<p> IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR…LET’S TALK ABOUT PNEUMONIA!</p><p>WHAT IS PNEUMONIA? PNEUMONIA IS AN INFECTION IN ONE OR BOTH LUNGS. THERE ARE 5 MAIN CAUSES: BACTERIA, VIRUSES, MYCOPLASMAS, OTHER INFECTIOIUS AGENTS AND CERTAIN CHEMICALS. </p><p>WHO IS AT RISK?</p><p> ANY CONSUMER THAT HAS HAD RECENT SURGERY</p><p> CONSUMER’S WITH DECREASED MOBILITY SUCH AS BEING WHEELCHAIR BOUND</p><p> INCREASED AGE</p><p> CONSUMER’S WITH CHRONIC RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS SUCH AS COPD AND ASTHMA</p><p> CONSUMER’S WITH SWALLOWING DIFFICULTIES</p><p> SMOKERS</p><p> CONSUMER’S WITH CP</p><p>SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF PNEUMONIA:</p><p> COUGH, OFTEN WITH YELLOW/GREEN SPUTUM</p><p> FEVER (CAN BE AS HIGH AS 105 DEGREES)</p><p> SHAKING CHILLS</p><p> SHORTNESS OF BREATH</p><p>WHAT CAN STAFF AND CONSUMERS DO TO PREVENT PNEUMONIA?</p><p> GET THE FLU SHOT EVERY YEAR</p><p> GET THE PNEUMONIA VACCINE. DEPENDING ON WHICH VACCINE YOU RECEIVE THESE ARE GIVEN EVERY 5-10 YEARS. NOT EVERYONE IS A CANADIATE FOR THIS VACCINE. THOSE THAT ARE INCLUDE: o CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5</p><p> o ADULTS WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS (HEART, KIDNEY, LUNG, DIABETES TO NAME A FEW)</p><p> o THOSE RECOVERING FROM A SERIOUS ILLNESS (CHEMOTHERAPY)</p><p> o THOSE THAT LIVE IN CARE FACILITIES (SUCH AS GROUP HOMES)</p><p> o AGE 65 OR OLDER</p><p> IF YOU SMOKE, STOP!</p><p> FOR THE CHILDREN WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO EDUCATE PARENTS ON THE HIB VACCINE AND SYNAGIS (A MEDICATION THAT CAN PREVENT RSV)</p><p> AS ALWAYS…GOOD HANDWASHING!</p>