Flu updates for families

Actualizaciones de la influenza para las familias

Flu updates for providers

Fall, 2010

To our patient families:

If you have visited our hospital and clinics, you know that we were in a restricted visiting period last winter, which included restricting access for all siblings and many adult visitors. Although we know it was challenging, this decision was made to protect the safety of our patients who are here to get well.

Data indicates that restricting visitors did help us keep the virus from spreading, which is great news. Thank you for your support during this time.

General visitor screening

It is important that families and visitors who have flulike symptoms not visit our hospital and clinics. Our Welcome Center ambassadors will continue to screen hospital visitors for flu symptoms. 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. The same restrictions apply to staff members.

All parents and guardians, regardless of symptoms, may visit their child in the hospital, but they will be expected to wear masks if they have any flu symptoms.

Cancer and Blood Disorders and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit screening

Our patients in the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit are more susceptible to flu and other viruses. Because of this, the restricted visitor policy will remain in effect in these areas: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, HOT Unit, East 8, MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and Infusion Clinic.

This means:

No visitors under the age of 18 will be allowed in these areas of the hospital. This includes siblings.

Only visitors on the accepted visitor list may visit.

Inpatient visitors

Visiting hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Learn more about our inpatient visitor policy.

As always, our focus remains on providing the very best care to our patients and families, as well as our staff.

Sincerely,

Michael Guzeit, MD
chief medical officer
vice president of Quality
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin

Nancy Korom, MSN, RN, NEA-BC
chief nursing officer
vice president of Patient Care Services
Children's Hospital of Wisconsin

Please check this page or call our Visitor Status Hotline, (414) 266-8600, for future updates. We thank you for helping us keep our kids safe.

Note: our regional hospital in the Fox Valley also is taking extra steps to protect our patients and staff.

General health screening

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 flu symptoms?

The symptoms of 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 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.
Not drinking enough fluids or severe vomiting.
Not waking up or interacting.
Being so fussy that your child does not want to be held.
Flulike symptoms that went away but return with fever and worse cough.
Fever with rash.

What to do if you get sick

Have you been vaccinated?

If you still need the seasonal and/or flu vaccine, please contact your primary care physician or local health department for availability and clinic hours.

Prevention

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).