Don't assume you're ready - Make certain of it
September 1, 2009 3 minutes read
Don't assume you're ready - Make certain of it
"You can't assume that because a program has the responsibility to be prepared in the event of a potentially serious influenza outbreak, that they actually are prepared," says Caroll Niewolny, RN, PHN, MS, manager of occupational health and safety for Ramsey County Human Resources in St. Paul, MN. "You need oversight and accountability at a corporate level."
Here are things to do right now to prepare for a flu pandemic this fall:
1. Plan for vaccine distribution for seasonal and H1N1 vaccination for employees and families.
"This will probably involve three separate injections," says Catherine Rausch, MN, RN, senior occupational health nurse at Marathon Petroleum Company's St. Paul Park, MN, refinery. "This may be offered at work, or the nurse should have knowledge of available resources in the community."
Niewolny says, "We will offer onsite flu shots early this year, anticipating that we may need double or triple the number of shots per person if there is a new recommended vaccine."
2. Prepare concise, clear educational information materials for employees.
Rausch says that due to the fact that her company had three employees and two family members with H1N1, employees with sick family members were requested to stay home. "Education was a challenge, but I had a lot of help from our corporate health services and the corporate task force who communicated daily with employees through the company web site with information," she says.
If H1N1 returns this fall, Rausch says that education will be done via the company web page, weekly podcasts by managers, "lunch and learn" presentations, printed material, and "constant face-to-face encounters to answer personal questions." [See PowerPoint presentation.]
Niewolny says that pandemic flu preparedness was added to the annual training given to employees who would be expected to perform job duties during an outbreak. "We are continuing to sharing information electronically on our intranet site, and post signage on how influenza is transmitting and the need to break the chain of transmission," she says.
3. Take the opportunity to encourage healthy choices.
Rausch says she is encouraging employees to improve their nutrition, practice hand hygiene, and build up their immune systems. "We have a corporate wellness plan, and healthy behaviors are reinforced," she says.
4. Monitor supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, and Tamiflu were distributed to Marathon Petroleum's employees and family members this spring. "These supplies are now being held for a possible resurgence of flu in the fall," says Rausch.
Be sure that anyone who will be expected to work during an outbreak has been medically cleared to wear N95 respirators; has been fit tested; and is trained on their use, care, and storage, Niewolny says.
5. Get in touch with your local public health department.
Be familiar with the public health support in your local jurisdiction, as the local health officer will be the one providing guidance throughout a pandemic, says Eden V. Wells, MD, MPH, a medical epidemiologist at the Michigan Department of Community Health in Lansing.
"Contact your local public health department for information on how you can expect to receive information during a suspected life-threatening epidemic," says Niewolny.
6. Formulate a plan to isolate and treat employees who develop symptoms at work.
Rausch says to "maintain a level of healthy respect for the possibility of resurgence of the disease. Employees should not be afraid, but also not complacent."
"You can't assume that because a program has the responsibility to be prepared in the event of a potentially serious influenza outbreak, that they actually are prepared," says Caroll Niewolny, RN, PHN, MS, manager of occupational health and safety for Ramsey County Human Resources in St. Paul, MN. "You need oversight and accountability at a corporate level."You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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