If you own a health-based establishment, what you need to know during the cold months would be the helpless spread of germs and bacteria that could make your patients sicker and your staff sick. If in a small scale clinic, the chances is significantly higher since there’s no open space or an available window to open in case there are sneezing or coughing patients in the waiting room. Unlike in hospitals where there can be open spaces to roam around and breathe fresh air, smaller establishments sadly circulate the airborne bacteria and germs around.
However, it can easily be avoided with proper preparation for the flu season. You can teach your employees or practise it yourself to avoid the spread of germs and bacteria. This will involve deep cleaning and practises that would help stop or control the spread of the flu.
What is a Seasonal Flu
Like most of the things that comes with the change of weather and climate, germs and bacteria are spread in the air, causing for the occasional sneezing and coughing around. It usually peaks during the months of December to February – when the climate is usually cold and gloomy. It can sometimes evolve into something more serious. The best way to avoid this in the first place is to prepare yourself and your staff for it.
There are symptoms you can look out for, and it can perhaps help your employees distinguish it. It might even help you help them more by suggesting remedies to fully cure them from it. It will also be handy if you can contain the spread as well. Here are the following symptoms you need to keep an eye out for:
- Fever or chills
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Cough
- Body aches
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
To avoid the spread of the disease, you can also implement proper cleaning procedures that could hopefully eliminate the germs and bacteria. This should at least contain the possible spread of bacteria that might jeopardise your patients’ health and your employee’s. Here are the best cleaning practices you can do:
- Ensure that you clean the surfaces, especially those items that are passed around and used by many, and especially those tables and phones. Make sure you use a disinfectant to clean it properly.
- Vacuum and lint roll carpets and other velvet upholstered furniture to ensure there are no mites and bugs in there. If possible, dry it out under the sun to kill the pests inside and hopefully deodorise it too.
- Ensure that you clean and empty the trash cans daily to avoid the accumulation of used tissues and medical wastes. You also have to make sure that these wastes are separated in order to avoid contamination and infestation.
