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Back to the Basics: Tips to Staying Healthy During H1N1 Outbreak, Flu Season
Author: Dr. Allison Aiello, Tork® Green Hygiene Council™ member and assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan
Leading infectious disease expert, Dr. Allison Aiello, has devoted her career to discovering new ways to lessen the spread of germs and deadly infections. An Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan-School of Public Health and member of the Tork® Green Hygiene Council™, her research focuses on infection control and hygiene intervention in the community and clinical settings. Here she clears up the confusion about the spread of H1N1 and seasonal influenza and provides best practice information for staying healthy.
With all the differing information available about H1N1 and seasonal influenza, it’s no wonder the average person is confused about the cause of theses viruses and how best to prevent contamination. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) up to 40 percent of Americans could be infected with H1N1 through 2010, causing a major health pandemic. Shockingly, a new Harris poll, commissioned by SCA Tissue North America’s Tork® brand reveals that 74 percent of U.S. adults say it is unlikely they will contract the virus this year.
This new study highlights widespread confusion about the cause of the H1N1 virus and the preventative methods associated with it. According to the study, 50 percent of U.S. adults are confident they could protect themselves from contracting the virus. Yet, more than one-third (38 percent) say they won’t be washing their hands more frequently this flu season and almost half (48 percent) are not planning to take advantage of available flu shots.
These results are staggering as handwashing and vaccinations are two of the most effective ways to protect one self from infectious diseases like H1N1. Americans aren’t sure where to turn or what to do to protect themselves from the flu. It’s time to get back to the basics with proper hand hygiene and surface cleaning as well as seeking out vaccinations to prevent the spread of H1N1, seasonal influenza and other infectious diseases.
The ABC’s of H1N1 and Season Influenza Prevention It does not take a lot of extra time or effort to stay healthy this flu season and beyond. In fact, it’s as easy as A, B, C.
Always wash your hands
The best method to prevent the virus’s spread is to wash hands often. Studies show that proper handwashing techniques result in a 21 percent reduction in respiratory illness and a 31 percent reduction in gastrointestinal illness. Yet, more than 80 percent of Americans are not washing their hands properly.
Hands are full of surfaces that can be difficult to reach, which means that many tend to forget certain parts. When using a public washroom, handwashing should take as long as singing “Happy Birthday” twice. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Wet hands with clean warm water.
- Apply soap.
- Rub hands together vigorously and scrub all surfaces for 20 seconds. Remember to wash both thumbs as thumbs are quite often skipped in the handwashing process.
- Make sure to wash under nails, watches and jewelry since millions of germs gather there.
- Rinse with clean water .
- When away from home, a single-use paper towel ensures that hands can be completely dried and virtually germ free.
- Since hands are to be washed frequently, use mild and gentle soaps.
Drying hands properly and using paper towels to turn off the faucet and open the door in public restrooms are also key steps to protecting yourself from infection.
Be sure to get your vaccinations
Medical experts agree that vaccinations can be a crucial step in protecting yourself from the H1N1 and seasonal flu viruses. If your place of employment does not offer a vaccination program then make an appointment to visit your family practitioner or healthcare provider. Most insurance companies will cover part or all of the costs associated with seasonal flu vaccinations. Call your insurance company to inquire about coverage before obtaining these vaccinations.
Cleaning is key
H1N1 has led to an increased focus on how everyday hygiene affects our health. Not only is more attention given to managing personal hygiene, but a new cleaning logic has emerged, where wiping down the door knob an extra time each day is considered more important than picking up the dust in the corner.
While proper handwashing and drying is one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading the flu virus, it is equally important to keep common objects and surfaces clean. The influenza virus can survive on surfaces for up to eight hours and may spread when a person touches droplets, left by hands, coughs or sneezes, on hard surfaces or objects and then touches his or her mouth or nose.
Single-use products, such as paper towels or disposable cloths, minimize the risk of germs from a contaminated object being passed on to another surface. And remember, the dryer, the safer. When washing areas like the kitchen, use a highlight absorbent paper afterwards to get surfaces really dry.
Staying healthy doesn’t mean major lifestyle changes during the flu season. Just remember the A,B,Cs of infectious disease prevention to keep you and your family safe and healthy. Following these basic preventative measures will drastically reduce the risk of infection.
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About Tork Green Hygiene Council (TGHC)
Tork created the Tork Green Hygiene Council (TGHC) to assist in its ongoing commitment to providing environmentally friendly and hygienic away from home washroom solutions. Comprised of top professional and academic authorities from across the country on green building, corporate sustainability, hygiene and germ prevention, the TGHC is a council of four experts that offer holistic and trusted perspectives on how businesses can create sustainable and healthy work and home environments.
The TGHC provides independent feedback and advice on Tork’s environmentally and hygienically friendly initiatives, serves as valued professional resources to Tork’s partners and customers and provides expertise and industry insight. The TGHC exists to enhance global awareness of proper sustainability and hygiene practices to make the world a greener, safer and cleaner place to live and work.
About Tork
The Tork brand offers a complete range of products and services within hygiene and cleaning for away from home washrooms, healthcare, food service and industry. Through customer understanding and particular expertise in hygiene and sustainability, Tork has become a market leader in many segments and a committed partner to businesses in over 90 countries. Tork is a global brand in the SCA portfolio. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit: www.torkusa.com.
About SCA
SCA is a global hygiene and paper company that develops, produces and markets personal care products, tissue, packaging solutions and solid-wood products, with sales of around $15 billion USD. The SCA Group employs approximately 50,000 people and has production in 60 countries. The hygiene portfolio includes global brands TENA and Tork, and regional brands Tempo, Zewa, Velvet, Libero, Libresse and Edet. SCA hygiene solutions are found in over 90 countries. SCA is recognized as a global leader in sustainable development. SCA was ranked as the world’s greenest paper company in 2007 by The Independent newspaper and EIRIS research. For more information about SCA, hygiene and sustainability, please visit: www.sca.com.
Aiello, AE, etl al. (2008) Effect of hand hygiene on infectious disease risk in the community setting: a meta-analysis. AM J Public Health 98(8): 1372-81
Barker J, Stevens D and Bloomfield SF. Spread and prevention of some common viral infections in community facilities and domestic homes. J Applied Microbiology. 2001(91): 7-21.
CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to the 2009-2010 Influenza Season [homepage on the internet]. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and prevention [updated 2009 21 Oct; cited 2009 22 Oct]. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/guidance/.