Hospitals Work to Fight Spread of H1N1: You Can Help

Since the first case of H1N1 last spring, hospitals across Pennsylvania have worked to prevent, manage, and respond to an H1N1 outbreak in their communities. They've developed extra infection control precautions for staff and patients (such as personal protective equipment like masks); established special screenings for staff, patients, and visitors who appear ill; coordinated special sick leave and emergency staffing policies; and worked with government and other community leaders to coordinate vaccination efforts.

As a hospital employee or volunteer, you can help with these efforts. Here are four easy ways you can help your hospital and community.

Practice Good Infection Control

The most important thing you can do to fight the spread of H1N1 is to practice good infection control habits. These habits include washing your hands often and always covering your coughs and sneezes. Hospital staff and volunteers who come in contact with patients also should consider getting seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccinations.

Understand Current Hospital Policies

Many hospitals have revised visitors' and patient screening policies to prevent the spread of H1N1. Knowing your hospital's policies and explaining them to patients and visitors can help prevent the spread of H1N1 and maintain calm. It's especially important to explain that the new rules were developed to help keep patients, families, and visitors well and prevent further illness.

Develop a Family Plan

Having a backup child care/family plan is one of the most important ways you can stop the spread of H1N1 by allowing sick individuals time to recover at home. A plan can also help you to continue to serve at your hospital.

To limit the spread of H1N1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges individuals who have flu symptoms to stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication. This may mean that a sick family member may be at home for up to a week; and if you are their caregiver, may mean you will need to care for them. You should think about those who may need your care and develop a plan should they (or you) get sick.

Be a Source of Health Information

You can be an ambassador for good health and good health information. Families, friends, and neighbors often turn to hospital employees and volunteers for health information and advice. By knowing where to find credible, up-to-date information about H1N1, you can help others find the information they need. Take a moment to review the information on these sites listed below and be ready to provide them to others who are looking for information.

• Flu.gov website (managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
• H1N1in PA website (managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health)
• County public health departments