The Official RJWestmore Blog

There are steps you can take to ward off the flu.

While winter often brings to mind holiday parties and gift exchanges, it’s also a miserable time for those unfortunate souls who get sick. The typical air inside an office building is circulated less than 12 times an hour, compared to 15 times per hour on a plane. Think about that the next time you worry about getting sick from “stale” cabin air. With flu vaccines resulting in employees taking 45% fewer sick days, more companies are taking notice and getting involved in prevention.

When most people think about winter diseases, the first thing that comes to mind is influenza. It’s estimated that 5 to 20 percent of U.S. adults come down with seasonal flu every year. According to the CDC, 119 million doses of flu vaccine had been distributed this year as of September 24. That amount is a substantial increase of 30 million doses, compared to the amounts which were sent the same time last year. Although analysts at the CDC are predicting a milder flu season this winter, they are still stressing that everyone gets vaccinated.

You may ask, “What about H1N1, the “swine flu?” It’s still out there, although research estimates that 59% of the U.S. population is now immune.

Respiratory Synctial Virus, commonly known as RSV, is another very common lung and respiratory tract infection. It’s so prevalent that researchers state almost all children age two and under have had the disease. While it is the biggest threat to smaller children, and especially premature infants, RSV can also cause problems for adults, sending individuals who have heart or lung disease to the hospital. As a building owner or manager, you can take steps to educate RSV-infected individuals about the benefits of staying at home, away from tenants and employees who are parents of small children.

What can property-owners and managers do to mitigate the effects of winter illness?

• Set up a flu vaccine clinic at your building. Many private companies will provide qualified nurses, consent forms and the latest vaccine.
• Distribute information about recognizing the symptoms of flu and other winter diseases.
• Consider new HVAC systems that better circulate and clean the air.
• Encourage tenants to adopt policies regarding sick employees, including work-from-home arrangements for vital staff.

A real focus on workplace health can pay immediate and long-term benefits. Healthier employees mean more productive and profitable tenants whose success might necessitate additional office or industrial space.

When a disaster strikes, prior planning and clear decisive action can help save lives.  For the latest emergency management training for facility/building managers, contact RJ Westmore, Inc. Our new Version 2.0 e-based training system offers the best emergency training system with automated and integrated features. Visit RJWestmore.com for more information and remember to BE SAFE.

The swine flu nasal spray is not recommended for kids under age 2

As our series on the swine flu winds down, so does the nationwide panic over H1N1, as vaccines and nasal spray are finally readily available throughout the country. Health care providers in California have received more than 400,000 doses of H1N1 FluMist, a nasal spray, as well as thousands of doses of the injectable vaccine.

By the end of flu season, California plans to order over 22 million doses of each. To date, more than 2,700 hospitalizations and 206 deaths in California have been caused by the H1N1 flu since April,  according to Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health.

Though both vaccines and the nasal spray are safe for most people, and have been thoroughly tested, it is important to know the facts about all of the treatment options before deciding which one to receive.

The following are advised NOT to take the nasal spray:

• Pregnant women
• People under 2 years of age, or over 50
• Those with chronic heart or lung disease
• People who have a severe chicken-egg allergy
• People with a history of Guillain–Barré Syndrome
• Children or adults taking aspirin on a regular basis
• Children under the age of 5, who have a history of recurrent wheezing

The inject-able vaccine has far fewer adverse symptoms and so is possibly a safer choice. Check to see whether it is available in your area. Those especially urged to get the vaccine include:

• Pregnant women
• Children ages 6-24 months old
• People who spend time around infants
• Health care providers
• Anyone with a chronic illness who is especially susceptible to disease

Something else to consider: One of the swine flu vaccine manufacturers,one of the swine flu vaccine manufacturers, Sanofi Pasteur, suggests that children under age 10 are likely to need two shots to be fully protected. Federal officials said the news is not surprising, since this age group needs two doses of regular seasonal flu vaccine the very first time they ever are given a flu vaccine, for full immunity to develop.

The new Sanofi results back up what government tests are showing, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. For younger children, the protection from one shot is “modest but not sufficient to allow for one dose to do the trick,” he said.

Though the focus should be on high-risk groups, experts recommend that anyone who wants the vaccine should get it, provided there is enough left-over supply for the general population. Since California is expected to receive over 22 millions doses (with 18 million of them being injectable) by the end of flu season, the likelihood of sufficient doses for everyone is very high.

