Even after a hurricane has passed, there still are lingering health and safety concerns. Here are some important points to remember.
Healthcare
Many medical facilities and hospitals are operating on a limited basis. A mobile health unit may be available to provide services to residents with cuts, scrapes, bruises and mild illnesses. Here is what we know about the major healthcare centers:
- NCH Healthcare System
- Emergency rooms are open for urgent needs: NCH North Naples Hospital, NCH Baker Hospital, Bonita Emergency Department. They also have a pediatric ER at North Naples Hospital.
- The hospitals are on lockdown and only accepting emergency patients.
- Lee Health
- All Lee Health Emergency Rooms are open: Lee Memorial Hospital, Cape Coral Hospital, HealthPark Medical Center, and Gulf Coast Medical Center. They also have a pediatric ER at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
- Currently, Lee Health’s TeleHealth service is FREE for our community for virtual consults.
- Advocate Radiation Oncology
- Fort Myers: 15681 New Hampshire Court, 239-437-1977
- Cape Coral, 909 Del Prado Blvd. S., 239-217-8070
- Bonita Springs, 25243 Elementary Way, 239-317-2772
- Naples, 1775 Davis Blvd., 239-372-2838
- Bradenton, 5325 State Road 64, 941-220-6263
- Port Charlotte, 3080 Harbor Blvd., 941-883-2199
- Website: advocatero.com
- Additional notes: The listed cancer treatment centers are open for treatment for both existing and new patients. Locations in West Palm Beach and Tamarac are also available on the East Coast of Florida.
Avow Hospice
- Address: 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples
- Phone: Avow is always open to help. Call 239-261-4404 or toll free 888-484-AVOW (2869) any time to speak to a team member
Collier Senior Center (Golden Gate) is open to serve older adults and caregivers in Collier County. Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
- Address: 4898 Coronado Parkway. Membership is FREE.
Elite DNA Behavioral Health
- Elite DNA Behavioral Health, a comprehensive behavioral and mental health care provider, has reopened the following locations:
- Fort Myers – Metro: 4310 Metro Parkway, Suite 205, 239-223-2751
- Port Charlotte: 3191 Harbor Blvd., Suites A-B, 941-883-4518
- Website: EliteDNA.com
Healthcare Network
- Marion E. Fether (MEF), 1454 Madison Ave. W., Immokalee
- FSU College of Medicine and iTech, 1441 Heritage Blvd., Immokalee
- Nichols Community Health Center Golden Gate, 12655 Collier Blvd., Naples
- Children’s Care East (CCE ), 6350 Davis Blvd. #1001, Naples
- Dental Care East (DCE) located in Naples, 1749 Heritage Trl., #801, Naples
- Children’s Care North (CCN), 1265 Creekside Parkway, #208, Naples
- Family Care North (FCN), 1265 Creekside Parkway, #206, Naples
- Family Care iTech (FCIT), 508 North 9th Street, #142, Immokalee
- Total Women’s Care (TWC), 1890 SW Health Pkwy, #203, Naples
- Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Phone: 239.658.3000 to schedule or make an appointment. Telehealth services are also available.
NAMI Collier County
- Sarah Ann Drop-In Center is closed due to damage
- We know one in five people live with mental illnesses daily; with the widespread devastation that has occurred, the stressors and triggers are magnified. If you are feeling overwhelmed and need to speak to some of NAMI’s Peer Operators, call the Wam Line at 800-945-1355 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, or the National Suicide Hotline at 988.
- Donations: https://www.namicollier.org/donate/
Urgent Cares: These locations are open:
- Collier Urgent Care, 1514 Immokalee Rd #114, Naples, FL 34110. Open until 6:30pm, Friday, 9/30
- Physicians Regional
- Physicians Regional Medical Group Founders Square and Pine Ridge MOB Urgent Care open until 7pm on Friday; and 7am-7pm Saturday (10/01) and Sunday (10/02)
- Physicians Regional Medical Group East Naples Urgent Care, Marco Island and Bonita (Walden) locations are closed.
- Coastal Med Urgent Care, 8291 Dani Dr suite 100, Fort Myers, FL; Open with normal hours
MD Now
- Virtual appointments available
SalusCare
- Located at 3763 Evans Avenue Ft. Myers, FL 33901
- Phone: 239.275.3222
- Website: https://www.saluscareflorida.org/
- Hours: Appointments only for MAT clinic at the Evans location
- If you have an appointment scheduled for any time before Oct. 7, it may be rescheduled, unless you have an appointment in the MAT clinic, which is operating on schedule.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, tasteless and odorless poison that can be easily avoided. Do not burn charcoal, gas grills or gas-powered generators inside houses, garages, vehicles or tents. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include fatigue, weakness, chest pains, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, headaches, confusion, lack of coordination and impaired vision.
Food Safety
Food that has not been refrigerated for two hours or more, has an unusual odor, color or texture and is no longer cool to the touch is unsafe. Throw it out.
Drinking Water
Never assume that public water in hurricane-affected areas is safe to drink. Use bottled water for cooking, eating and drinking until there are public announcements about water safety. If bottled water is not available, boil tap water vigorously for at least one minute. Per the Center for Disease Control, if you don’t have safe bottled water and if boiling is not possible, you can make small quantities of water safer to drink by using a chemical disinfectant, such as unscented household chlorine bleach, iodine, or chlorine dioxide tablets.
*Currently: Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties are all under a boil water notice until further notice.
Hand Washing and Sanitization
Wash hands often with soap and clean water. If you’re unsure about the water source, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to decrease the risk of illness, infection or contact with disease-causing bacteria.
Mosquitos
Heavy rains and flooding lead to an increase in the mosquitos. Public health authorities recommend following the “five D’s of prevention” to avoid mosquito bites.
- Dusk and Dawn–avoid the outdoors from sunset to sunrise.
- Dress–wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and socks.
- DEET–use repellents with DEET, usually 30 percent solutions. Do not use DEET on children younger than 2 months old.
- Drainage–check your home and neighborhood, and dump standing water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.