JIC Release No. 5 - Hospital/Clinic Update - GHS OCD

Guam remains in Condition of Readiness (COR) 2 as of 6:30 p.m. Residents are encouraged to stay indoors until COR 4 is declared. As Super Typhoon Hagibis approaches the Marianas, the Mayors’ Council of Guam has announced that Senior Centers and Adult Day Care centers will be closed on Tuesday. Residents are also encouraged to take note of the following healthcare updates:

Department of Public Health and Social Services
The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) announces that the Northern Regional Community Health Center (NRCHC) in Dededo and the Southern Regional Community Health Center (SRCHC) in Inarajan will be open at 9:30 p.m. and remain open for the duration of the storm. The following limited services will be provided once the healthcare centers open:

Patients who need oxygen therapy due to loss of power (patients may bring their own oxygen machines).
Patients should also bring necessities such as water, food, and medications.
Please bring only one individual to accompany you to the center.
A doctor will be available to treat patients for non life-threatening injuries (i.e. minor cuts and abrasions) and those needing urgent care services (i.e. breathing treatments, IV fluid therapy, treatment for minor infections, etc.)
If you are experiencing a life-threatening condition, please call 911 or proceed to the nearest hospital emergency room.

For more information, please contact the health centers directly:

Northern Region CHC: 635-7400 or 635-4410.
Southern Region CHC: 828-7515, 828-7516, or 828-7517.

Guam Memorial Hospital Authority
The Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA) began accepting expectant mothers at 8 p.m. and will continue to accept expectant mothers should they decide to come in later. This is for expectant mothers who are at least thirty-eight (38) weeks pregnant and all high-risk expectant mothers who are six months or more into their pregnancy.

Mothers are asked to check with their healthcare providers for guidance if they are unsure if they have a high-risk pregnancy. Upon arrival, check in at GMHA’s Patient Registration Department on the first floor. Expectant mothers will remain at the hospital for the duration of the storm until it is determined safe to return to their homes.

All expectant mothers are asked to enjoy a complete meal before they check into the hospital. Sleepers, pillows and blankets will be provided. All expectant mothers who need to come to GMHA are asked to bring the following for their comfort and convenience:

ID and insurance cards;
Drinking water and snacks that do not need refrigeration or heating;
Any needed medications;
Personal toiletries (soap, toothbrush, lotions, etc.);
Change of clothing;
Small entertainment devices, reading materials, playing cards, board games, etc.

RESTRICTIONS:

No weapons;
No personal pillows, blankets and linens; and
No escorts, children or pets will be allowed to accompany the pregnant mothers.

For the Community’s safety:

Regular visiting hours will resume at the declaration of COR 4.
Outpatient Elective Surgeries are postponed until further notice upon declaration of COR 4.

Guam Regional Medical City
The Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) has suspended all visiting hours as of COR 2. All visitors, except patient watchers, have been asked to leave the hospital.

All admitted patients may have one patient watcher per patient. Patient watchers must obtain an approved emergency patient watcher badge from Customer Relations in the Main Lobby. Patient watchers are encouraged to bring food for the duration of the storm (please bring meals that do not require refrigeration). Meals will only be provided to patients.

All patients with scheduled appointments for Tuesday, October 8, 2019, will be contacted for rescheduling.

For more information, please contact GRMC’s Marketing & Communications Department, Charly Lauron at 687-5572 or Cindy Hanson at 486-4246 or via email at marketing.mailbox@grmc.gu.

Naval Hospital Guam
At this time, the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam remains open and will continue with normal operations.

U.S. RENAL CARE DIALYSIS CENTERS
U.S. Renal Care Dialysis Centers will be open tomorrow, October 8, 2019. Patients will be contacted if there are changes to scheduled appointments. Patients are encouraged to contact the centers directly for more information.

Telephone numbers:

U.S. Renal Care – Dededo: 637-3068

U.S. Renal Care – Finegayan: 588-0020

U.S. Renal Care – Sinajana: 475-3600

U.S. Renal Care – Tamuning: 646-3516

U.S. Renal Care – Tumon: 646-3773

GDOE Dengue Informational Briefing
The Guam Department of Education and Department of Public Health and Social Services dengue informational briefing scheduled for Tuesday, October 8, 2019, at 6 p.m. at Merizo Elementary School is postponed until further notice.

Stay up to date with the latest advisory information:

NWS Website: https://www.weather.gov/gum/
NWS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NWSGuam/
GHS/OCD Website: https://ghs.guam.gov/
GHS/OCD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GHSOCD/
Joint Region Marianas Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrmguam/

For more information, contact the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.

X Flooding is a temporary overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry. Flooding may happen with only a few inches of water, or it may cover a house to the rooftop. There are many possible causes of floods including heavy rain, coastal storms and storm surge, waterway overflow from being blocked with debris, or overflow of levees, dams, or waste water systems. Flooding can occur slowly over many days or happen very quickly with little or no warning, called flash floods.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/floods

Wildfire

Regularly clean the roof and gutters.
Maintain an area approximately 30’ away from you home that is free of anything that will burn, such as wood piles, dried leaves, newspapers and other brush.
Connect garden hoses long enough to reach any area of the home and fill garbage cans, tubs, or other large containers with water.
Review your homeowner's insurance policy and also prepare/update a list of your home's contents.

Fire Weather

Turn on your TV/radio. You’ll get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the route to take and have plan of where you will go. Check-in with your friends and family.
Keep your car fueled, in good condition, and stocked with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.

Drought

Conserve water

Take shorter showers.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.
Run the washer less frequently and only when you have a full load.
Water your lawn less frequently and do so when the temperature is cooler in the early morning or late evening.
When you run the tap to heat or cool water, keep a pitcher to store the water and use it to water plants.
Avoid washing your car.

Practice fire prevention

Don't set off fireworks when conditions are dry.
Deposit cigarette butts in the proper receptacle to avoid starting a
Pour water over camp fires and backyard fire pits to ensure they are completely out before leaving them unattended.

Follow directions from local officials. If there are restrictions on water usage, be sure to heed them.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/wildfires and https://www.ready.gov/drought

X
Typhoons/Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from typhoons/hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, and rip currents.

“Hurricanes” form in the Atlantic Northeast Pacific region and “Typhoons” form in the Northwest Pacific Region. These large storms are call cyclones in other parts of the world.

To learn more, visit https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes.

JIC Release No. 5 - Hospital/Clinic Update