• Home
• About Medjet
• Feature Destination
• Medjet eNewsletter Archive
• Medjet Virtual Chumby
• The World Wide Will

Medjet Public Health Announcement – Swine Flu

Posted on April 27, 2009
Filed Under Health, Medjet, Public Health Alert, Safety, Travel, Website Tips | Comments Off

Preparation for a Potential Swine Flu Epidemic

By: Norris Beren, Risk Reduction Education, Inc./Emergency Preparedness Institute
Norris Beren is a Medjet member, author, speaker and trainer in the field emergency preparedness for families and business. For more information on Norris Beren please visit www.getpreparedtoday.org.

Information is your best friend right now.  We tend to hear but not always listen to the media with regards to these and other types of dangerous warnings.  I have identified some key concerns and steps you and your family and business, churches and other people you care about need to understand and implement.  Please take this seriously.  It can help everyone.

Educating people especially at work, schools and businesses is critical.  Many businesses and government agencies have established pandemic emergency strategies.  Many have not. Now is the time to execute that plan or develop one.

Personal Action:

• Know symptoms of various types of illnesses, such as flu, cold, etc.
• Contact medical doctor immediately upon onset of symptoms.
• Stay informed about flu outbreaks, get news alerts online, listen, read or watch news reports.
• The first line of defense to prevent transmission from person-to-person is exercise careful hand hygiene. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if hands are not visibly soiled.
• Cover your cough. People who are coughing should be encouraged to contain their coughs by use of disposable tissues.
• A surgical mask can reduce the number of droplets coughed into the air. Ask a sick person to wear a mask if one is available provided the person can tolerate it.
• Avoid traveling when ill.
• If possible, avoid going to work or school or other public places while ill.
• Raw food always should be handled hygienically because it can be associated with many infections, including salmonella. Therefore, all utensils and surfaces (including hands) that come in contact with raw poultry should be cleaned carefully and immediately afterward with water and soap.
• For travelers, assemble a travel health kit containing basic first aid and medical supplies. Be sure to include a thermometer and alcohol-based hand sanitizer for hand hygiene.

Businesses:

• Provide flu shots to employees if recommended by public health authorities.
• Provide disease control information in paycheck stuffers and posters for employees.
• Teach employees how to reduce their risks of illness by proper preparedness and safe methods of careful hand hygiene. Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if hands are not visibly soiled.
• Develop backup preparedness plans to continue to function the business when large numbers of employees are out sick at the same time.
• Provide adequate supplies of facial tissues and receptacles for disposal.
• Sanitize restroom facilities, eating facilities and work areas where appropriate by keeping the workplace safe and prepared for a high incidence of germs and contamination.
• Provide individualized personal equipment when appropriate such as ear pieces and headsets for phones, welding masks, goggles, and provide alcohol wipes for equipment used by more than one person, such as handsets for phones, head gear, etc.
• Coach employees who travel, especially on airplanes about hygiene, air quality issues and prophylactic needs, such as face masks, alcohol wipes, etc.
• Have plans for temporary workers as needed.
• Build inventory and utilize other strategies to continue operating the business in anticipation of large numbers of workers being absent.
• Prepare for loss of basic services such health care, law enforcement, emergency response, communications, transportation and utilities.
• Have contingency plans for vendors, suppliers, professional staff and customers who cannot respond to your needs or accept your products or services.
• Provide maximum air quality safety procedures in the workplace.
• Revisit sick day policies to avoid people reporting for work that should not because of illness.
• Encourage employees to wear disposable gloves or facemasks if appropriate for their job function –e.g. food handling, medical workers, personal care employees, etc.

---

NOTE: This post is designed for information only of a general nature of steps that people should take and employers should share with their employees. All information of a medical nature should be obtained from competent medical professionals.

Information provided to Medjet by:
Norris L. Beren, Host of The “Preparedness Report” WGPN Radio
Emergency Preparedness Institute/Risk Reduction Education, Inc.
Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Author, Media Contributor
www.getprepared.org • www.getpreparedtoday.org • www.myemspace.com