By now, most everyone is familiar with the current Swine or H1N1 flu outbreak. Since the elderly are especially vulnerable to the illness, the possibility of an outbreak in a nursing home or senior housing community is cause for concern. Visitors and employees alike play an important role in prevention and patient safety from this flu virus and the precautions are much the same as with the human flu virus.

First, it’s imperative not to visit or come to work at a nursing home or if you are sick or have had any ill symptoms within the last three days including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever (or feeling feverish), The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Therefore, frequent and proper hand washing is one of the most powerful ways to prevent the spread of infection, such as swine flu in a nursing home or other group setting.

According to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology:

The number one way to prevent infection is through frequent handwashing with soap
and water for 20-30 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an antiseptic hand
cleaner that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Health care workers should wash their hands before and after patient contact, and patients and visitors should wash their hands as frequently as possible after contact with potentially contaminated surfaces such as those in the bathroom or on medical equipment.

Find out more about how clean hands save lives from the CDC.

-Elizabeth Thielke