Influenza A H1N1 Virus
How Do You Protect Yourself?
To protect yourself, practice general preventive measures for influenza:
- Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and who have fever and cough.
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly.
- Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.
If there is an ill person at home:
- Try to provide the ill person a separate section in the house. If this is not possible, keep the patient at least 1 meter in distance from others.
- Cover mouth and nose when caring for the ill person. Masks can be bought commercially or made using the readily available materials as long as they are disposed of or cleaned properly.
- Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly after each contact with the ill person.
- Try to improve the air flow in the area where the ill person stays. Use doors and windows to take advantage of breezes.
- Keep the environment clean with readily available household cleaning agents.
Safe Coughing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. and of several states have put forth posters and public service announcements trying to get people to change the way they cough and sneeze. Only a small fraction of the population has adopted safe techniques. With colds always around the corner, with tuberculosis on the rise, and with swine flu threatening to impair the health and welfare of the nation, all citizens should adopt proper coughing and sneezing techniques. Watch the Video.
Wash Your Hands
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. That's as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday two times. See the hand-washing video by the CDC.
If soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.
Contact Information
MCC Main Phone: 480-461-7000
Occupational Health & Safety: 480-461-7360
College Safety: 480-461-7777
Email: crisis@mcmail.maricopa.edu
Additional Information
Contact MCC: Crisis Management Team email | Occupational Health & Safety: 480-461-7360 | Public Safety: 480-461-7777
