Bushkill Emergency Corp. will be the first-due advanced life support (ALS) for serious, life-threatening crises such as heart attacks or serious accident injuries, and basic life support (BLS) provider for injuries such as broken legs and Suburban EMS second due for ALS. Marshalls Creek Fire Department would provide basic life support vehicles as a BLS second due and Suburban and Med Mobile would complement the network and provide transport services.

Supervisor Chairman Scott Schaller said the Monroe County Emergency Control Center will assign BLS providers for secondary calls depending on which organization is available when Bushkill Emergency Corp.'s resources have been exhausted. "When BEC is back in service for Middle Smithfield Township, they will be dispatched for the next ALS/BLS call from the Control Center," the contract reads.

Furthermore, the contract states that "BEC hereby acknowledges that its first due Advanced Life Support crew does not provide and therefore shall never be unavailable for emergency calls as the result of performing non-emergency transports from a residents, medical facility and/or hospital."

Debbie Kulick, president of BEC, has assured neighboring townships that the contract maintains business as usual for them and will not change its response service.

The contract stipulates that each provider maintain each month detailed response statistics to meet the five-minute response minimum as well as "a monthly record of equipment maintenance and service which record shall by supplied to the township upon request." The contract also said that each emergency provider must present a monthly financial statement and submit to an audit by the township when requested.