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Fall 2009

501 Westwood Blvd . Los Angeles, CA 90095-1605Volume I, No. 4 Since 2008

News & NotesSpecial Edition

EHS News & Notes Editorial StaffEditor: Karin Wasler Layout: Brian HamanoContributors: Joshua Witt, James Gibson, Estey TheriaultComments or suggestions? Please contact Karin Wasler at ext. 45669 or kwasler@ehs.ucla.edu.

Preparations Underway for 2009 H1N1 and Seasonal Flu

UCLA is committed to protecting our community by preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus through effective planning and education. EH&S has teamed up with various campus departments to ensure preparedness plans are put into operation by:

Updating the UCLA Pandemic Influenza • Response Plan to reflect developments and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the California Department of Public Health. Partnering with campus custodial units to review • cleaning and disinfection protocols and broaden the scope of custodial service when necessary.Collaborating with groups such as ASUCLA, • Cultural and Recreational Affairs, Housing and Hospitality, Facilities Management, and the Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center.

Education and outreach is a cornerstone to a successful flu prevention campaign. To that end, EH&S has developed the following resources:

H1N1 Health Alerts available in English and Spanish.• This special edition of EH&S News and Notes. • Hand-washing signs for campus restrooms. • EH&S Websit• e which includes current information and links to UCLA and external resources.

EH&S will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates to the campus community.

Flu Prevention Here are five important ways you can keep from getting or spreading the flu.

If you have flu-like symptoms go home and stay home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever.Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Practice proper respiratory etiquette. Cover your nose & mouth with a tissue when coughing/sneezing, or cough/sneeze into your elbow. Talk to your health care provider about whether you should be vaccinated.Clean & disinfect your work area with disinfectant wipes

See inside for additional important tips...

Fast Facts about the FluWhat is seasonal flu? Seasonal flu is a respiratory illness generally occuring during the fall and winter in the United States. Outbreaks are typically limited, as most people have some immunity to the circulating strain of the virus. A vaccine is available every year.

What is H1N1?Formerly known as swine flu, H1N1 is an acute and highly contagious respiratory virus similar to seasonal flu, but affecting a younger age group. Less immunity exists to this novel strain of the flu.

What are the common symptoms of H1N1?Fever or chills AND a cough or sore throat; other symptoms include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.

How do viruses spread from person to person? In droplets produced by coughs and sneezes, or from touching contaminated surfaces and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

How long do viruses live on surfaces?The virus can stay alive on surfaces for at least two hours.

How do viruses enter your body?Through your mouth, nose and eyes.

Remember to Clean Your Work Space

Campus custodial units have expanded cleaning detail during the flu season to include frequently touched items in common areas such as door handles, handrails, and elevator buttons. However, preventing the spread of H1N1 can only be accomplished through the collective efforts of the entire UCLA community.

The H1N1 virus survives on hard surfaces for at least two hours, so care should be taken to frequently clean common areas and commonly-touched surfaces. When choosing a disinfectant, select a product whose label states that it is effective against Influenza A Virus. The EPA maintains a list of registered disinfectants that will disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces.

Healthy Office PracticesFollow these quick steps to ensure your areas are cleaned appropriately.

Supplement custodial services by frequently 1. cleaning commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons, desks, tables, chairs, and sofas. Counters and surfaces in reception areas, meeting rooms, and group offices should also be cleaned. Some departments may find it beneficial to establish a formal schedule for this type of cleaning.

Some surfaces should be disinfected prior to 2. each use:

Chairs and study tables• Keyboards and remote controls• Headphones shared in language • laboratoriesTelephone receivers in common areas• Touch pads on fax and copy machines, • electronic card readers or printers File cabinet and drawer handles• Kitchen appliance handles and buttons • (fridges, microwaves, sinks, coffee pots, water dispensers, etc.)

Incorporating these cleaning steps into your daily routine can have a significant impact on flu prevention.

Checklist for Departments Departmental initiatives to prevent the flu and prepare for an outbreak should be started early, beginning with the items on this checklist.

Develop a department preparedness plan and • perform regular drills.Stock up on items such as liquid hand soap, • tissues, hand sanitizer, disinfectants, and disposable towels.When choosing a disinfectant, select a product • whose label states that it is effective against Influenza A Virus. The EPA maintains a list of registered disinfectants that will disinfect hard, non-porous surfaces.Identify opportunities for updating engineering • controls such as no-touch trash cans or clear plastic sneeze barriers in reception or areas with customer contact. Encourage policies to limit worker or customer • contact.

Links for More InformationAshe Student Health and Wellness Center www.studenthealth.ucla.edu

California Department of Public Health www.cdph.ca.gov

Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu

EPA List of Approved H1N1 Disinfectants http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/influenza-disinfectants.html

LA County Department of Public Health www.publichealth.lacounty.gov

OSHA Pandemic Preparation Guidance www.osha.gov/Publications/influenza_pandemic.html#affect_workplaces

UCLA Environment, Health and Safetywww.ehs.ucla.edu/

Vaccine Information www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm

World Health Organization www.who.int

Be Prepared.

Stop the Flu.

