For many, the dark days of the Covid crisis are over, with the hope being that they never return. One thing that many of us learnt during that time, though, was how to wear a mask in order to limit the spread of the disease amongst people.
Now that learning is being called up once again, thanks to the rising number of flu cases, that means that anyone visiting the accident and emergency section of Royal Surrey County Hospital will need to put on a mask. The key is to ensure that said mask covers both your mouth and your nose, stopping you from spreading any germs.
Flu Can Kill
There is an old adage about how to tell whether or not you’ve got the flu, which says that if you could get out of bed in order to pick up a £20 note off the floor, you haven’t got it. It is often the case that people with bad head colds will say that they’ve got the flu when they haven’t, such is the extent to which it is misunderstood. The infectious disease is caused by the influenza virus, causing the likes of fever, sore throat, runny nose, headache, coughing, sore muscles and fatigue, whilst diarrhoea and vomiting are also possible, although that is most likely found in children.
There are four types of flu, which are labelled as A, B, C and D. Influenza D is the only one that is not really found in humans, whilst the other three are. Type A is generally caused by aquatic birds, but can be transmitted to humans. The disease is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets that come from coughing and sneezing. Hand washing as well as covering your nose and mouth can reduce the risk of transmission, which is why masks are being encouraged for people now. Between five and 15% of the population will catch flu during a typical year, but that number is up at the moment.
A ‘Tidal Wave’ of Flu
Patients at Royal Surrey Hospital’s A&E department are being asked to wear face masks in order to combat what is being labelled a ‘tidal wave of flu’. It is a measure that has been taken in order to protect the patients, visitors and staff at the hospital, given the fact that the more severe cases will need to be admitted. The number of cases currently facing the National Health Service is being labelled as ‘unprecedented’, whilst the number of people suffering from other respiratory issues is putting hospitals under increased pressure. As a result, anything that can be done to help could be vital.
Although many people are likely to have masks of their own left over from the global health crisis of 2020 onwards, there are also surgical masks available for people at the entrance to the hospital. As with Covid, there will be a small percentage of people who are unable to wear a mask for entirely legitimate reasons, as well as a number who just don’t want to for selfish reasons. Whilst the former is understandable, those that fit into the latter category are encouraged to do what they can in order to protect both themselves and other people, especially the vulnerable.
Eligible Guilford Residents Urged to Get Flu Vaccine
Although there were numerous nefarious characters who spread false information about vaccines during the pandemic in order to further their own agenda, the reality is that vaccines save lives. As a result, the NHS is encouraging people living in Guildford to get the vaccine if they’re eligible to do so. Those aged 65 and over can get the vaccine, as can anyone who is pregnant or who has a long-term health condition. People living in a care home and the main carer for an older or disabled person can also get one, as can anyone that is living with a weakened immune system.
If you think that you fit into the category of being eligible to get a vaccine, then you should book an appointment with your GP, or else look online or in the NHS app for an appointment. There are also some pharmacies that offer free flu vaccines through the NHS. If you don’t think that you’re eligible for the vaccine for free but would still like to get it, you can do so by getting a shot privately. It normally takes around 14 days for the vaccine to kick in, during which time it gives your body the instructions needed to be able to fight off an influenza virus, although you’re still vulnerable during that 14-day period.
What Else Can You Do?
There are numerous practices that we all learnt during the pandemic that we can bring back into use now. Although you don’t necessarily need to do anything as dramatic as social distancing, unless you are vulnerable, you can still practice good hygiene in general. This includes the likes of coughing into your bent elbow, or using a tissue if you have one before disposing of it into a bin after use. Frequent hand washing with soap and warm water can help, as can cleaning any of the surrounding areas that you touch often, which includes the likes of door handles.
There is a reason why the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, as well as hospital trusts in Manchester, Wiltshire and Nuneaton are all encouraging people to wear masks, which is that they work to limit the spread of disease. If you are ill but still have to go out for some reason, you should definitely consider wearing a mask in order to limit exposure of your illness to other people. This is good practice in any space, but it is especially relevant in a hospital, which is why people attending the accident and emergency area are being told to put a mask on in order to not put others at risk for reasons that are mostly entirely selfish.