Symptoms of the Flu Virus!

Almost always:

• Sudden onset of cough and fever

Common:

• Fatique
  
• Muscle aches
  
• Sore throat
  
• Headache
  
• Decreased appetite
  
• Runny nose

Sometimes:

• Nausea
  
• vomiting
  
• diarrhea

People who are generally healthy and develop these flu symptoms can get better at home. The worst of the infection will likely be over within one week. If you have flu-like symptoms and are otherwise healthy, stay home to avoid spreading the virus.

Caring for someone who is sick
Here are some ideas and suggestions to keep in mind when caring for someone who is sick. Most people who get sick with the flu virus can be cared for at home.

Protect yourself and others
Clean your hands with either soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after touching items that the sick person has touched (such as dishes, towels and clothes), before you eat and before and after touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

If possible, have the sick person wear a mask to control the spread of virus filled droplets. This is especially important, when someone is within two metres or six feet of a sick person. If the sick person cannot wear a mask, encourage the use of a tissue when coughing and sneezing. Dispose of the tissue immediately.

There is no evidence that wearing a mask will protect you from getting the flu. However, if you wear a mask, wash your hands before and after putting on, or taking off, the mask.

Allow the sick person to rest (away from others)
Get lots of rest, you will be contagious for about seven days from the onset of the symptoms - especially in the first few days.

Clean items (such as phone, TV remote) the virus can survive on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours.

Treat the fever and cough
Fever often comes with chills or aches and pains. Certain medications (such as acetaminophen, for example Tylenol, or ibuprofen, example Advil) may help to reduce these symptoms. Do not give children Aspirin.

Give lots of fluids and nutritious food and ensure a smoke-free environment
Warm drinks, such as tea with honey and lemon or chicken soup, can be very soothing for a sore throat.

Keep the sick person's things separate
Each sick person should have their own personal items (towel, face cloth, toothbrush etc.)
Keep common surfaces (door knobs, light switches) clean and disinfected.

Stay alert for complications
Take the sick person's temperature daily to track any fever.

Get Your Flu Shot!
The flu shot helps strengthen your body's natural immune response against the flu. The shot stimulates your immune system to build antibodies against the virus, making it stronger and ready to fight off the flu. So this year, make sure you get your flu shot early. The sooner you get it, the earlier you're protected! It's easier than ever to get your flu shot! Both your local public health units and pharmacies are hosting flu clinics this year.


Preventing
Musculoskeletal Injuries

What Can Happen
Wrist, elbow and shoulder tendonitis; shoulder bursitis; carpal tunnel syndrome; back and neck pain; other muscle, tendon and joint injuries

Job Tasks

Vary your activities to change your posture and the muscles you are using if your work requires:
✔ repetitive movements, such as keyboard work, chopping food, assembly work or using hand tools with frequent twisting or
turning
✔ awkward postures (e.g., long reaches, overhead work, bending forward) for a long time
✔ sustained postures such as standing or sitting for a long time
✔ forceful muscle movements, such as
loosening a tire nut or heavy lifting
✔ pressing against a hard surface, such as resting your wrists against a keyboard tray while keying

Work Stations and Tools
✔ Adjust your workstation and seat to meet your needs
✔ Maintain a neutral, relaxed posture, and work in a comfortable position
✔ Use tools and equipment that reduce repetition, awkward or sustained postures, forceful muscle movements and pressing on hard surfaces
✔ Keep tools and equipment well maintained to reduce effort
✔ Keep frequently used tools, supplies and
equipment within your natural arm's reach

Safe Lifting
✔ Take a balanced stance - put your feet shoulderwidth apart
✔ Get close to the object and squat down to pick up the load
✔ Get a secure grip and carry the load close to your body
✔ Test the weight of the load before trying to lift it
✔ Lift the load gradually and smoothly, keeping your back and neck straight
✔ Turn your whole body when carrying a load, instead of twisting your back
✔ Follow these instructions in reverse when lowering a load

And Remember
✔ Do not work until you become sore or tired - report any discomfort to your supervisor
✔ Do not rely on personal protective equipment such as back belts to reduce
musculoskeletal injuries

Did You Know?
✔ Your employer should ensure that you are trained to work in ways that reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries
✔ An ergonomist can help you set up your work area for maximum comfort and safety

When Work Becomes a Pain in the Neck
Office ergonomics is the science of adapting the work environment to the needs of employees in order to promote safety and to increase productivity.

If you use a computer, you probably know that repetitive and prolonged use of a computer keyboard or mouse can lead to muscle aches and discomfort. Try to incorporate these suggestions into your work style to avoid problems.

• Maintain good posture when working. Sit all the way back in the chair against the backrest. Keep your knees equal to or lower than your hips with your feet supported.
  
• Avoid overreaching. Keep the mouse and keyboard within close reach. Center the most frequently used section of the keyboard directly in front of you.
  
• Position the monitor correctly. Center the monitor in front of you at arm's length. You should be able to view the screen without turning or tilting your head up or down.
  
• Rest your eyes. Take eye breaks and intermittently refocus on distant objects.
  
• Work at a reasonable pace and take frequent breaks. Take one or two minute breaks every 20 to 30 minutes, and five minute breaks every hour.
  
• Staying in shape by stretching and exercising regularly can make you less prone to office related aches.

Food Safety

CLEAN: Wash hands and surfaces often to avoid the spread of bacteria.

• Wash your hands with HOT, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before handling food, and after handling raw meats or poultry, using the bathroom, changing diapers, or touching your pets.
  
• Always wash raw fruits and vegetables in clean water. You cannot tell whether foods carry surface bacteria by the way they look, smell, or taste.

SEPARATE: Keep raw foods separate from cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination.

• When you pack a cooler for an outing, or when you place food in the shopping bag, wrap raw meats and poultry securely, and put them on the bottom to prevent juices from dripping onto other foods.
  
• Wash all plates, utensils and cutting boards that touched or held raw meat or poultry before using them again for cooked foods.

CHILL: Keep cold food cold. Letting food sit at unsafe temperatures puts you at risk for food borne illnesses.

• Perishable foods that are normally in the refrigerator, such as luncheon meats, cooked meat, chicken, and potato or pasta salads, must be kept in an insulated cooler with freezer packs or blocks of ice to keep it at 4 degree C (40 degree F).

Home Security

Before leaving for vacation review the security of your home and make improvements to reduce its vulnerability to break-ins:

• Put bright lights over the porches and walkways in the front and back.
  
• All doors to the outside should have working locks, as well as the garage and shed doors.
  
• All windows should have working locks
  
• Before leaving, walk through each room of your home to make sure all doors to the outside, sliding glass door, and windows are securely locked.
  
• If you have an automatic garage door, always look over your shoulder before leaving the driveway to ensure the garage door has completely closed.
  
• Keep bushes and shrubs trimmed under windows so burglars can't hide in them.
  
• Keep shades or curtains closed over the garage or shed windows.
  
• Keep shades or curtains closed over your home windows after dark
  
• Don't leave toys, tools, and equipment in the yard.
  
• Make your home look like someone is there. Consider using timers to turn on selected lights on and off automatically. Timers also available for outdoor sprinklers.
  
• Do your yard work before you leave
  
• If you have an answering machine don't record a message that indicates you are out of town.
  
• Remove all "secret keys" from their outdoor locations; provide only a duplicate key to the person who will be in charge to collect your mail and newspapers while you are gone.
  
• Invite a neighbour or family member to periodically park their car in your driveway.

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Health Admin.