Are You Fully Stocked for Flu Season?

The CDC predicts that the current flu season will continue on for some time and worsen in many locations before coming to an end. If an outbreak occurred in your building today, would you have everything you need to fight back?

We encourage you to examine the chart below, which was created based on CDC recommendations, to ensure you’re not caught empty-handed when illness strikes. 

CDC Recommendation	ProMed Product Solutions
“Wear a facemask (e.g., surgical or procedure mask) upon entering the resident’s room. Remove the facemask when leaving the resident’s room and dispose of the facemask in a waste container. If resident movement or transport is necessary, have the resident wear a facemask if possible.”	Our N95 particulate respirators meet CDC guidelines for fluid resistance and TB exposure control and provide respiratory protection for your entire staff.            We also offer basic procedure masks to protect your residents, staff and visitors.
“Perform hand hygiene before and after touching the resident, after touching the resident’s environment or after touching the resident’s respiratory secretions, whether or not gloves are worn. Gloves do not replace the need for performing hand hygiene.”	GelRite Instant Hand Sanitizer contains 65 percent ethyl alcohol and kills 99.9 percent of harmful bacteria, making it the perfect choice for healthcare use.           DermaKleen is a soft antimicrobial hand cleanser. It kills bacteria on contact while softening, conditioning and moisturizing skin.
“Wear gloves if hand contact with respiratory secretions or potentially contaminated surfaces is anticipated. … [Change] gloves and gowns after each resident encounter and performing hand hygiene.”	We offer gloves in nitrile, stretch synthetic, synthetic, latex and powder-free poly formulations.                        Super Sani-Cloth Germicidal Disposable Wipes meet CDC, OSHA and CMS Tag F441 guidelines for disinfection of contaminated surfaces. They are effective against Influenza A, the most prominent strain this year, among numerous other microorganisms. The wipes are also available in bleach and alcohol-free formulas.
“Wear a gown if soiling of clothes with a resident’s respiratory secretions is anticipated.”	Our isolation gowns feature elastic cuffs for a more secure fit under gloves. They’re made from high-quality spunbonded polypropylene.
“Administer the current season’s influenza vaccine to unvaccinated residents and healthcare personnel as per current vaccination recommendations.”	ProMed’s safety syringes are ideal for flu vaccines and medication delivery.

To read the CDC’s complete guidance, click here.

ProMed also stocks products to help ill residents manage their flu symptoms, including facial tissue, electrolyte drinks and disposable bedside bags.

Professional Medical has everything you need to develop a comprehensive flu prevention and management strategy. To learn more, contact your territory manager, give us a call at (800) 648-5190 or visit us online at promedsupply.com.

Reference

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interim Guidance for Influenza Outbreak Management in Long-Term Care Facilities. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/ltc-facility-guidance.htm. Accessed January 22, 2013.