Flu updates for families
Updated Nov. 5, 2009
We are in a restricted visiting period
Thank you for understanding . . .
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is in a restricted visiting period due to the H1N1 (swine) flu.
- No visitors under the age of 18 will be allowed in the hospital at this time. This includes siblings.
- Only visitors on the "approved visitor" list may enter the hospital.
- If you have a runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough or fever greater than 100 degrees, please alert a Children's Hospital representative before entering.
What is restricted visiting?
At certain times, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin may need to restrict visitors who come to the hospital. We do this to provide a safe place for our patients to recover from illness or surgery.
Who can visit during restricted visiting?
Parents and primary custodial care providers of the patient may visit at any time.
Inpatient families will be asked to provide up to four people who are over 18 years old who may visit their child. They can be relatives, such as grandparents, aunts or uncles. They also can be other visitors, such as clergy or teachers. This list cannot be changed during your child's hospital stay, and will be used until your child goes home from the hospital. We are sorry that your child's brothers and sisters under 18 will not be able to visit during restricted visiting.
What if a visitor comes to the hospital during restricted visiting?
The Welcome Center will ask visitors for their names and who they are here to see. If their names are on the list, they will be given a badge and told how to find your child's room. If not on the list, he or she will be told that we need to limit visitors and will not be able to go into the hospital. The visitor will be directed to call the family for more information.
Parents and guardians visiting children who are in isolation for influenza need to wear a mask while in the hospital.
Please check this page or call our Visitor Status Hotline, (414) 266-8600, for updates to this policy. We thank you for helping us keep our kids safe.
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 Note: our regional hospital in the Fox Valley also is taking extra steps to protect our patients and staff.
General health screening
Given the number of confirmed H1N1 cases in Wisconsin, it is important that families and visitors who have flu-like symptoms do not visit our hospital and clinics.
We screen all visitors who enter Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. For the safety of our patients, visitors who have flu symptoms should not visit the hospital or come with patients to the outpatient clinic.
What are H1N1 (swine flu) symptoms?
The symptoms of H1N1 flu virus include a fever greater than 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Many people infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
My child has some of these flu symptoms. What should I do?
If your child has flu-like symptoms, contact your family doctor.
If your child seems sicker or has the symptoms below, you may need to consider seeing your family doctor or coming to the Emergency Department.
- Fast breathing or trouble breathing. Call 9-1-1 if skin color looks blue.
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Not drinking enough fluids or severe vomiting.
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Not waking up or interacting.
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Being so fussy that your child does not want to be held.
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Flu-like symptoms that went away but return with fever and worse cough.
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Fever with rash.
What to do if you get sick
Have you been vaccinated?
If you still need the seasonal and/or H1N1 flu vaccine, please contact your primary care physician or local health department for availability and clinic hours.
Prevention
Check out our prevention program for kids: Children's Flu Fighters
As always, the best defense against the flu is common sense and washing your hands. Clean your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer. Always cough and sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve, and keep at least six feet between yourself and anyone with flu symptoms. If you're sick, stay home. If your kids have flu symptoms, keep them home from school and away from other children.
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin follows the guidelines of the State of Wisconsin (pandemic.wisconsin.gov) and the Centers for Disease Control (flu.gov).
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