OLYMPIA — Winter is flu season, and flu season means crowded emergency rooms, and crowded doctor offices and medical facilities in general. Washington Department of Health officials are asking people to take some steps to keep the crowding to a minimum.

People should avoid the emergency room unless they need immediate medical attention, according to a DOH press release. The first step for people who think they have the flu is to contact their personal physician or medical provider, the press release said.

“The emergency room should be used for people who are very sick. You should not go to the emergency room if you are mildly ill.”

Flu isn’t fun. But “most people with the flu have mild or moderate illness and don’t need medical care or antiviral drugs,” the press release said. “In most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care.”

There are, of course some exceptions, and there are symptoms that people shouldn’t ignore. “If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should go to the emergency room.”

In the case of children, those signs include a fever with a rash, signs of respiratory problems like bluish skin or breathing fast, or trouble breathing. It’s a problem if the child won’t wake up or isn’t interacting with people, or is so irritable they don’t want to be held. Parents also should seek medical treatment if the symptoms go away, but return with fever and a more serious cough.

The same thing is true for adults – if the symptoms go away, but then come back with a worse cough and fever, it’s time to see a medical provider. Adults who are experiencing persistent vomiting, dizziness and confusion, chest tightness or pain, or difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.

The DOH press release recommends getting a flu shot. In addition, “wash your hands often with soap and warm water,” and people should cover the mouth when they cough. “Stay away from sick people as much as possible. It’s possible to spread flu before you even know you’re sick, so cover your cough, wash your hands often, and stay home if you begin to feel sick.”

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].