The ND Safety Council recently updated its Emergency Care training programs by including "Prescription for the Flu" to the public and to its members.  The first public training session is scheduled for January 21, 2009 in Bismarck, ND.
 
In the United States, seasonal influenza causes 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations each year, and cost businesses upward of $10.4 billion in 2007. In small operations, flu can halt production altogether.
 
The most effective way to protect your employees from the flu is to offer flu immunizations in the form of shots or nasal mist vaccines, or direct people to where immunizations are locally available. The National Safety Council recommends immunizations and also practices to deter the spread of flu, which is a seasonal virus that affects the respiratory tract and travels via airborne particles, hands and contaminated objects.
 
Since the flu virus can live up to two hours on hard surfaces, proper hand-washing is important, as is regular disinfection of items often touched. Common office hot spots include computer keyboards, elevator buttons, fax and copy machine keypads, refrigerator doors and telephones. Covering coughs and sneezes with an elbow, keeping a safe distance from infected persons and following general good health habits also help prevent flu.
 
Learn how to develop a seasonal flu prevention program for your employees from the National Safety Council's new guide, Prescription for the Flu: Planning a Seasonal Flu Prevention Program.