Health and Safety Memorandum
To: All Summit MRDD Employees and Center-based Program Participants
From: The Summit MRDD Crisis Preparedness Team
Date: April 29, 2009
Re: Swine Influenza Health and Safety Precautions and Planning
The purpose of this communication is to 1) educate on how to prevent the spread of viruses such as the swine flu; 2) inform about the planning taking place at the Summit MRDD to plan for the contingency of an outbreak of a virulent strain of influenza in our communities; 3) provide resources for more information regarding the current concerns about the swine flu.
Attached to this memo you will find the Summit County Health Department Public Health Bulletin #1 dated 4/28/09. This memo contains very important information about how to prevent the spread of the Influenza virus. The Summit MRDD is requesting that everyone involved with its programs begin following these precautions:
· Wash your hands with soap and water often and use hand sanitizer.
· Cover a sneeze or cough with a tissue or your elbow (not your bare hand).
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
· Avoid contact with sick people and stay home if you are sick.
· Begin social distancing and do not touch the hands or face of others unless it is necessary and gloves are worn.
The Summit MRDD has formed a crisis preparedness team that is working in conjunction with Summit County health officials to ensure the health and safety of all those that the agency serves. This crisis management group includes the superintendent, assistant superintendent, director of facilities, communications director, director of services and supports, the agency’s health and safety officer and other staff. This group is tracking the threat of the swine flu in northern Ohio and assessing the risk to the agency’s program participants on an hourly basis. This team is ensuring that the agency has stocked various infection prevention supplies so that staff will be able to provide services safely if a virulent influenza strain is discovered in Summit County. All staff and families can rest assured that if a highly contagious and dangerous virus infects one of our program participants or staff, the agency leadership will be swiftly following the recommendations of Summit County’s public health officials. Immediate updates about our agency’s response to any public health crisis will be found on our website at www.SummitMRDD.org.
Please read the attached Public Health Bulletin in its entirety and visit www.cdc.gov or http://ohiopandemicflu.gov for more information.
If you suspect that a Summit MRDD program participant may be exhibiting symptoms of influenza or if you have any questions about how infectious disease might impact the health and safety of people with developmental disabilities, please contact the Summit MRDD Health and Safety Officer, Tom Overfield at 330.634.8057.
Memo from Public Health Public Information Officers on 4/28/09:
4/28/2009 1:28 PM General Public Bulletin #1
ALERT #47-05-09 - H1N1-Swine Flu Virus
Contacts: Public Health Public Information Officers
Chris Partis/Akron Health 330-375-2453; partiCh@ci.akron.oh.us
Jessie Wingert/ Barberton Health 330-861-7175; jwingert@babertonhealth.org
Donna Skoda/ Summit County 330-926-5654;dskoda@schd.org
Summit County, Ohio - The Akron City Health Department, the Barberton City Health Department and the Summit County Combined General Health District are in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) regarding the Swine Flu cases in Ohio and other states, Canada, and Mexico. The following information provides information about Swine Flu, what you should know, and what you can do to reduce your risk of infection. There have been no reported cases in Summit County.
What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen.
Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states, including Ohio, have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well.
What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.
How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
· Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
· If you get sick with influenza, the CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
· Your physician will determine if you need to take an anti viral medication.
What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. We recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used.
What should I do if I get sick? If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care. In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
The three health departments, have been providing information on emergency preparedness through newspaper articles and community presentations for the last few years. Please do not call 911 for information on the Swine Flu. Fore more information and the latest information on Swine Flu, visit www.cdc.gov or http://ohiopandemicflu.gov. The Ohio Department of Health has set up a hotline at 1-866-800-1404. The Akron Health Department Swine Flu information hotline 330-375-2876.
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