EMS public health campaigns

[medicdan]

In light of H1N1 being on the horizon, and increased Joint Commission inspection of hospital rates of hand hygiene, I am wondering how it is hitting EMS. Are services targeting hand washing/cleansing campaigns at it's employees? Are EMS providers targeting the public?

Particularly in the case of H1N1, excellent respiratory hygiene is required, including cough precautions (coughing into a sleeve or tissue, which is then thrown away, in addition to quality and often hand washing). What are you doing to support this? Do EMS systems have a formal program that decreases the burden's on employees to come into work when sick? To make sure those who are sick dont come in until they have been fever free for 24 hours (with no anti-fever meds, as opposed to old requirements, that called for 7 days)?

Thoughts? Comments?

Dan

 

[46Young]

The majority of EMS run calls all day and night and have little time when on duty for Pub Ed. Employers are likely unwilling to pay OT for a Pub Ed campaign. Employees are unlikely to volunteer their time as most are tired from working without breaks, and typically work another job or two to take care of the bills.

At my FD we've been thoroughly educated and have SOP's in place when responding to a suspected AFRI pt. We're actually encouraged to stay home if experiencing any flu like S/Sx, and also encouraged (not mandated) to see our PCP in regards.

They taught us the whole cough into your sleeve thing back at the academy April of last year.

 

[Ridryder911]

Although, the H1N1 has brought public attention to viruses, it is not any different than any other day of what we should be doing daily. Handwashing (proper-as most EMT's do not know how to perform), cleaning appropriately, make sure to change clothing after exposure, wear appropriate PPE if possible.

We will be offering immunizations to employees, increasing our PPE stock due to the projected numbers (we have 2 universities in my town) and the usual health regime.
We are not changing policy for sick leave, etc. If you are sick, stay at home get better. The problem is most are not aware they are carriers or have been exposed until it is too late as the symptoms appear later.

R/r 911

 

[medicdan]

I understand and agree that H1N1 is known to be barely stronger then seasonal influenzas. What I am getting at is that we can cut transmission dramatically, cutting infection rates, etc, by promoting excellent resp hygiene. I read an anecdotal study from Hong Kong from the SARS days. They said they cut down transmission of seasonal respiratory infections by 90-95% using a strong public campaign supporting hand washing, etc.

 

[Scout]

Well as sad as it sound we were thought to wash our hands. One would have hoped people knew how to do it already but.....


http://www.glogerm.com/ This idea was also used. Its basically you have this stuff put onto your hand by the instructor shaking your hand on the way in, they go through the technique, you mimic and follow...
Then you wash your hand and out comes the UV lamp, and you get to see how shoddy your hand washing is.