Commonground
Senior Moderator
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 10:56 AM EDT
Westerly town officials will explain their plans for dealing with the highly contagious flu.
By EMILY DUPUIS / Sun Staff Writer
WESTERLY ? Town officials are hosting a forum next Monday to inform residents of steps they are taking to prepare and respond to potential H1N1 cases.
Town Council President Diana Avedesian announced the planned public forum at Monday?s meeting.
?We just want our town of Westerly to know we?re on it, we?re in front of it and we have a plan,? she said.
The panel is expected to feature Town Manager Steven Hartford, Schools Superintendent Steven Welford, a representative from The Westerly Hospital and Lt. Michael Turano, the town?s emergency management coordinator, according to Avedesian.
H1N1, also known as swine flu, was first detected in the spring and a resurgence is anticipated this fall. State health officials have projected that up to 30 percent of the state?s population could contract H1N1, a variation of the seasonal influenza virus.
Hartford said local officials are taking cues from the Rhode Island Department of Health.
<!-- AdSys ad not found for news/local:instory -->
At Town Hall, he is looking at developing contingency plans to operate with reduced staff.
Welford previously reported that Westerly schools, like other schools in Rhode Island, are calmly following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
They have stocked classrooms and common areas with hand sanitizing solution or hand soaps and are disinfecting surfaces like doorknobs, stair railings and school bus seats daily, the superintendent said.
The H1N1 virus spreads through coughing or sneezing or if an individual touches a surface or object with flu viruses on it, then touches his or her mouth, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of H1N1 include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and possible diarrhea and vomiting, the federal agency reported.
The Westerly Hospital is responsible for overseeing treatments in Westerly, Charlestown and Hopkinton, while South County Hospital would treat Exeter, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Richmond and South Kingstown residents.
First-responders, like healthcare workers and pharmacists, police officers, firefighters and paramedics, would receive priority once an H1N1 vaccination is available, possibly in late October or November.
Monday?s televised meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
http://www.thewesterlysun.com/articles/2009/09/16/news/local/doc4aaf860ee2d22597024482.txt
Westerly town officials will explain their plans for dealing with the highly contagious flu.
By EMILY DUPUIS / Sun Staff Writer
WESTERLY ? Town officials are hosting a forum next Monday to inform residents of steps they are taking to prepare and respond to potential H1N1 cases.
Town Council President Diana Avedesian announced the planned public forum at Monday?s meeting.
?We just want our town of Westerly to know we?re on it, we?re in front of it and we have a plan,? she said.
The panel is expected to feature Town Manager Steven Hartford, Schools Superintendent Steven Welford, a representative from The Westerly Hospital and Lt. Michael Turano, the town?s emergency management coordinator, according to Avedesian.
H1N1, also known as swine flu, was first detected in the spring and a resurgence is anticipated this fall. State health officials have projected that up to 30 percent of the state?s population could contract H1N1, a variation of the seasonal influenza virus.
Hartford said local officials are taking cues from the Rhode Island Department of Health.
<!-- AdSys ad not found for news/local:instory -->
At Town Hall, he is looking at developing contingency plans to operate with reduced staff.
Welford previously reported that Westerly schools, like other schools in Rhode Island, are calmly following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
They have stocked classrooms and common areas with hand sanitizing solution or hand soaps and are disinfecting surfaces like doorknobs, stair railings and school bus seats daily, the superintendent said.
The H1N1 virus spreads through coughing or sneezing or if an individual touches a surface or object with flu viruses on it, then touches his or her mouth, according to the CDC.
Symptoms of H1N1 include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, and possible diarrhea and vomiting, the federal agency reported.
The Westerly Hospital is responsible for overseeing treatments in Westerly, Charlestown and Hopkinton, while South County Hospital would treat Exeter, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Richmond and South Kingstown residents.
First-responders, like healthcare workers and pharmacists, police officers, firefighters and paramedics, would receive priority once an H1N1 vaccination is available, possibly in late October or November.
Monday?s televised meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
http://www.thewesterlysun.com/articles/2009/09/16/news/local/doc4aaf860ee2d22597024482.txt