Walter Reed MWR

DIRECTIONS TO FISHER HOUSES I

FISHER HOUSE I:

FROM THE BELTWAY:

Take Exit 31B, 97 South Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Make right on Seminary Road. The road will split, bear left, onto Brookville Road. MAke right right onto Stephan Sitter Avenue. Drive approximately .5 miles. Fisher House, a large brick colonial, marked Bldg., 173 will be on your left.

FROM THE MAIN POST:

From the back Gate of WRAMC, make right onto 16th Street. Drive approximately one (1) mile and make left onto East West Hwy., make right onto Grubb Road, left onto Lyttonsville Road. At STOP sign, make right onto Brookville Road, and left onto Stephen Sitter .5 miles, Fisher House, a large brick colonial, marked Bldg., 173 will be on your left.

FISHER HOUSE II:

FROM THE BELTWAY:

From 495 (Beltway) take exit 31-B (Georgia Ave. / South). Take Georgia Avenue to Walter Reed Army Medical Center and enter post at Dahlia Street entrance. Immediately turn right at gate and follow Dahlia Street around the back of the hospital. Fisher House, Bldg 55 sits on the corner of Dahlia and 14th Street. It is directly across from Memorial Chapel.

INFECTION CONTROL

To some of you, the following information may be "old-hat". For families of newly diagnosed cancer patients and for families who have other medical problems, these tips will add to the comfort and health of ALL guests at Fisher House. In a community living situation such as ours, these are essentials.

Infectious or contagious illnesses are particularly dangerous to many immunosuppressed cancer patients. Patients report to the Manager if any of your family members staying at Fisher House should become ill or if any have had recent exposures to the following:

Chickenpox	Measles	Shingles (herpes zoster)	Hepatitis B
Strep meningitis	Influenza	Common cold	HIV

IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD SHOULD BREAK OUT WITH CHICKENPOX WITHIN THREE DAYS AFTER LEAVING FISHER HOUSE, PLEASE NOTIFY THE MANAGER IMMEDIATELY!!! Call collect. (Chickenpox can be fatal to children with lowered immunities; fortunately, there is a special serum, to prevent a serious case IF GIVEN To AN AT-RISK CHILD WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF EXPOSURE). If ANY of your family members should fall ill while staying at Fisher House, please notify the manager so that extra precaution can be recommended. Please read our infection control sheet.
If any family member is sick, that is, running a fever, vomiting, coughing, or has diarrhea, or runny nose, we ask that this person NOT mingle with others here until the problem has subsided.
It is particularly important that young children with illness be kept away from other people. Each parent is responsible for adequate cleanups of vomit, diarrhea, blood, etc., with dilute 1:10 bleach (use Lysol if spill is on rug, spreads, or cloth) - and for keeping the affected child away from others. (1: 10 mixture & Lysol/ equivalent are located in the laundry room and in the bathroom). We'll be happy to lend our toys to sick children; these must be thoroughly cleaned before you return them.
Parents - If your children are under age 6 or 7 years, PLEASE be sure to monitor all bathroom use so that you can clean up little accidents promptly. Teach your children to flush toilets each time, or do it for them if they are ill or cannot do it.
HANDWASHING FOR ALL AGES IS A MUST! It is the best way to prevent the spread of germs, which may cause disease. Please get your family into this important habit - it is especially important at Fisher House.

GUUIDELINES RE: IN-DWELLING CATHETERS
(broviacs, hickmans, etc.), INJECTIONS (i.e., insulin), OSTOMIES, I.Y MEDICATIONS

It is the obligation of each family to assure that all used needles, syringes and any items for care of in-dwelling lines or for administering any medications be disposed of appropriately. To that effect, a special entry-proof container should be provided by and returned to the treating doctor.

Needles, syringes and similar used medical products should not be disposed of directly into Fisher House trash baskets, garbage cans, NOR into the dumpster. Your full cooperation is required.

In addition, all bodily wastes in diapers, ostomy bags, sanitary napkins, etc., should be properly sealed in plastic bags before disposal in the Fisher House dumpster at the rear driveway entrance. Extra plastic bags are available in the laundry room, as are full-sized garbage bags. Clean-up of bodily fluids should be made with disposable towels or rags and discarded the same as above, in sealed bags.

It is important that each parent adequately supervise his or her child (or children) and pay strict attention to adequate clean-up of all messes. Please see the posted bathroom routines for details, or check with our staff if you have questions.