By Michael Joel-Hansen

Parkland Ambulance responding to people with flu-like symptoms

Nov 26, 2018 | 7:00 AM

Parkland Ambulance wants to remind people that as the holiday season comes along another tends to rear its head as well; flu season.

“Certainly our paramedics have seen a bit of a gradual increase in the people who are reporting flu-like symptoms, so the chills, general weakness, maybe a bit of a fever, cough, cold-like symptoms,” Lyle Karasiuk, the director of public affairs for Parkland Ambulance told paNOW.

Karasiuk said older people have been the biggest group showing symptoms of the virus.

He also wanted to remind people to do all they could in taking precautions against the flu.

“If you haven’t had a chance to visit with public health and or your physician or your local pharmacy to get a flu shot, please do it now, there’s still plenty of time,” Karasiuk said.

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Getting the flu shot can help to lessen the severity of symptoms should a person contract the virus according to Karasiuk.

“Without the flu shot I might end up with the flu for five to seven days, (but with it) I might end up with it for two to three days,” he said.

Karasiuk said people need to be aware of the difference between having the common cold as opposed to the flu.

“The common cold does not give us a fever,” he said.

When people come down with these types of symptoms, Karasiuk stressed they need to get rest and take plenty of fluids. He added most people can manage the virus at home, but there are times when medical attention could be needed.

“When we start to see these symptoms persisting for more than three to five days, I think it’s time we … probably visit our family physician,” he said.

In the big picture Karasiuk said there are simple actions to take to lessen the chances of getting sick this flu season.

“Washing our hands frequently is one of the simplest and easiest ways to prevent the flu and of course the common cold,” he said.

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn