Halloween is chock full of fun and can bring some amazing memories for you and your child. Here are some tips to make sure your little goblins stay safe.

1. Choose a flame retardent costume. Your little one will probably be trick-or-treating on porches with lit jack o' lanterns.

2. Make sure you child's costume doesn't hang or drag on the ground. The costume should hit your child several inches about the ankles.

3. Choose a brightly colored or light costume, so you can see your child more easily in the dark.

4. If your child chooses a dark costume, use reflective tape.

5. Give your kids glow sticks or glow necklaces. This is a fun tradition and can help them stay safe, too.

6. Choose proper footwear for walking. Princess dress up shoes are wonderful for indoor Halloween parties, but you'll want to make sure your little princess is safe on the street.

7. Opt for non-toxic hypoallergenic face makeup instead of a mask, if possible. If the child's costume requires a mask, make sure the holes for your child's eyes are large enough that he can see all around.

8. Ask your child to take off his mask between houses, and place the mask back on when he arrives at each door.

9. If the costume includes accessories, such as swords, knives, or guns, make sure they don't look too realistic abd that they are made of a plastic that bends easily.

10. When making jack o' lanterns, leave the carving to adults. Children can draw the creation on the pumpkin and scoop the pumpkin seeds.

11. Use special jack o' lantern battery-powered lights instead of candles.

12. Make sure your children eat a good dinner before they start trick or treating, so they aren't tempted to dip into the candy bag before you have a chance to inspect it.

13. Mke sure an adult accompanies small children. Older children should always go with a group.

14. If your older children are going out together, without an adult, make sure to discuss the rules of trick or treating beforehand: Don't wat anything before the return home. Obey all rules of the road, traffic signals, etc. Walk, don't run. Stick to the sidewalks, instead of running through yards. Stay with a group, and only go to houses with the porch light on. Under no circumstances should they enter a person's house or car.

15. Give your older children a watch, a cell phone (or enough quarters to make several phone calls), and a flashlight with new batteries.

16. Make sure you know the route your child will be taking ahead of time, and agree on a time when your children return home.

17. When your child returns with candy, inspect all of it. Toss out anything that looks suspicious, including unwrapped items, or candy that appears to have been tampered with- or treats that have been homemade. Look at fresh fruit for cuts or holes, and wash, peel and cut it up before you serve it to your child.

18. For younger children, fish out anything that might be a choking hazard.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

M E M O R A N D U M        PLEASE POST

I know you are all very interested in the actions we are taking to prepare for any potential case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at Commonwealth Health. While we believe the likelihood of a case here remains very low at this time, we have taken our responsibility to prepare seriously. I appreciate the constructive input many of you have shared with members of our leadership team as we round in the facility. Your questions and feedback are most welcome and we will continue to round often to ensure that you have all the information you need. I also want to provide the following information about our plans.

Commonwealth Health is committed to creating a safe environment for all patients, employees, physicians and visitors who come to our hospital. Our clinicians are using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) screening guidelines with any patients presenting with EVD-like symptoms and we are prepared to identify, isolate, test and transfer if indicated. Our work to coordinate with local and state health departments and the CDC is ongoing and we will continue to follow their guidance.

While all of our caregivers must be aware of the screening criteria and are receiving training, we are also identifying which physicians and staff will serve on a defined EVD response team to provide direct patient care should a suspected case be identified. Our response team will receive specific and focused training on isolation procedures, appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other guidance including specimen handling, waste management and facility issues. CDC-recommended PPE including fluid impermeable gowns, facemasks with shields, gloves and more are available as needed. Our preparation efforts are being reviewed and discussed with each of our staff members in our staff meetings, change of shifts and intensified departmental rounding.

In addition to training and providing our team with the necessary resources, we are focusing our clinical efforts on prompt identification of potential cases, immediate isolation and determination of the need for testing through our local and state health departments and the CDC. Should there be confirmation of a positive case of EVD, we will provide safe care to our patients, protect our employees and arrange for transfer to a facility that can provide the appropriate environment of care, all in conjunction with the CDC.

I am very proud of the care that we provide for our community at Commonwealth Health and of your professionalism and dedication you demonstrate every day. As you know, the preparations for EVD are a dynamic and rapidly evolving process. We stand ready to provide a safe work environment for our staff and remain alert and ready to provide care to our community.

If you have any questions regarding our preparedness, please contact me, your supervisor or department manager, or our infection control nurse

575 North River Street | Wilkes-Barre, PA 18764-0001

570-552-3006 | Fax 570-552-3030

Here is a great link from New York Times in regards to the Doctor that was just diagnosed with the Ebola Virus. We urge everyone to use proper precaution when traveling anywhere in or outside the country.

Click on picture below to be directed to the article.

Our Office preparedness for the Ebola virus

 Infection control is an integral part of the Pediatric office.

 All our staff has been educated about exposure to body fluids and secretions and proper prevention of the infectious diseases. We are aware about the emergency of the different threats than usual of our environment such as Ebola Virus, Enterovirus D68, MRSA, flu infections etc.

 We do:

1.       Hand washing

2.       Barrier precaution when indicated

3.       Proper Handling of sharp instruments and hazardous material and proper disposal of the same

4.       Waiting area rules ( very sick and an immunocompromised child immediate transfer to separate  room,  baby not to wait in waiting room )

5.       Regular washing of toys

6.       Cleaning of floors and furniture

7.       Cleaning of exam rooms after each patient visit

8.       Sterilization of the equipment and instruments

9.       Cleaning of personal instruments

10.   Immunization of the personnel and  watching the health status of all staff

11.   Questioning  about travel or contact with the person who has been traveling

 About Ebola virus:

Please see this excellent article from NEW YORK TIMES about the Ebola virus and its presence in USA.

Ebola Facts: When Did Ebola Arrive and Spread at a Dallas Hospital?

UPDATED OCT. 16, 2014

 In Summary:

The Ebola virus is an endemic for Africa. The outbreak started in West Africa, and so far we do not have any case of a person infected of Ebola in PA. In the beginning of the infection with Ebola the symptoms are very similar to any other disease, so information about travel and the contact with person who was abroad, and potentially was in contact with Ebola virus is very important.

 In a case of the nationwide infection spreading, everyone sick should be directed to the nearby hospitals-ER , such as The Commonwealth General Hospital and The Geisinger Medical Center.

“There is no risk of transmission from people who have been exposed to the virus but are not yet showing symptoms.

 Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. A cough from a sick person could infect someone who has been sprayed with saliva, underlining how contagious the disease is once symptoms set in.”

 If you have any other question, please contact us.

 Pediatrics 21