Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, Head of Department of Emergency Medicine, Prof. Dr. Zeynep Gökcan Çakır recommended masks, distance and cleaning, as in the Covid-19 period, in order to prevent congestion in emergency departments before winter comes and to protect against respiratory diseases.
Çakır, who is the Emergency Service Manager of Atatürk University Research Hospital and Vice President of the Emergency Medicine Specialists Association, stated that winter is coming slowly and that the major epidemic experienced in this season has not yet occurred.
“A PANDEMIC IS AT THE DOOR”
Stating that staying in public and closed spaces will increase as the weather gets colder, Çakır said, “We become unprotected by staying in public and closed spaces, we know that an epidemic is at the door. This year, we wanted to warn citizens before the test is broken and before there is an epidemic.” he said.
Çakır emphasized that the congestion in emergency services during epidemic periods both disrupts other emergency services and accelerates the risk of contamination as well as the possibility of the epidemic growing further.
Explaining that seasonal flu and cold are expected during this period, Çakır continued as follows:
“We should know that flu is a disease that can be cured by resting at home and using simple painkillers as much as possible. We should know that it is not necessary for everyone with flu to go to the emergency room, especially to take serum or yellow serum. We drink linden at home and take the fluid lost from the body and take painkillers for 15-20 minutes.” “We will see a similar effect as serum and prevent more urgent patients from being infected in the hospital and at the same time from increasing the risk of contamination in crowded environments. Therefore, let’s spend this period by taking the necessary precautions at home as much as possible.”
Çakır stated that respiratory diseases can be protected by paying attention to masks, distance and cleanliness, as was the case during the Covid-19 epidemic.
Çakır, who asked to avoid crowded environments unless necessary and to pay attention to hand cleaning, said, “Mask, distance and cleanliness will protect us not only from Covid-19 but also from all infectious diseases and respiratory diseases. So let’s always comply with this. We will spend this winter with as few diseases as possible.” Let’s try to pass it.” he said.
“UNfortunately, applying to the emergency services with flu is like the flow”
Prof. Dr. Çakır said, “Unfortunately, it is a trend to go to emergency rooms with the flu, whereas in European countries, when you go to the hospital with a flu-like complaint, the doctor sends you home and asks you to drink tea, linden and rest. We like to spend the flu in hospitals and have a serum administered. The situations where serum is required are very limited. “This is decided by the doctor, so we ask our citizens to stop blocking emergency services for serum in these cases.” he said.
Çakır stated that, in addition to the risk of transmitting other contagious diseases when coming to the hospital due to flu, there may be a possibility of transmitting the disease to someone who does not have flu, and recommended that the disease be treated by resting at home instead of coming to the emergency room and waiting for hours during the flu period.
Çakır recommended that people over 65 years of age with chronic diseases, special groups such as heart and cancer patients, and healthcare workers should get the flu vaccine now, with the recommendation of a doctor.
AA