ROCHELLE — Effective immediately, Rochelle Community Hospital has announced that it will not allow visitors under the age of 18 to visit the hospital until further notice.
This change in policy is aimed to protect patients and children from the flu in response to the increased incidence of Influenza-like illness.
In addition:
• The number of people visiting a patient has been limited to two at any one time.
• Visitors with flu-like symptoms, including a fever, sneezing, cough or sore throat should not visit patients.
• Patients and/or visitors who present with flu-like symptoms will be required to wear a mask.
It is in the best interest of patients and staff to limit the presence of younger children in the hospital until further notice.  Obviously, RCH will continue to see children whose parents’ have brought them in seeking medical attention.
Flu symptoms
Flu symptoms can include: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.  
Emergency warning signs in children:
• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids

• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash
• Emergency warning signs in adults include:
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
Seeking treatment
If you have mild flu-like symptoms, please call your doctor’s office first.  If you have any of the warning signs mentioned above, by all means call your physician’s office, come to Convenient Care at RCH, utilize the Emergency department or call 911 depending on the seriousness of the situation.   
If you come to the hospital for care you may be asked to wear a mask while waiting or be placed in a segregated area with other patients with flu like symptoms.  Please do not be offended by this. It is meant to protect other patients who are here that do not have flu like symptoms.  
How long should I stay home?
The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick. Staying at home means that you should not leave your home except to seek medical care. This means avoiding normal activities, including work, school, travel, shopping, social events and public gatherings. If you must leave the house, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others.
Precautions
There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Remember the 3C’s, spread the word, not the flu.
Clean Hands – Wash your hands often with hot soapy water for at least 20 seconds
Cover – Cover your cough or sneeze
Contain the germs - Stay home when you are sick.