The advice listed here is taken from Ready for Anything, our guide to responding to disasters and calamities big and small. For your free copy, click here.
LEARN THESE TERMS
Seasonal Influenza: A highly contagious respiratory illness that affects up to 20% of Americans annually
Pandemic Influenza: Any novel variety of flu (swine, avian, etc.) that spreads globally
Pandemic: A disease, which spreads rapidly throughout the world, including flu, SARS, etc.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
- Maintain proper pandemic supplies
- Promote worker health and hygiene
- Encourage employees to receive flu shots
- If your facility is open to the public, consider yourself at heightened risk
PANDEMIC SPECIFIC WEB RESOURCES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Department of Health & Human Services
IF THE CDC HAS DECLARED A PANDEMIC WARNING OR PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
- Always remember that the safety of your staff and guests are your highest priority
- Encourage staff to wash their hands frequently
- Order any staff who can to work from home
- Order any staff who can to work from home
- Restrict use of phones and computers to as few people as possible; ideally, 1 user per device
- Ensure that hand sanitizer, masks, tissue, and cleansing wipes are given to everyone
- Disinfect common areas often
- If any staff or guest exhibit flu-like symptoms, send them home immediately
- Consider waiving or relaxing attendance policies during pandemic event
- Monitor news broadcasts for instructions
