With flu season approaching, the Huron-Perth Healthcare Alliance is reminding people of the importance of getting a flu shot.
Alliance Vice President and People and Chief Quality Executive Mary Cardinal says the arrival of flu season can cause intake numbers at hospitals to jump significantly.
"It can be hectic, and last year from mid-December to February in our hospitals, it was quite busy. Not only were we contending with the flu, there were other respiratory ilnesses circulating in the community as well as gastro conditions."
Cardinal says that people should make time to get a flu shot, which is readily available at most local pharmacies, and anyone who is sick should avoid human contact and especially stay away from public areas. She also notes that last year in their hospitals, even some people in their 30's and 40's became extremely ill and spent time in the ICU, but if more people get flu shots, it will help prevent extreme sickness and for some, sickness altogether.
"Now not everyone who gets the flu requires hospitalization fortunately, and that's why we promote getting the flu shot so that people don't get the flu, and if they do get it, perhaps they are less sick or it doesn't last as long."