Serving 9 Communities: Blandford, Chester, Granville, Montgomery, Russell, Southwick, Tolland, Woronoco, and Westfield

Welcome to the

American Red Cross

of Greater Westfield

Greater Westfield Chapter of the Red Cross
48 Broad St.
Westfield, MA. 01085

Know the Difference

Seasonal Flu—A contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza (flu) viruses occurring every year. It affects an average of 5 percent to 20 percent of the U.S. population by
causing mild to severe illness, and in some instances can lead to death. Epidemic—The rapid spread of a disease that affects some or many people in a community or region at the same time. Pandemic—An outbreak of a disease that affects large numbers of people throughout the world and spreads rapidly. H1N1 Influenza (swine flu)—H1N1 influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that cause regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get H1N1 influenza, but human infections can and do happen. H1N1 influenza viruses have been reported to spread from person-to person. Avian Influenza—Commonly known as bird flu, this strain of influenza virus is naturally occurring in birds. Wild birds can carry the virus and may not get sick from it; however, domestic birds may become infected by the virus and often die from it. A flu vaccine is available in the U.S. every year. Get your flu shot as soon as it is available for the best chance of protection.

Always practice good health habits to
maintain your body’s resistance to infection.
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Exercise daily.
• Manage stress.
• Get enough rest and sleep.

Take these common sense steps to stop the spread of germs:
• Wash hands frequently with soap and
water or an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer.
• Avoid or minimize contact with sick
people (a minimum three feet
distancing is recommended).
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and
mouth.
• Cover your mouth and nose with
tissues when you cough and sneeze. If
you don’t have a tissue, cough or
sneeze into the crook of your elbow.
• Stay away from others as much as
possible when you are sick.

Adopt business/school practices that encourage employees/students to stay home when sick. Get a flu shot every year. Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to minimize illness and death.

Be aware of common flu symptoms:
• High fever
• Severe body aches
• Headache
• Extreme tiredness
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea (more
common in children than in adults)
• NOTE: Having all of these symptoms
doesn’t always mean that you have the
flu. Many different illnesses have
similar symptoms.
Diagnosing the flu:
• It may be difficult to tell if you are
suffering from the flu or another
illness.
• Your health care provider may be
able to tell you if you have the flu.
• If you develop flu-like symptoms and
are concerned about possible
complications, consult your health care
provider.
Potential risks and serious
complications of the flu:
• Bacterial pneumonia
• Dehydration
• Worsening of chronic medical
conditions
• Ear infections
• Sinus problems

Designate one person as the caregiver. Keep everyone’s personal items separate. All household members should avoid sharing pens, papers, clothes, towels, sheets, blankets, food or eating utensils unless cleaned between uses. Disinfect doorknobs, switches, handles, computers, telephones, toys and other surfaces that are commonly touched around the home or workplace. Wash everyone’s dishes in the dishwasher or by hand using very hot water and soap. Wash everyone’s clothes in a standard washing machine as you normally would. Use detergent and very hot water and wash your hands after handling dirty laundry. Wear disposable gloves when in contact with or cleaning up body fluids. Terminology defined Immunity to a disease is defined by the presence of antibodies to that disease in a person’s system. Most people have some resistance to infections, either after they recover from an illness or through vaccination. Seasonal flu viruses change over time and immunity to them cannot be acquired unless vaccination is administered. Quarantine is the physical separation of healthy people who have been exposed to an infectious disease from those who have not been exposed. Isolation is a state of separation between persons or groups to prevent the spread of disease. Social distancing is a practice imposed to limit face-to-face interaction in order to prevent exposure and transmission of a disease.

Are you considered high risk for flu-related complications?
• The following groups of people are at an increased risk:

people age 50 or older, pregnant women,

people with chronic medical conditions, c

children age 6 months and older and
people who live with or care for anyone at high risk.

• People at high risk should have their vaccinations updated every year and receive
pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine if age 50 or older, as directed by their physician.

Give and Get Involved

You can help save someone's life by performing CPR because you've been certified. Or enjoy going to the beach without fear of drowning because you took Red Cross swimming lessons. Getting involved with the Red Cross leads to many possibilities. Here are some ways to give and get involved with the Red Cross:

Donate

You have the power to make a difference in someone's life. All you have to do is make a contribution. Every donation helps provide services to those in need. When disaster strikes, your contributions can help bring comfort to those in distress.

Volunteer

You can make a difference every day. You can help comfort victims of a house fire or teach a pet first aid class. Whether you are interested in community services, international services, disaster services or any of the other lines of services in the Red Cross, you'll find something that fits your niche.

Give Blood

You can help prevent-life threatening reactions of patients. Donor blood must be compatible with the recipient's blood, and it is very likely that a donor within the same racial/ethnic group will be a better match.

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