At least one state made good on threats to fine healthcare facilities if they didn’t protect their employees by following H1N1 flu standards.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: DOSH, H1N1, healthcare, respirators, swine flu
Disinfectants can be useful in limiting spread of any type of influenza, including swine flu. But what exactly can these products do, and what can’t they do?
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: disinfectants, EPA, H1N1, swine flu
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates almost 4,000 deaths in the U.S. were related to swine flu between April and mid-October.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: flu deaths, H1N1, swine flu
Public health experts say company sick-time policies may be helping H1N1 (swine) flu spread more easily.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: H1N1, paid sick days, swine flu
Employees across the country have a message for their co-workers during this H1N1 flu season: Don’t come in if you’re sick.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, H1N1, swine flu
Employees across the country have a message for their co-workers during this H1N1 flu season: Don’t come in if you’re sick.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: H1N1 flu, stay home from work, swine flu
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released updated guidance that recommends action non-healthcare employers should take against swine (H1N1) and seasonal flu during the fall and winter of 2009-2010.
Read the rest of this entry »
The World Health Organization has declared a swine flu pandemic, the first global flu epidemic in 41 years.
Read the rest of this entry »
Industry Experts Offer Advice on Keeping Employees Safe and Healthy
As health experts raised the threat level of the swine flu to 5, indicating “a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent,” some U.S. businesses are just now beginning to look at ways to prepare for the potential health, social, and economic impact of a flu pandemic.
“Planning for pandemic influenza is critical, and the business community must not delay in considering the impact of a pandemic and to adjust their company’s employee health and safety plans accordingly,” says Lindsey Booher, CIH, CSP, president of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. “Employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees, and by following guidelines based on traditional infection control and industrial hygiene practices, employers can play a key role in protecting their employees from influenza and other communicable illnesses.”
During a pandemic flu outbreak, industrial hygienists will have responsibility for both ensuring worker health and safety and maintaining an adequate work force to accommodate changes in workflow and production. As industrial hygienists play a major role in the control of infectious diseases, they already undertake the critical function of educating employers and governments about the effectiveness of industrial hygiene expertise, tools, and processes that will control infectious diseases.
If you do not already have the AIHA-published, “The Role of the Industrial Hygienist in a Pandemic,” now is the time to get this essential reference. Written by the AIHA Biosafety and Environmental Microbiology Committee, the guideline provides resources, information, and tools to advise and assist general workers, health care workers, and management to protect workers in the case of a flu pandemic. This guide identifies hazards, risk groups, and recommended controls; offers a communication plan; describes the impact of a flu pandemic on organizations, and lists key resources to contact for further information.
Tags: swine flu
As someone in charge of safety and health at your workplace, here’s what you need to know about the swine flu outbreak:
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, facemask and respirator recommendations, swine flu
Nurses Call for Broader Action to Combat Swine Flu:
Boost Public Health, Moratorium on Closures, Layoffs,
Suspend Insurance Charges that Discourage Prevention
The nation’s largest organization of registered nurses today called for broader, national action to promote containment and prevention of a broader swine flu pandemic.
While welcoming the Obama administration’s call on Congress Tuesday to allocate $1.5 billion for combating the virus, the 86,000 member California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee said more is needed to bolster a healthcare infrastructure badly eroded after years of neglect in the public safety net.
“From SARS to avian flu to the current escalating outbreaks of swine influenza, it has become increasingly clear that we are risking a major catastrophe unless we act to restore the safety net, and devote the resources that are needed to protect the public,” said CNA/NNOC co-president Deborah Burger, RN.
The CNA/NNOC action plan includes:
More than three years ago, CNA/NNOC warned that the “firewalls for stopping the next great pandemic are getting thinner,” and cited cuts in public health funding and decreased capacity within the system needed to protect public safety. (see calnurses.org for article)
In a November 2005 article in the CNA/NNOC national magazine, written at the time of avian flu warnings, CNA/NNOC noted the escalating cuts in public health funding then, and shrinking of capacity. For example, at the time, there were only 105,000 mechanical ventilators, of which 75,000 to 80,000 were in constant use, an alarming shortage of capacity in the event of acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Recalling the 1918-1919 global influenza which killed as many as 100 million people worldwide, and 675,000 Americans, the article noted that the world’s population “was less than a third of what it is today and populations were far more isolated.”
