Swine Flu

Swine flu advice from Safetyshop

Featured in this swine flu article:
How to prepare your business
Reducing the risk of infection
Essential swine flu protection products
Swine flu symptoms
NHS swine flu information leaflet PDF download

Swine flu…now is the time to prepare your business
You will no doubt have heard a lot about swine flu in the news.  Here at Safetyshop we recognise this may be causing you some concern so we hope the following information will provide some reassurance.

The more your employees know about how to prevent infection, the more resilient your business will be.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) have suggested emailing staff the NHS swine flu information leaflet.  This leaflet can be downloaded at the bottom of this article.
 
What can people do to reduce their risk of catching or spreading swine flu?
The best advice for everyone to is:

Always use a tissue to catch your sneezes
Throw away used tissues
Regularly wash your hands with soap and water
Keep hard surfaces like office worktops and door handles clean
Make sure children follow this advice too

In short...

Catch it
Bin it
Kill it

Essential swine flu protection products available at Safetyshop include:

Alcohol hand gel

Hand sanitizers

Disposable latex gloves

Biohazard heavy duty waste bags

Dust masks

Wash your hands now safety signs

What are the symptoms of swine flu?
The symptoms are similar to ordinary flu and include a fever, cough, sore throat, headaches, chills, muscle aches and tiredness.

If you are concerned because you have recently been to an affected country like Mexico or you are developing flu-like symptoms, please take the following steps:

Limit contact with others
Don't go in person to see a GP or other health service
Do stay at home and either call your GP or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47

What is swine flu?
Swine flu, also referred to as swine influenza type A H1 N1, is a respiratory disease that originated in pigs.

Outbreaks of swine flu happen regularly in pigs.  In the past most human cases of swine flu have developed because people have been in close contact with pigs such as farmers.  However this current outbreak has spread by person to person contact.

Swine flu has been confirmed in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and other countries.  This has given rise to concern that the outbreak could become a pandemic flu.

What is a pandemic flu?
A pandemic flu is a natural event that occurs from time to time.  Pandemic refers to a global outbreak.  It spreads quickly because it is a new type of virus that few, if any, people have resistance to.   

The virus is thought to be transferred in the same way as normal flu through coughing, sneezing or close contact.

How long does it take to spread?
A person can infect others a day before symptoms appear and for up to seven days afterwards. Children may be contagious for longer.

Who is most at risk?
A flu pandemic could affect anyone, even if they are fit and healthy.

Is there a vaccine to prevent it?
At the moment, it isn't known if current flu vaccines will help to minimise the spread of swine flu.  WHO is trying to find out as much information as possible to make a vaccine specifically directed at swine flu.

For more information about Safetyshop’s swine flu protection products
Freephone 0800 13 23 23
Email sales@safetyshop.com

Useful links

NHS Choice swine flu information leaflet

NHS Direct

NHS Choice flu symptom checker

World Health Organisation

Health Protection Agency

Direct Government

This article is for information only.  Safetyshop has used all reasonable care in compiling the content.  The information contained in this article is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment.

Contact us
Call 0800 13 23 23
Email sales@safetyshop.com

What equipment and facilities do you need?

Extracts taken from - APPROVED CODE OF PRACTICE AND GUIDANCE covering The Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. ACOP 3(4) - “An employer should make an assessment of first-aid needs appropriate to the circumstances of each workplace”.

Regulation 3(1)

“An employer shall provide, or ensure that there are provided, such equipment and facilities as are adequate and appropriate in the circumstances for enabling first-aid to be rendered to his employees if they are injured or become ill at work”. Once you have made your assessment choose your kit from the HSE Compliant range.

ACOP 3(36) - Eye Wash

Where mains tap water is not readily available for eye irrigation, at least 1 litre of sterile or normal saline (0.9%) in sealed, disposable containers should be provided. Once the seal has been broken, the containers should not be kept for re-use. The container should not be used after the expiry date”. Do you require Eyewash?

ACOP 3(20)

Employers are responsible for meeting the first-aid needs of their employees working away from the main site, for example those who travel regularly or who work elsewhere. The assessment should determine whether those who travel long distances or are continuously mobile should carry a personal first-aid kit. Organisations with employees who work in remote areas should consider making special arrangements such as issuing personal communicators, providing special training and organising emergency transport facilities. Where employees work alone, other means of summoning help such as a portable telephone may be useful to call for assistance in an emergency. Do you require First Aid for personnel working off site?

Once you have made your assessment choose your kit from the HSE Compliant range - Adulto Premier, Mezzo or Green Box.

Choose the appropriate kit for the number of employees you have

• 1-10 person
• 1-20 person
• 1-50 person

To find out more view all First Aid Legislation

Safetyshop offers over 25,000 workplace safety products, including safety signs, personal protective equipment and pedestrian & traffic control products. Legislation and standards are subject to constant change and every effort is made to ensure that signs and other products conform to current legislation or standards.

You can contact us using the following details:

Contact Safetyshop with your workplace safety product requirements, including safety signs, personal protective equipment and pedestrian & traffic control products. Legislation and standards are subject to constant change and every effort is made to ensure that signs and other products conform to current legislation or standards.