Director’s Note This special edition of EH&S News and Notes is designed to help you prepare for this year’s flu season, which includes the 2009 H1N1 virus. You will find basics about the flu, prevention tips, proper hand-washing techniques, and checklists to help individuals and departments become better prepared. By following these steps, you can keep yourself healthy, slow the spread of the flu virus, and help protect the campus community. -James Gibson, EH&S Director

What is Proper Respiratory Etiquette?

The main way flu viruses spread from person to person is in droplets produced by coughs and sneezes, so it’s important to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder.

Fall 2009

News and NotesNews and Notes 32

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What is the Correct Way to Wash Your Hands?

Did you know that the H1N1 virus stays alive on your hands and surfaces for at least two hours? Frequent hand washing and proper respiratory etiquette will have a tremendous impact on reducing the spread of the flu virus. Washing your hands is a key step in preventing widespread infection on campus.

Wash your hands correctly:Wet your hands1. Add liquid soap2. Lather and scrub for at least 20 seconds 3. Remember to wash between your fingers, under your nails and the tops of your handsRinse thoroughly for at least 10 seconds 4. Turn off the tap with a paper towel5. With a new paper towel dry your hands and open 6. the door with the same paper towel before throwing the towel in the garbage

Use hand sanitzer when soap & water is unavailable:Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also effective, but should only be used if you do not have ready access to a handsink and your hands are not visibly soiled. Make sure to use at least a dime size amount of sanitizer and rub your hands together until it is fully absorbed.

Watch for Serious Symptoms The Centers for Disease Control recommend that you get emergency medical care if you or your children experience any of the following serious, flu-like symptoms:

Serious symptoms to look for in everyone: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen • Sudden dizziness • Confusion • Severe or persistent vomiting • Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with • fever and worse cough

Additionally, watch for these symptoms in children: Bluish or gray skin color • Not drinking enough fluids • Not waking up or not interacting • Being so irritable that the child does not want to • be held

Above all, do not panic. Stay calm, and seek treatment as soon as possible.

H1N1 Symptoms and Care What are the symptoms of H1N1 flu?Symptoms of the flu include fever or chills AND a cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.

What should campus members do if they get the flu? The CDC recommends that people with flu-like illness remain at home and away from people until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever. Be sure to make this determination without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). If you are a healthcare worker, the recommendations may be more stringent, so check with your supervisor about work restrictions.

How do I recognize a fever or signs of a fever?A fever is a temperature that is equal to or greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius when taken with a thermometer. Possible signs of fever include: person feeling very warm, having a flushed appearance, sweating, or shivering.

How do I know if someone has H1N1 flu or seasonal flu?It will be very hard to tell if someone who is sick has H1N1 flu or seasonal flu. Public health officials and medical authorities will not be recommending laboratory tests to distinguish between flu strains. Anyone who has the symptoms of flu-like illness should stay home and not go to work or class.

What fever-reducing medications can campus community members take when sick?Fever-reducing medications are medicines that contain acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin). These medicines can be given to people who are sick with flu to help bring their fever down and relieve their pain. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years of age who has the flu; this can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s syndrome. UCLA advises you to contact your health care provider if you have flu-like symptoms.

Get VaccinatedSeasonal flu and H1N1 are different viruses, each requiring a separate vaccination.

Seasonal Flu VaccineThe usual seasonal influenza viruses are expected to cause illness this fall and winter. Everyone is encouraged to get a seasonal flu vaccine as soon as it is available.

H1N1 Flu Vaccine While we recommend that everyone gets the H1N1 vaccination, certain high risk groups should receive it when it first becomes available (October 2009). Groups at higher risk for complications from H1N1 flu include:

• Pregnant women • Caregivers for children younger than 6 months • Healthcare & emergency services personnel • People between 6 months & 24 years of age • People ages 25-64 who have chronic health conditions (such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes) or compromised immune systems

For more information on vaccination recommendations or risk groups, see resources on the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm

Adopt Healthy Habits Reduce your chances of exposure to the flu virus by practicing social distancing techniques. Avoid close contact with others (maintain a separation of at least 6 feet). Additionally, when possible, you should:

Avoid crowded settings• If appropriate, avoid hand-shaking • Disinfect shared work stations or computers • Avoid face-to-face meetings. Instead, use • teleconferencing, video-conferencing or other technologies to support your work

Adopting healthy habits will help your immune system function effectively.

Sleep – people that get at least 8 hours of good • sleep get sick less often Drink plenty of water• Eat a balanced diet • Avoid smoking• Practice good personal • hygieneFind healthy ways to • deal with stress and anxiety

What if Someone in the Household Has the Flu?

Most importantly, anyone in the household who is sick with the flu or flu-like symptoms should stay home (for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever)Others in the household should limit contact with the person feeling ill and try to maintain a distance of 6 feet

If close contact cannot be avoided, the person feeling ill should wear a surgical mask, if tolerable, when he or she is around you and other people

Frequently clean commonly-touched surfaces and living quarters

A FLU KIT can serve to keep your home disinfected and help manage symptoms as they arise. Your home flu kit should include items such as:

tissues• disinfectant• a thermometer•

acetaminophen (Tylenol)• bottled water or other • nourishing fluids