Piggy Flu

I have reached the conclusion that a near 90% (ok, a possible exaggeration) of the population are complete idiots.

I work in the  medical field.  Our hospital numbers have reached record breaking levels due to the "swine flu" epidemic.  The lobby of the ER and the Urgent Care have reached standing room only levels for nearly 24 hour periods, with wait times of up to 9 hours for the last month.

Here's my gripe: An ear ache does NOT require ambulance trips to the hospital.  A cough does NOT merit a swine flu swab, (which, by the way, we are NOT testing for the swine flu at every cough, sneeze and sniffle. If your child is being ADMITTED and INTUBATED...then, yes, a type A influenza test will be administered.)

90% of the ER and UC visits in the last month have been a complete, total, idiotic waste of tax payers money.  Ambulance trips to children who are cutting teeth...(I'm not kidding!) to parents bringing all 5 of their children to be tested "just in case.  No symptoms, though...!!) to "My child has a fever.  The thermometer says it's 99.7..."  My favorite?  "My child ate bacon this week!  He needs tested for the swine flu!"

Guess what population abuses the facilities??  Done??  The medicaid, caresource, and every other state supplied medical insurance covered moron.

Come on, people.

Here's the reality:

The swine flu isn't much different from any other flu.  The big difference is that it is a strain that we have not built up an immune system to, so it is harder on those WHO ARE ALREADY COMPROMISED health wise.  Example: those with asthma are at greater risk of being EXTREMELY sick from this strain.  Do people die from the regular flu?  Yes, they do.  For exactly the same reasons: compromised immune systems.

If you, or your child, has flu like symptoms, STAY HOME.  Treat it for what it is: the FLU.  IF the thermometer reads OVER 101 degree's...alternate motrin and tylenol, and give tepid baths to bring down excessively high fevers.  Give lots of fluids and get lots of rest.  If not better, but getting worse, CALL your doctor!!  Let your pcp decide if the trip to the hospital is in order, and then make the trip, preferably by your own vehicle, parents, or neighbor.  The ER is for TRUE emergencies.  You know, car accidents, broken limbs, seizures, etc.

Truth is, I'm sick of being yelled at because these idiots don't  know the difference between what is really going on in the trauma room and why they have to wait 8+ hours because they don't know how to read a thermometer!