As the seasons change here in Minnesota, we (begrudgingly) welcome the time of year when the sounds of coughing, sneezing, and sniffling fill the office. Flu season is here, and the flu can spread quickly. Prepare for flu season in 2019 with the following essential practices to keep your office healthy and productive.
- Get the Flu Shot: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all staff (both volunteer and paid) be vaccinated for seasonal flu. Hundreds of places in the greater Phoenix area offer free flu shots. Start with your local pharmacy or primary care physician. It’s quick, it’s free, and it saves you and your co-workers from a world of misery when flu season is at its peak.
- Train Staff on Safe Practices: It may sound like a no-brainer, but old habits die hard. Office employees should cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and discard the tissue immediately after use. If there isn’t a tissue handy, encourage them to cough or sneeze into their elbows or shoulder, not into their hands. Which leads us to…
- Wash Your Hands: We can’t stress it enough, but make sure staff members have the time and supplies to keep their hands clean. Place prompts next to bathroom and kitchen sinks that remind them that it’s flu season and germs can spread quickly and easily. This should be done often — with soap and water — especially after coughing or sneezing. Take it to the next level by placing antibacterial soaps, wipes, or liquids in high traffic areas near doors, sinks, and rooms used frequently by multiple people.
- Feeling Sick, Stay Home: Remind staff to stay home when they have flu-like symptoms. Although you may be down one worker, it will help keep other staffers healthy, creating a safer environment for employees and patients alike.
- Sanitize and Clean: Last but not least, one of the best ways to keep the virus out of your office is to make sure it’s as clean possible. Many offices have nightly cleaning, but it’s important to note the cleaning practices. Wipe down all surfaces and door handles with antibacterial wipes. Clean all dishes and glassware thoroughly. Dispose of all garbage daily.
It is substantially more important to follow these practices in places where immune systems are more vulnerable, like hospitals and medical facilities. Typical office cleaning solutions may not be enough to get your office and your patrons safely to the other side of flu season. Instead turn to Health Point Cleaning Solutions in Minnesota. For more than 16 years we’ve offered premier cleaning services for hospitals and medical facilities in Minneapolis / St. Paul and the surrounding areas.
Our skilled professionals have been trained in Medical Terminal Cleaning and use the appropriate chemicals and supplies. We also help ensure your office remains compliant with regulatory bodies such as HIPAA, CDC, and OSHA. We don’t just jump into action during flu season, we work all year round to make sure your facility is disinfected.
Leave the germs and bacteria to us, so you can focus on providing top notch care for your patients. Contact us to set up a time for us to get to work. When you do, you’ll receive a free initial detail cleaning if you set up a regular service plan.
citation:
https://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/faithbased/pdf/H1N1_FBO_toolkit.pdf