Worldwide, strict restrictions and hygiene measures to control the COVID-19 virus over the past year have helped to prevent the spread of influenza to a large extent. Several cases of flu were reported last winter. Many restrictions have been lifted since then. This means that the flu can spread again and this often happens in the workplace. What preventive measures should employers take now?
How bad will the next flu epidemic be?
Distance rules, closed bars, work from home and wearing face masks ensured that there was no flu epidemic last year. How will the situation develop this year? Experts are not sure. There are those who say that the flu epidemic will be as weak as last year. But there are also those who warn of a violent wave.
Apart from the fact that every disease is too much, a strong flu wave would also have unpleasant consequences for the economy. If the wave of illness proves severe this year, economists in Germany alone expect economic damage of up to 30 billion euros. This was stated for the newspaper “Welt am Sonntag” by the Kiel Institute for World Economy. Many companies could be hit hard again. But there are also many things that employers in various industries can do to help alleviate the flu epidemic. We have a few tips.
Measures to protect against influenza infection
1 Offer company flu vaccines
Many European ministries of health urgently recommend influenza vaccination. It is considered to be one of the most effective measures of protection against heavy flow. Therefore, you should offer your employees the opportunity to be vaccinated in your company. In this way, you increase security among your employees.
2 Regular ventilation helps
The flu is highly contagious and spreads when you sneeze, cough or talk. The smallest droplets containing the virus reach the air and are inhaled by other people nearby. Influenza viruses can be slowed down by fresh air. Thanks to regular occasional ventilation, pathogens cannot stay indoors for long.
3 taking fluids helps
It can also help keep mucous membranes moist – because dry mucous membranes are more susceptible to viruses. That is why it is important to drink enough fluids. For example, provide your employees with delicious teas. In addition, in winter it makes sense to place containers with water on the heater. This increases the humidity, which prevents the mucous membranes from drying out.
4 Cleanliness of hands is the main and most important thing
Influenza viruses can also be transmitted through the hands. Pathogens can stick to door handles, fences or objects. If you touch your mouth, nose or eyes after touching, the flu viruses penetrate the body through the mucous membranes. Regular hand washing for about 30 seconds effectively interrupts this transmission path. Inform your employees about the importance of washing your hands with posters in toilets. In situations where there is no water or soap, hand disinfection makes sense. Provide dosing systems at entrances and exits, in meeting rooms, in the canteen or in elevators.
5 Safety on the go
Many employees travel to work by subway or bus. Here they touch objects that many people touch. Handrails and handrails, for example. All the better if your employees can disinfect their hands while on the go. To do this, provide your staff with a portable hand sanitizer solution, PURELL PERSONALS ™.
The bags are small enough to fit in a pocket. They contain three milliliter of PURELL hand sanitizer gel, whose effectiveness against 99.9 percent of all harmful microbes has been scientifically proven. The application is very simple. Hold the package with the logo side up, open in the middle and spread the hand sanitizer gel on your hands. Wait for the solution to dry and you are ready.