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Guidelines Released for 911 Call Centers, Medical Responders Regarding Swine Flu

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released guidance on how to screen callers for flu symptoms and what constitutes a suspected case of the disease.

Federal officials released interim guidance for public safety answering points -- the call centers responsible for answering calls to an emergency services phone number -- regarding swine flu. Officials are urging 911 and emergency medical services (EMS) to consult with an EMS medical director given the uncertainty surrounding the disease.

The ongoing participation of EMS medical directors is critically important given the uncertainty surrounding the treatment and progression of the disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its Web site.

The recommendations include an explanation of the infectious period; what constitutes confirmed, probable and suspected cases of the disease; how to screen callers for symptoms of the flu; and guidelines for EMS responders caring for patient who may have contracted swine flu.

Recommendations also are made about measures EMS personnel should take to protect their own health and that of their families.