• Do you have a temperature that is higher than usual? Or even feverish? • Are you suffering with a headache? • Have you got a nasty cough or a sore throat? • Are you experiencing sinus problems, a runny or dry sniffly nose? • Are you feeling very tired? • Do your muscles ache? • Do you feel nauseas? • Have you been vomiting, or had diarrhoea? With Swine Flu taking over 29 lives to date in the UK, Albany think that everyone should be conscious now more than ever about spreading germs. The workplace is a hot house for multiplying bacteria as people often work closely moving from group to group in a confined area. Flu and colds are viruses which usually affect your sinuses. They come out in sneezes and coughs which is unsurprisingly the most common way they are spread. So in corporate speak “moving forward…” we are providing a quick print-me-off-and-stick-me-on-your-desk guide for your office to help stop the spreading of germs.
Keep your germs to yourself!
We all often feel a little down in the office. The working week is long and takes its toll, but if you do feel genuinely ill, we advise, particularly during this time, to GO HOME. If you feel ill at work make sure you: • Carry tissues on you, into meetings and at your desk – you never know when a sneeze will hit • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough • Clean your hands thoroughly and frequently • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth • Wash up cutlery, plates and mugs properly as soon as you have finished with them
Carry tissues and cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough
You never know when the sniffles will catch up with you, and without a tissue close by, you risk spreading your diseases with up to 100mph sneezes! Covering your sneezes and coughs with your hand is the next best thing, although it is imperative you remember to wash and dry your hands immediately afterwards. Remember to throw these tissues away once you have used them and clean your hands!
Clean your hands thoroughly and frequently
In your office you should have a well maintained bathroom, with soap and warm water, so USE IT! Cleaning your hands properly is so important. Sharing a space with so many people means that germs spread very quickly: door handles, chairs in the meeting room and sharing cups – not forgetting, of course, the amount of shaking hands that happens in offices where clients visit frequently. So make sure you clean your hands properly! • Wet your hands with water • Apply soap and rub hands together, making sure you clean the fronts and backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and not forgetting your finger nails • Rinse your hands properly, leaving no ruminants of soap • Dry properly.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
Germs are more often than not, fans of moist hot areas – these areas in your body are your nose, mouth and eyes. This is where the germs hide out, so avoid touching them. Once on your hands they will contaminate desks, doors, keyboards and mugs. Germs can live for two hours or more on surfaces like these, and are quick to be picked up on other people’s hands. Remember: The office can be a very dangerous place. Watch our hidden dangers film for more details.