It also noted a major lesson of that pandemic was the enormous mitigating effect adequate nursing care has on mortality. “We need to rededicate our nation to expanding the supply of nurses and safe patient care in our hospitals and clinics, which is a central component of the healthcare safety net that is especially vital at times of public health crises,” Burger noted.
Eliminating barriers to care based on ability to pay is another central priority, Burger added.
Recent reports have emphasized the growing number of Americans who are skipping routine medical screenings, exams, and general preventive care due to the skyrocketing co-pays, deductibles, and other use charges imposed by insurance companies.
“Price gouging by the healthcare industry has already put tens of millions of families in healthcare jeopardy, especially in an economic crisis,” said Burger. “At a time when untold numbers are already exposed to a dangerous virus, we need to be removing any barriers to medical care that would exacerbate the spread of contagion.”
Representing some 86,000 RNs in all 50 states, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee is the largest and fastest-growing association of direct-care RNs in the nation. Learn more at www.calnurses.org.
Tags: swine flu
One Call Now is continuing their history of community service with the offer of free phone notification to any group who feels they may be affected by the outbreak of swine flu, no strings attached. The 90-day free calling plan is meant to keep schools, government agencies, religious organizations, sports teams and businesses in constant communication as the situation continues to evolve.
One Call Now Offers Notification Service at NO CHARGE for Governments, Schools, Businesses, Religious Organizations and Others in Response to Swine Flu Outbreak.
Troy, OH-In response to outbreaks of swine flu across North America, One Call Now, America’s leading emergency notification service, has issued professionally-written influenza notification scripts for use by its 35,000 clients to inform and protect the millions of families currently receiving One Call Now Notification Messages.
The company has also announced a NO-Charge, proactive emergency calling plan for any government emergency management agency, school district, business, religious or community organization that lacks an emergency communication system but will find it essential to inform their citizens, families, staff and congregations should the situation change.
One Call Now’s various comprehensive service plans include clear voice, SMS text and email messages, enabling you to reach tens of thousands of recipients a minute to protect lives and keep people informed.
For Government Agencies, the NO-charge service will provide a database of all published and unpublished numbers for every household to be used by government emergency agencies to immediately send a clear, digitally recorded voice message to an entire town, city or county.
For Schools, the NO-Charge service will dial every family in the school’s student database in moments with updates, instructions and details to keep children safe and parents informed.
For Businesses, the NO-charge business continuity plan will allow company management to reach every employee, stakeholder and customer with emergency communications and plans for staff and clients alike.
For Churches, Youth Sports Leagues and Community Organizations, instant communications to keep families safe and informed is vital; and now easy, and at NO charge.
“We have been providing emergency services to tens of thousands of organizations nationwide for eight years, and reach millions of people every day with voice or text messages that inform and protect. In this uncertain time, with the World Health Organization issuing an unprecedented Phase IV pandemic alert, it is incumbent upon every organization to have the ability to contact their people immediately; even if there is no budget or funds available. That’s why we are offering a no-strings, no-charge emergency communications plan for any organization. Our company mission statement, ‘When messages matter, we deliver’ is not just a phrase, it is part of our DNA, and why this no-charge service is so vital for any organization to have in place if the worst should happen. ” said Leib Lurie, CEO of One Call Now.
“The company can have most new clients ready to send their first test message in a matter of hours, and our 24/7 support team is always ready to train and assist with fast, professional implementation. This includes scripts issued to all clients to be used to inform and help keep every family safer from this lethal form of Influenza. ” said company President Angela Kirchner.
For details and immediate implementation for your emergency communications plan, organization administrators are urged to call 877-698-3262.
About One Call Now
Troy, Ohio-based One Call Now has grown rapidly to become a leading provider of community notification solutions for time-sensitive communications. More than 35,000 schools, colleges, municipalities, government agencies, religious organizations, youth leagues and businesses rely on One Call Now services to distribute critical information to millions of people across the United States every day. Whether for emergencies, event changes, reminders for activities, events, games and practices, or to poll people for instant responses, One Call Now is committed to delivering the highest quality service and support to its customers. Please visit us at www.onecallnow.com.
Tags: swine flu
Loading ...
