The flu has already hit schools and workplaces in the Fox Valley this Fall, so many of us have already been exposed to the challenges of caring for self and family when sick and trying to stay healthy while maintaining normal activities. We have gathered the following information to provide tips, links, and videos related to the flu season, including the H1N1 pandemic flu, what you can do to stay healthy, and where you can find additional information when needed.
You can protect yourself and others by following these key action steps.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
[insert video on how to wash hands properly]
Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles.
Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.
Do not use other workers' phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. If you need to use a co-worker's phone, desk, or other equipment, clean it first.
Don't spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home. Symptoms of flu included fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. CDC recommends that sick workers stay home if they are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
Get vaccinated against seasonal flu, when vaccine is available in your area. If you are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications you should receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.
Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Businesses and Employers
The CDC has a toolkit assembled which includes questions and answers, fact sheets, action steps, and more. Go to the full toolkit or check out some of the resources from it here:
Quick Reference for Businesses and Employers 2009-2010 Influenza Season Planning and Response
Sick employees should stay home.
People with symptoms of flu-like illness should stay home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever.
Sick employees at work should be sent home.
Employees who appear to have a flu-like illness upon arrival or become sick during the work day should be promptly separated from others and sent home.
Encourage your employees to wash their hands often.
Instruct employees to wash their hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner, especially after coughing or sneezing.
Encourage your employees to cover their coughs and sneezes.
Communicate the importance of covering coughs and sneezes and provide tissues and no-touch wastebaskets.
Clean surfaces and items that are more likely to have frequent hand contact.
Clean surfaces that are frequently touched with cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas. Additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning is not recommended.
Encourage employees to get vaccinated.
Encourage employees to get vaccinated for seasonal flu and employees at higher risk for flu complications to get vaccinated for 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are available to them.
Protect employees who are at higher risk for complications of flu.
Employees at higher risk for complications of flu, like pregnant women and people with certain chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and asthma, should check with their health care provider promptly, if they become sick. Encourage these employees to get vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu as recommended when vaccines are available. Early treatment with antiviral medications is very important for people at higher risk for flu complications because it can prevent hospitalizations and deaths.
Prepare for increased numbers of employee absences due to illness in employees and their family members and plan ways for essential business functions to continue.
Cross-train staff to perform essential functions so that business operations can continue.
Advise employees before traveling to take certain steps.
Advise workers to check for signs of flu-like illness before traveling, to notify their supervisor, and stay home if they are sick. Tell employees who are traveling how to seek health care if they become sick and need care. If employees become sick during travel, they should stay in their hotel room unless they are seeking medical care.
Prepare for the possibility of school dismissals or temporary closure of child care programs.
Allow workers to stay home to take care of their children if schools are dismissed or child care programs are closed. Encourage your employees with children to plan for child care alternatives if possible.
Alcohol-based hand gel is available throughout the library for quick clean ups.
Wipes are available near public access computers, so you can clean off keyboards and mice before or after using them.
Brochures are available from the CDC, which include tips for individuals and parents on how to stay healthy and information about the H1N1 virus.
Posters have been placed in restrooms and staff workrooms which demonstrate the best way to prevent germs from spreading.
Links to Internet Resources
Flu Clinic Locator
Enter your zip code to find clinics offering flu vaccinations in your area. Click here for more information about priority groups for vaccination.
H1N1 Influenza Information from EBSCO
Free information for clinicians, nurses, and patients. Includes information in multiple languages for patients. Useful questions and answers resource available here.
Flu.gov
Get the myths and facts surrounding the flu pandemic straight with tools available on this website. Breaks down information by age and other factors. Great resource for current news.
