Self Centered Safety
January 24, 2020Cold Stress Safety
February 6, 2020Good Morning Team,
I am sure that you’ve heard that the coronavirus, otherwise known as the flu, is making the rounds. While it is possible to get the flu at any time of the year, in the US our season generally begins in October, peaks between December and February, and tapers off toward May. It is being reported that our current US flu activity is trending higher than in previous years.
And, as you are also no doubt aware, a completely new strain, was discovered in Wuhan, China, and has now sickened more than 600 people, killing 18. It would seem a pretty remote possibility of it showing up in the US but in fact, at the time I am writing this, there have been two reported cases. Modern day travel makes the spread of almost any disease a worldwide possibility. China has reportedly shut down transportation hubs in and out of the most affected area.
Unfortunately, this newest strain appears to have a long incubation period and people may have been spreading the virus long before they had any symptoms themselves. Still there is really no reason to go into full blown panic mode, the flu has been around for as long as we have, and there are some basic precautions we can adhere to which lessen the probability of catching the flu, or at least the severity of it if we do. Below are those tips, taken directly from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) website. The hyperlinks are active here if want more information.
The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent flu. The tips and resources below will help you learn about steps you can take to protect yourself and others from flu and help stop the spread of germs.
- Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. - Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others. - Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), are spread by cough, sneezing, or unclean hands. - Clean your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Handwashing:
Clean Hands Save Lives
Tips on hand washing and using alcohol-based hand sanitizers - It’s
a SNAP Toolkit: Handwashingexternal icon
Hand washing resources from the It’s A SNAP program, aimed at preventing school absenteeism by promoting clean hands. From the School Network for Absenteeism Prevention, a collaborative project of the CDC, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Cleaning Institute.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose
or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. - Practice
other good health habits.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
I think we are a long way from having to wear haz-mat suits everywhere we go but maintaining an awareness of and adhering to the simple steps shared above will go a long way in preventing the needless spread of the flu virus in the coming months. We may not be able to avoid all sickness, but let’s do all that we can to limit how far it might spread.
Have a safe and illness free week!
Sincerely,
Ray Moore