Protecting Your Employees From The Flu

WRITTEN BY GARY SMITH, APARTMENT BUILDING MANAGEMENT, WORKERS COMPENSATION SELF INSURED FUND

Flu costs businesses approximately $10.4 billion in direct costs for hospitalizations and outpatient visits for adults each year, according to expert research. Further, during each flu season, nearly 111 million workdays are lost due to the flu, which equals approximately $7 billion per year in sick days and lost productivity. Through education and planning, you can help protect your employees from the flu and reduce the impact of the season on your business.

The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. Consider these facts:
• While there are many different flu viruses,  the flu vaccine protects against the three
viruses that research suggests will be most common each year.

• The 2011-2012 flu vaccine will protect  against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus, and the influenza A H1N1.

• Everyone six months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu as  soon as the seasonal vaccine is available.

Next, good health habits can also help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu:
1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

2. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

3. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

4. Cleaning your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

6. Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

Lastly, there are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent the flu. Antiviral drugs are not a substitute for getting a flu vaccine.  While not 100 percent effective, a flu vaccine is still the first and best way to prevent influenza. But, antiviral drugs are another line of defense to treat the flu if you get sick.

Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid, or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu in your body. They are not sold over-the-counter. You can only get them if you have a prescription from your doctor or health care provider. They are different from antibiotics, which fight against bacterial infections. When used for treatment, these drugs can lessen symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by one or two days. They also can prevent serious flu complications, like pneumonia.  For more information, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/antivirals/whatyoushould.htm. Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within two days of getting sick However, starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a high risk health condition or is very sick from the flu.

A free toolkit for businesses and employers, “Make It Your Business to Fight the Flu” is available from the Center for Disease Control. Use this comprehensive toolkit to protect your employees this flu season!

Stay safe, stay healthy!

This entry was posted in October 2012. Bookmark the permalink.