Your throat hurts, you're convinced that the coughing and sneezing will never end, and to top it off, your body feels like it went 12 rounds with an ultimate fighter. You may have H1N1, commonly called the 'swine flu'. But before jumping to conclusions, it's important to know what to look for. Here are some signs and symptoms of the H1N1 virus:
- Fever (above 100°F)
- Persistent cough
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Diarrhea and vomiting
For all intents and purposes, the symptoms of H1N1 seem similar to those of the common flu. But complacency this flu season could be deadly. H1N1 victims generally exhibit typical symptoms before rapidly deteriorating. In some cases, respiratory failure requires patients to be hooked up to a breathing machine. The scariest statistic is in all of this is that the average age of death of people succumbing to H1N1 is 44 years old. It seems that this potentially deadly virus shows no mercy to the young.
For the office environment, H1N1 poses an extremely hazardous risk. The World Health Organization is so concerned with the spread of the virus that its has raised it's alert about H1N1 to a Level 6, the highest possible level. According to WHO, H1N1 has reached the Global Pandemic Level.
With the flu season descending upon us, it is vital that businesses and employers exercise their responsibility to help protect their employees. Education is the key to successfully battling this dangerous pandemic. A lack of information and proper protocol will lead to continued spreading of H1N1. Keeping everyone informed with up-to-date information (go ahead and forward this newsletter to everyone you know) will help protect the health and safety of us all.
So how do you protect yourself in the workplace?
- Proper hygiene: The practice of hand-washing is vital to the prevention of the spreading of H1N1. In addition to the use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, wash your hands regularly with soap and water. This needs to be done 10 times and day for at least 20 seconds each time. When coughing, cover your mouth or cough into your sleeve. Wash hands immediately. Dispose of any used tissues.
- Keep plenty of disinfectant wipes on hand. 'No touch' trashcans and plenty of hand sanitizer will help prevent the spreading of viral bacteria. Use disinfectants and disposable towels to keep all work areas, bathrooms, and lunchrooms clean.
- Practice 'social distancing'. Avoid hugging, kissing, and hand shaking during the flu season. Send an email or e-card to express sentiment.
- Stay home. Sick people must recover away from the office. This is no time for anyone to play the martyr. Infected workers must stay away from the workplace for at least 24hrs after all symptoms have dissipated. Employer are encouraged to maintain flexible worksites (telecommuting, off-hours, staggered shifts) in order to help facilitate the fight against H1N1.
- Get vaccinated. One sure way to stick it to H1N1 is to see your medical professional about the possibility of getting the vaccination.
The upcoming flu season looks to be one of the worst in recent memory. Staying protected means keeping educated, especially where you work. To help offices pass along the message, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers free posters, brochures, and other material for businesses to help spread the message.
Take care this season and do your part to help us all fight this nasty little bug.
