Canterbury District Health Board Quake Update

Tuesday, 7 September 2010, 5:45 pm
Press Release: Canterbury District Health Board

Canterbury District Health Board Quake Update

Hospital Services

All non-urgent elective surgery will be cancelled for the remainder of this week (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) This includes all pre-arranged admissions for Christchurch, Christchurch Women’s and Burwood Hospitals. Scheduled Caesarean sections and inductions will continue. Affected patients are being contacted.

Outpatient clinics are still running, however, the advice to the public is to come in if you can make your appointment – but if you can’t get in to your clinic the DHB will be in touch to reschedule at a later date.

The flow of patients to hospital is steady with a noticeable increase in the number of patients requiring admission to cardiology. There is still good capacity in this specialty.

Akaroa Hospital, along with Lincoln Maternity Hospital and the Burwood Birthing Unit remain closed.

All main hospital buildings have been re-checked following last night’s after-shocks to ensure they remain safe and structurally sound. Engineers are continuing to work through all facilities identifying what repairs may be required.

Public Health messages

People need to take the following advice to avoid getting sick with stomach bugs and other illnesses.

Drinking Water
People living in the Christchurch, Waimakariri and Selwyn Districts should assume at the moment that tap water is unsafe and contaminated until advised by the Council that it is safe.

All tap water should be boiled for one minute before drinking, brushing teeth or washing/preparing food.
Water being boiled in a pot should be boiled for one minute
Water being boiled in a jug should be brought to the boil twice
Councils will be testing water supplies intensively over the next few days and will advise when water is safe to use without boiling. Even though water may look clear, it should be treated as contaminated and unsafe to drink due to damaged underground water and sewerage pipes.

Drinking water supplies are being asked to obtain three clear E.coli samples (from consecutive days) prior to lifting “boil water” notices.



Surface Waters
People should avoid contact with sewage. Assume river, sea water and any other surface water is contaminated with sewage. People should stay away and not swim, fish or gather shellfish in the sea, Canterbury rivers or any areas of standing water until notified.

People who have sewage contamination within their home should move out to alternative accommodation.

Toilets
People should be advised to use as little water as possible to flush toilets where water is available. Where water is not available, people should be advised to make a temporary toilet with a bin lined with two plastic bags. The bin should be covered between uses. The contents can be buried when the bin is no longer needed. Details of how to make a temporary toilet can be found at http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/protecting-your-health-in-an-emergency

Hand Washing
Frequent handwashing needs to be emphasised. Remind people to wash hands, particularly after:
• Using the toilet
• Before and after preparing food
• Handling rubbish or waste
• Cleaning toilets, bathrooms
• Handling soiled clothing or bed linen
• Handling cleaning equipment such as cloths, buckets and mops
Hand washing stops diseases spreading. Cold water is fine as long as soap is used and hands are thoroughly dried. Where people do not have access to water, alcohol gel is a good alternative. Hands do not need to be dried if alcohol gel is used.

Dishwashers
People who want to use dishwashers should be advised that a full hot wash with detergent (not economy wash) must be used. Dishes must be allowed to dry fully prior to re-use.

Contact with neighbours/friends
People are encouraged to look after each other. Advise people to keep in touch with families, friends and neighbours and support each other.

People who are unwell
Anyone who is unwell with a minor injury or illness and needs medical assistance should be advised to call their General Practice or nearest after hours surgery. The Emergency Department must be kept for emergencies only. If you need an ambulance dial 111

Gastroenteritis
The Communicable Disease Team of the Community & Public Health Division of Canterbury District Health Board are monitoring any reports of vomiting and diarrhoea (gastroenteritis)


Treating gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is a stomach illness contracted through eating or drinking. Contaminated drinking water can cause gastroenteritis.

Symptoms can start 10 hours after contact with the virus and last up to 72 hours, although some people may be unwell for longer.

