46 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • DECEMBER 2017 46 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2017 46 LONGISLANDPRESS.CO M • SEPTEMBER 201-----------TUTU111
Don’t let the flu bug you this year
Flu season is upon us, and many healthcare
facilities are urging you to start preparing now
with vaccines. Ironically, one of the places you
need to be careful is at the doctor’s office or
healthcare clinic.
The number of people in and out of clinics this
time of year increases the chance that someone
will leave behind a harmful pathogen. Being
near people who may already have the flu can
put you at risk. Reduce this risk by following
some simple instructions from healthcare cleaning
experts.
“Healthcare-acquired infections can be a threat
to everyone, especially the elderly and young
children,” said Steve Zimmerman, director of
healthcare services for ServiceMaster Clean,
a cleaning and janitorial service provider.
“Most facilities do a good job of sanitizing their
waiting areas, but sick people can spread their
illnesses through the touch of a door, magazine
or pen, leaving you vulnerable to pick up germs
you can’t see.”
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 9
million to 35 million people will get the flu each
year, 140,000 to 710,000 will be hospitalized
because of it, and 12,000 to 56,000 will die from
the illness. The CDC recommends a vaccination
each year for those six months of age and older.
While the vaccine may help protect you from
the flu, cleaning experts urge everyone to avoid
high-touch areas as much as possible. In a
healthcare setting, Zimmerman defines hightouch
surfaces as anything that multiple people
will likely touch during their visit.
Some high-touch surfaces are hard to avoid,
such as door handles and chair armrests. That’s
why it’s wise to wash hands often and use hand
sanitizer when necessary. But there are other
high-touch areas you can avoid, such as:
* Magazines. These are nearly impossible to disinfect
once they have been contaminated. Don’t
pick them up while you’re waiting.
* Toys. Bring your own toys to help prevent your
child from picking up an illness from another
child.
* Restrooms. They can harbor lots of pathogens
unless cleaned often. If you must go, limit
touching surfaces in the restroom, wash your
hands thoroughly and use hand sanitizer if it’s
available.
* Ink pens. Think about how many hands touch
the ink pens in facilities. Whether signing in or
filling out paperwork, bring your own and eliminate
the possibility of sharing germs.
* Coffee urns. For many Americans, coffee is a
must. If you pick up a coffee pot or stop at your
favorite coffee shop, take hand sanitizer with
you and use immediately after you pour a cup.
Zimmerman also points out that if you schedule
visits for the early morning, you are less likely
to contract the germs that typically accumulate,
since cleaning crews often perform a deep clean
at the end of each day. – BPT
PRESS HEALTH
Docs: Flu shot
also thwarts
pneumonia
National Influenza Vaccination Week,
which runs Dec. 3-9, reminds us that it’s
time to get our flu shots, but the folks
at Northwell Health GoHealth Urgent
Care note that it can also prevent worse
ailments.
Dr. Neal Shipley from Northwell Health-
GoHealth Urgent Care points to a 2015
study that found those who have been
vaccinated against the flu are 57 percent
less likely to catch pneumonia.
“That’s a pretty serious statistic given
that many of those who are unfortunate
enough to catch pneumonia typically end
up in the hospital for four to five days with
intravenous antibiotics and a four-weeklong
recovery period, he said. “We know
you don’t have time for that.”
The study was conducted by researchers
from the Etiology of Pneumonia in the
Community (EPIC) in collaboration with
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.