Sheldon, Iowa — Many northwest Iowans are having to handle less than sanitary conditions to clean up after the flood. And that could mean exposure to a dangerous strain of bacteria.
Sanford Sheldon Physician, Dr. Ryan Becker tells us more.
Becker says the actual disease Tetanus is fairly rare nowadays, but if you get it, it can lead to a painful condition and even death. It’s colloquially known as “lockjaw.”
If you happen to get injured in unsanitary conditions, especially if you know your Tetanus vaccination is out-of-date, Becker says call Sanford Sheldon.
Becker says if you don’t know for sure how long it’s been since you’ve had a Tetanus shot, you can call your provider and ask. If you had the shot elsewhere, they may not have access to those records, so you can call that facility, or Sanford Sheldon can help you find that information. He says if you’re a Sanford patient who uses their “My Sanford Chart” app, the information is even on there. In fact, if it’s been more than ten years, the app is supposed to remind you to update your Tetanus vaccination as well. You can call Sanford Sheldon at 712-324-5356 or your provider for more information.
