After a fall-off of cases over the summer, a second wave of swine flu is expected as autumn turns into winter. Because prevention is better than cure, here at Euroffice, we've put together a little checklist of things to keep in mind. It's just common sense, but we hope it will make you more aware of the simple precautions you can take to keep flu – avian, swine, Spanish, whatever – at bay.
The best way to avoid getting an infection is:
WASH YOUR HANDS REGULARLY WITH SOAP AND WATER
Ask any public health expert anywhere in the world and they will all agree this is rule number one.
If you don’t believe this, then think Semmelweis! Also check out the centre for disease control & prevention's website on handwashing.
Having said that, there are some other practical things you can do.
From home to office to home (and the supermarket…)
- If someone in your family has swine flu, you should tell the office. Perhaps you can work from home, that way you won't be spreading it around.
- The virus is spread through droplets in the air (sneezing or coughing), or touching surfaces covered with these droplets, so we've made a list of things that people touch every day. Let us know any we have missed:
Ticket machines, change dispensers, bus/tube rails, straps, bells, push buttons, escalator and stair banisters, office doors, toilet doors, reception counters, taking change back in a shop, the push rail on a supermarket trolley, café table surface, cash machine, the chained biro at the bank, the post office weighing machine…
- If you are going to sneeze, keep it to yourself by using a clean tissue when you cough or sneeze. Bin it as soon as you can and only use once.
- Don’t be afraid to use a sheet of loo roll or tissue to open a toilet door with! Bin the paper as soon as possible.
- When you're out and about and don't have soap and water to hand, use a sanitising gel.
- Wash your hands with soap and hot water when you get into the office, so you won’t start spreading bugs around if you have brought them in from outside. Washing your hands should be a reflex action.
- Count how many times you put your hand to your face, brow, ear, nose or mouth in one hour and you will see how easily transmission occurs.
- The jury seems to be out on the value of face masks, although the Japanese and Chinese don’t need convincing. Tony Hancock used to say “Coughs and sneezes spread diseases – use your handkerchief”, but may be a face mask is better!
