Preparing Your Business for the Flu

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Preparing Your Business for the Flu

• Kristine LaVoy, R.N.
• Chief of Compliance
• October 20, 2009

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Seasonal Flu vs. H1N1

• Each year, seasonal flu kills approximately
  36,000 people in the US and hospitalizes 200,000.
• 90 of deaths 60 of hospitalizations involve
  people over 65.
• H1N1 is a novel virus lack of immunity may
  result in widespread, severe illness.
• H1N1 is already a public health emergency.

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Signs Symptoms of H1N1

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Body aches
• Headache
• Chills

• Fatigue
• In addition, vomiting (25) and diarrhea (25)
• Higher rates than for seasonal flu

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Spread of H1N1

• Primarily through respiratory droplets.
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Contact with respiratory droplets, including on
  an object, then touching mucus membranes without
  hand hygiene.
• H1N1 has spread rapidly.

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Contagious Period

• One day before getting sick and 5 to 7 days
  after.
• Can be longer in children and people with
  weakened immune system.
• Stay home for at least 24 hours after fever is
  gone without the use of fever-reducing
  medicine.

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Prevention

• Respiratory hygiene
• Cover nose and mouth for cough and sneeze.
• Discard tissues after one use.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth.
• Hand hygiene
• Happy Birthday x 2.
• Alcohol-based hand cleansers are effective.

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Vaccination

• First batches of vaccines are being distributed.
• Vaccine target populations
• Pregnant women
• Person living with or caring for children under 6
  months
• Children from 6 months to 4 years
• Health care workers
• Children 6 months to adults 24 years
• People between 25 to 64 years
• People 65 years or older

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Treatment

• Stay home and avoid contact with others.
• Rest and fluids.
• Seek medical care for severe illness or at high
  risk for flu complications.
• Antiviral drugs milder symptoms, faster
  recovery.
• Criteria for use.

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Implications of Flu on Your Business

• Importance of Planning
• Implications of a major disaster 25 of
  businesses do not re-open.
• Goal
• Minimize business disruption.
• Protect employees health safety.
• Limit negative impact in the community, economy,
  society.
• Dont be a point of spread

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How to Plan and Prepare

• Review current plans or develop a plan.
• Assure sick leave policies are consistent with
  public health recommendations.
• Try to provide flexible leave policies.
• School closure
• Share best practices with business associates.
• Provide employees with a way to access current
  information.

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Planning cont

• Identify essential business functions and
  critical supply chains. Establish disruption
  plans.
• Consider hours and logistics that will reduce
  personal contact evaluate common areas.

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Business Response -Current Conditions

• Advise ill employees to stay home.
• Encourage respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene
  practices.
• Separate employees that become ill at work.
• Routinely clean work surfaces and shared items.
• Encourage vaccinations.

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Business Response -More Severe Conditions

• Actively screen employees arriving at work.
• Extend time-off for sick employees to 7 days or
  more.
• Expand plans to maintain operations with
  additional employees working from home.
• Evaluate other ways to increase social distance.

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Our Reality

• Currently, 95 of flu is H1N1.
• It is projected that up to 50 of Californians
  will get H1N1.
• There is a distinct potential for mutation of the
  virus.
• This likely will be a marathon NOT a sprint.

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Resources

• CDC www.cdc.gov
• A Communication Toolkit for Businesses and
  Employers
• Alameda County Department of Public Health
  www.acdph.org
• Washington Hospital Health Connection
  1-800-963-7070
• Washington Hospital web site www.whhs.com

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Questions??