Be Prepared For Flu!
9 October 2006
Buy A Thermometer And Know How To Use One!
October sees the launch of a countywide campaign to raise awareness of seasonal winter flu and what the public can do to help themselves.
Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust is distributing advice cards and posters to pharmacies and GP practices across Oxfordshire with the message 'How Hot are You?'.
The campaign highlights the importance of knowing your temperature when ill with flu-like symptoms and recommends that people keep a thermometer at home and know how to use one. Healthcare professionals can assess patients more easily through telephone consultation if the patient knows what their temperature is.
Pharmacists across the county are supporting the campaign. Oxford pharmacist Paul Jenner said: "Flu strikes suddenly and it's important to be prepared. We can offer advice on medicines to reduce your temperature and ease the symptoms and also on buying and using a thermometer."
Oxfordshire PCT clinical manager Anna Hinton added that while the campaign generally encourages people to be prepared for seasonal winter flu, it also provides valuable advice about infection control and checking your temperature.
"Preventing the spread of flu viruses is key to reducing the number of people affected each year. Good personal hygiene, such as carefully disposing of tissues and washing hands, will reduce spread. Also, if you are unwell with flu and need to seek health advice, being able to tell your GP or nurse your temperature when you telephone your local surgery, will help them to help you."
The campaign encourages people to:
- Be prepared - own a thermometer
- Understand how to prevent the spread of flu
- Know what to do if they catch flu
The advice cards and accompanying poster will support the annual promotion of the winter flu jab for those who are over 65 years old, or who have a long-term chronic medical condition, such as asthma or diabetes.