East Peoria paramedics not behind the 8 ball regarding H1N1

Getting an ambulance if you have H1N1 is no longer as easy as dialing 9-1-1. Emergency dispatch operators are now triaging patients over the phone.

Central Illinois has seen an increase in the number of H1N1 influenza cases, with early estimates suggesting one in seven people will contract H1N1.

As the number of people with H1N1 influenza rises, 9-1-1 call volumes could reach a critical point.

A 9-1-1 priority dispatch policy has been implemented to identify people with severe symptoms requiring specialty medical care.

Depending on the extent of the H1N1 pandemic, an ambulance or medical care provider may not be available for several hours, days or not at all.

However, in East Peoria, paramedics have not witnessed an influx of calls due to H1N1 so far.
Currently, assistant fire chief Randy Hurd said they are at a Level 1 of the three-level H1N1 alert system.

If the situation escalates, they have an H1N1 plan in place. Hurd said they began implementing that plan about a month ago through OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. EMT Gary Foley was on a committee, which included doctors, attorneys and the Department of Public Health.

Foley said they were told to take precautions by wearing a mask and putting a mask on anyone who has breathing problems or flu-like symptoms.

So far, the East Peoria EMS has transported three people who called with flu-like symptoms. One was confirmed to have H1N1. The other two patients’ conditions were not known.

Hurd said the calls came through 9-1-1 because one of the three had heart problems and the other two passed out due to dehydration.

But Hurd said if people only have symptoms, such as a fever, it is not necessary to call 9-1-1.

“If you have flu-like symptoms, the hospitals can’t really do anything,” he said.

Hurd recommends that people stay home, get rest and drink plenty of fluids. Foley added they can take Motrin or Tylenol.

“Now, of course, if they have chest pains, they are encouraged to call,” Hurd said.

The H1N1 flu is distinguished from the regular flu with respiratory issues, Foley said.
Because medical personnel are in direct contact with those who have H1N1, they are listed in a priority group of those who should receive the vaccination.

On Oct. 18, half of the East Peoria Fire Department received the H1N1 shot.

Hurd said he did not feel any side effects from the vaccination. Foley said he only felt tired the next day.

When more vaccines become available, Hurd said they will encourage other firefighters and EMTs to get the shot.

“The problem with this flu is it’s killing the kids. It usually affects the elderly, but they’ve lived through it and are more immune to it, but the kids aren’t,” Foley said.

“If you’re in one of the priority groups, definitely get the vaccine,” Hurd said.

Foley said his wife and four children also got the vaccine. Foley said he was told by a doctor that the vaccine takes about seven to 10 days to kick in and is 70 percent effective.

Hurd said his wife works at District 150, where there has been a lot of absenteeism.

At East Peoria Community High School, there have not been any confirmed cases of H1N1. School nurse Elisabeth Barclay said the health center staff has not received any doctor notes confirming cases of either the flu or H1N1.

“The health department has set criteria for us to track students who are called in absent with complaints of having a fever over 100 degrees with a cough and/or sore throat. Last week EPCHS had as few as seven students to as many as 16 students absent from school with those specific complaints. Our total enrollment is 1,169 students,” Barclay said.

District 86 also has a lower number of students missing school.

“We are averaging about 3.3 percent daily of our total student population (1,805) who are calling in with influenza-like illnesses over the last seven days,” said District 86 superintendent Tony Ingold.

If these numbers increase in the future, paramedics are ready with a plan.

“We’re going to continue to respond as we always have. Hopefully, it doesn’t get to that point,” Hurd said. “At least we’re not behind the eight ball in trying to figure out what to do.”