Month: February 2019

Mardi Gras Fun and Safety

mardi gras

 

Mardi Gras season is well underway here in South Mississippi. We at OnCall Medical Clinic know that this is a wonderful festive time prior to the start of our Lenten season. But with all the fun, we all should be aware of some safety tips. We would like to share some basic tips with all our families, friends, and patients.

  • Attend parades in groups, with family or friends.
  • Do not put anything in a glass containers.
  • Do not follow closing behind floats. Violators may be arrested, and this is never safe.
  • Do not throw any object in the direction of floats, band members or any parade participants.
  • Materials known as “Silly String” and “Snap & Pops” along with similar products are illegal.
  • Do not cross the barricades. They are there for safety reasons. There are fine associated with doing so.
  • No underage drinking is ever allowed. This is not only illegal but also unsafe because this age group is not aware yet of the hazards relating to drinking too much.
  • If you need police assistance during a parade, go to the nearest intersection and advise a uniformed police officer.
  • Choose a well-lit area for night parade viewing. Also wear bright clothing so you can be easily seen by passing vehicles.
  • Establish a post-parade meeting place for family and friends in case you become separated.
  • Park vehicles in secure areas and do not leave valuables in plain sight. Utilize the trunk to store valuables.
  • Uniformed and plain-clothes officers will be patrolling behind the crowds to identify and arrest persons engaging in criminal activity.
  • Pets are prohibited during the parades downtown.
  • Skateboards and motorized scooters are prohibited.
  • When leaving a parade in your vehicle, be very cautious of pedestrians still leaving the parade.

We at OnCall Medical Clinic hope that everyone has a great Mardi Gras season. If you a minor injury or illness while out enjoying the parades, remember we are here 7 days a week to help. Our facility has a great laboratory to help us quickly diagnose any illness you may be having. Please visit our website at https://www.oncallclinic.com to learn about all the medical services we offer.

Bad Habits The Flu- What to Avoid

The Flu

 

Bad Habits The Flu- The flu season is here and when we catch it we start question who and where we picked it up.

Here are some bad habits that are putting us at risk every day.

  • Putting Your Purse or Back Pack on the Floor

Putting a purse or backpack on the floor is just an open invitation for unhealthy bacteria, especially if you drop it in a restroom or restaurant, and then place it on your kitchen table or counter. If you’ve already done this, and your purse is made from fabric or leather, like most, you need to look for an appropriate disinfectant that will work on the fabric without ruining it.

  • Forgetting to Wash your Thumb when Washing your Hands

While washing your hands is the most obvious germ-killing trick, there’s one common mistake that most people forget washing your thumbs. Since this finger touches some of the surfaces with the most germs, it’s not one to ignore.

  • Toothbrushes

Flu, staph, strep, e-coli, and yeast commonly live on toothbrushes. Keep toothbrush covered and be sure they are not touching someone else’s.

  • Kitchen & Bathroom Handles

We normally clean door knobs, but we often forget kitchen cabinet handles, range knobs, and bathroom cabinet handles. You should give them a good wipe down at least every other day, and daily if you know someone in the house is sick with the flu. There are some great wipe products you can use.

  • Wearing Your Shoes Inside Your Home

Shoe soles have literally been everywhere and when you wear them inside, you track that onto your floors are carpets. Take them off at the door when entering your home.

  • Eating Lunch at Your Desk

It has been proven that your desk is 100 times dirtier than the average toilet seat. So, when eating lunch go to the break room and wipe the table with a disinfectant. This is much easier than trying to sanitize your desk area.

  • Changing Your Sheets

Sheets harbor germs, which means whoever is sharing your bed is going to be susceptible to any virus you may have brought into the house, and vice versa.  The longest you should wait before changing out your sheets is two weeks, but weekly is better.

We at On Call Medical Clinic hope this information was helpful. We collected this information from the Good Housekeeping website. Remember if you have the flu, we are here 7 days a week to help. Our trained medical staff along with our equipped facility can help quickly diagnose your illness and prescribe the best treatment. Please visit our website at www.oncallclinic.com to learn more about all the services