Symptoms include nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Vomiting is more common in children and dehydration can be a problem in young babies, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

Gastroenteritis cannot be treated with antibiotics, CDHB recommends the following treatment and precautions:
• Drink plenty of fluids while the diarrhoea lasts to prevent dehydration – this is most important for infants
• See a doctor if vomiting and/or diarrhoea is severe or the illness does not improve.
• Stay away from school or work until you are symptom free for 48 hours
• Pay special attention to hand washing, especially after using the toilet.
• Do not prepare food for others.
• Always use separate towels and face cloths.

Aged Care
200 residents from two rest homes in Christchurch are being temporarily relocated over the coming days. Patient’s safety is paramount and providers are working hard to ensure a smooth transition for residents and patients. The CDHB has established a special team to coordinate all services for older people to ensure those with the greatest need receive care and assistance.

Primary (GP) Care and Pharmacy services
General practice is up and running in Canterbury. If you need to see a doctor please phone or go to your usual general practice.
Pharmacies
Most pharmacies in Canterbury are operating as usual. If your usual pharmacy is go to the nearest pharmacy – your GP practice will be able to advise you. The Urgent Pharmacy in Bealey Avenue is now open its usual hours (i.e. after hours)
Healthline calls

Telephone network instability which caused problems for Healthline yesterday have been resolved. Yesterday Healthline received 1789 calls – the second highest level for the year.

Healthline provides free health advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week 0800 611 116.

The following information has been provided to CDHB staff and may be useful for the public:

Possible Psychological Reactions to an Earthquake
Ron Chambers & Lee Kannis
Anxiety Disorders Unit, CDHB.

It is understandable given the recent earthquake and ongoing aftershocks that many people may feel anxious and distressed. It is common following a traumatic event for people to experience a range of psychological responses. These may include:

• Feeling on edge, nervous, or tense.
• Sleep disturbance and nightmares.
• Being easily startled.
• Tearful.
• Swings in emotion, including irritability and sadness.
• Anxiety symptoms like a racing heart, rapid breathing, and trembling.
• Thoughts and memories about the event continuing to pop into your mind, even days afterwards.

Usually, these psychological reactions will dissipate over the following days to weeks as the mind makes sense of what happened. What is important at this time is to allow people to work through their experience of the earthquake at their own pace. For many people it will be enough just to discuss and make sense of the event with friends, neighbours, and family. For others, it may be not discussing it much but keeping themselves busy doing other activities. What ever the person’s style it is important to allow people the space to do this. It is best not to push people to discuss what happened if they do not want to. If someone does want to talk it through then let them do this.

An important concern people will often have is the reaction of children to such events. Children may experience some of the same reactions listed above. However, there may be differences in how these reactions are displayed. For example, younger children may be more clingy, experience an increase in bad dreams (not always just about the earthquake), loss of appetite, and have an increase in physical complaints such as headaches and stomach aches.

Suggestions for supporting children include the following:

• Be supportive and reassuring, your children may need to be held.
• Your child’s fears are genuine to them, this may include worries they may be separated from their parents and needing them close. Talk this through with them.
• Listen to your child’s fears and explanations about what happened.
• Return to some sense of normalcy, such as playing with friends going back to school.
• Regular routines are important, such as meals and bedtimes.
• If children are demonstrating aggression or anger then use a nurturing but firm approach, pointing out their behaviour is not acceptable.
• Explain what you know about the disaster. You may need to do this more than once.
• Your child may want to re-enact or draw pictures about the earthquake, this is okay.

If people are experiencing significant distress and it is not beginning to reduce within two to three weeks then more specialised support from a mental health professional may be recommended. In the first instance people should contact their GP for advice on how to access appropriate help.

The earthquake and ongoing after shocks have been a very frightening experience for everyone. What most people are experiencing now is the minds normal response to this extraordinary event.

ENDS

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Canterbury DHB

CDHB

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is a Christchurch, New Zealand based hospital and healthcare provider for the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Our region extends from Kekerengu in the North, to Rangitata in the South and Arthurs Pass in the West and comprises the six Territorial Local Authorities of Kaikoura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Christchurch City, Selwyn and Ashburton.

We collaborate with other health and disability organisations, stakeholders and our community to decide what health and disability services are needed and how to best use the funding we receive from Government to improve, promote and protect the health, wellbeing and independence of our population.

At the Canterbury DHB, our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Canterbury.

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