Remember, obtaining either the nasal spray or vaccine to prevent swine flu is just another way for you to BE SAFE!

Part 3 in a 4-Part Series

A common misconception is that a standard seasonal flu shot will prevent you from contracting the hybrid strain of H1N1, commonly referred to as the swine flu. Unfortunately, a standard flu shot alone will not offer complete protection from the virus.

According to Jonathan E. Fielding, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, “This new strain of influenza is pandemic and is the predominant strain circulating in our community.”

The good news is that, as of October 1, 2009, the flu shot and nasal spray treatments, developed specifically for H1N1 become available on a limited basis. According to information released at a Center for Disease Control press conference on October 2, approximately 600,000 doses are expected to be administered within the following few days in selected states across the country.

What’s more, 300,000 pediatric, liquid doses of the antiviral drug Tamiflu have been released from a national medicine stockpile. Both of these medications have been developed specifically for the swine flu.

Schedule an appointment for the vaccine today to avoid—

• Discomfort
• Spreading the disease
• A trip to the hospital

While this vaccine will prevent thousands of potential swine flu cases, some individuals across the country have already contracted H1N1. If you have been professionally diagnosed or just suspect you might have the infection, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. At highest risk are pregnant women, children and young adults, people with conditions like asthma and diabetes, and caregivers of infants.

Since the initial H1N1 outbreak in the spring of 2009, health care professionals have had plenty of time to treat swine flu cases up close and personal. Familiar with this particular strain and armed with the new vaccine and nasal spray, medical practitioners will soon be well-prepared to diagnose and help those who are infected.

Although some may be wary of taking a trip to the doctor’s offices because of the risk of contracting contagious diseases as well as encountering needles, most cases do not require intravenous or fluid-IV administration. Common treatment options for swine flu include drinking plenty of water, bed rest, and over-the-counter medication.

Though the swine flu can last for up to two weeks, patients are contagious for only about 8 to 10 days. During this time, they are encouraged to avoid public places, and, most importantly, to follow doctors’ instructions.

The threat of swine flu can stop with you. For more helpful tips about health and welfare, contact RJ Westmore, Inc., where we encourage everyone to BE SAFE!

Part 2 in a Series

Researchers at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are currently working overtime to finish developing a vaccine for the much anticipated outbreak of H1N1, also known as the swine flu. In clinical tests and limited trials, medicines such as Tamiflu or Relenza have been effective in keeping the current strain of the virus at bay.

H1N1 is said to be a combination of human influenza, the avian flu, and several other diseases, combined. However, there is some speculation as to whether or not these medications will work over the long haul. Some theorize that this strain of the virus will mutate and spread at a faster rate than other forms of the flu.

Once a substantial supply of the vaccine is manufactured and distributed, the public will be urged to go to local clinics or doctors’ offices to be vaccinated. Even though the odds that the swine flu will claim your life are slim (.01%), if you do not take proper precautions, you could unwittingly spread the virus to others. According to a report released by MSNBC, people can catch the virus and escape the symptoms, only to survive and pass the swine flu to someone else, who could have a fatal reaction.

Fortunately, there are measures that can be taken in order to avoid spreading or contracting this dangerous flu.

• Stay at home as much as possible.
• Limit travel, if your transportation includes breathing recycled air (like on an airplane, train or a bus).
• Contain your cough by coughing into a tissue, or (if necessary) your sleeved elbow, instead of your hand (which will invariably spread germs).
• Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you.
• Be careful to thoroughly rinse all of the produce that you buy, as you never know where it’s been and who has handled it.
• Visit your doctor immediately if you start to develop symptoms of swine flu, like headaches or body aches.

Swine flu can be deadly, and it is imperative that you see your physician immediately if you experience suspicious symptoms. If your doctor confirms your diagnosis, he or she will prescribe Tamiflu or Relenza, which are both effective if taken within the first 36 hours of onset. The consequences of not going to your doctor could be devastating.

Swine flu takes only seven days to manifest. And, if it goes untreated, the virus can claim a life in little more than a week. This is why it’s important to be extremely cautious. Aside from antiviral drugs and vaccines, staying home and monitoring your symptoms are crucial.

Knowing what to do before you are in an emergency situation (such as developing swine flu symptoms), can mean the difference between life and death. RJWestmore, Inc. is committed to providing resources that help people be prepared, which saves lives.

BE SAFE!