Ewwwwwww!

Looks like weapons and faulty security cameras aren't the only things we have to worry about when visiting the RJC. A helpful tipster passed along this little gem:

From: Sommermeyer, Michael
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 2:40 PM
To: [redacted]
Cc: [redacted]
Subject: Health and Safety Alert

A case of whooping cough (pertussis) was suspected and identified today (7/21/2010) at the Regional Justice Center. Whooping cough is very contagious and can be spread quickly among individuals who have not been immunized against it. This email is not meant to cause panic, but to advise you of the symptoms of the disease so that you are better prepared. If you suspect you may be ill, contact a doctor immediately. Please share this information with anyone without access to the court email system.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), whooping cough is still very much a public health concern. Here is a list of sypmtoms and indications that the disease may be present:

Symptoms:
Once you become infected with whooping cough, it takes three to 12 days for signs and symptoms to appear. They're usually mild at first and resemble those of a common cold:

Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Sneezing
Red, watery eyes
A mild fever
Dry cough
After a week or two, signs and symptoms worsen. Severe and prolonged coughing attacks may:

Bring up thick phlegm
Provoke vomiting
Result in a red or blue face
Cause extreme fatigue
End with a high-pitched "whoop" sound during the next breath of air
However, many people — particularly infants, adolescents and adults — don't develop the characteristic whoop. Sometimes, a persistent hacking cough is the only sign that an adolescent or adult has whooping cough.

When to seek immediate medical care:

Call your doctor if prolonged coughing spells cause you or your child to:

Vomit
Turn red or blue
Inhale with a whooping sound

Michael Sommermeyer
Court Information Officer
SommermeyerM@clarkcountycourts.us

Sounds lovely. Just as an aside, you should probably give your doctor a ring if you turn blue, regardless of whether you've recently been in the RJC.

Think visiting the RJC will prevent attorneys from being able to donate blood?

(Thanks Tipster!)