The following Swine Flu information, recommendations, and guidelines are supplied by the Florida Department of Health.

General Information

H1N1 Swine Flu is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This new virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.

There are currently H1N1 Swine Flu cases circulating in Florida. In late June and early July over 90% of the specimens tested for influenza at the Bureau of Laboratories have been positive for H1N1 (Swine) Influenza.  At this point in time it can be assumed that a person with influenza-like illness has the H1N1 strain, without conducting laboratory testing. 

Swine Flu Symptoms: To include one or more of the following - Fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue, headache, lethargy, stuffy nose, chills, diarrhea, vomiting.

Prevention & Treatment 

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

Until a vaccine is readily available, the following steps are recognized as the best way to protect yourself. 

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

Other important actions that you can take are:

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so; a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs, tissues and other related items could be useful and help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

If I have a family member at home who is sick with novel H1N1 flu, should I go to work?

Employees who are well but who have an ill family member at home with novel H1N1 flu can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day, and take everyday precautions including washing their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.  If the employee becomes ill, they should notify their supervisor and stay home. Employees who have an underlying medical condition or who are pregnant should call their health care provider for advice, because they might need to receive influenza antiviral drugs to prevent illness.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. CDC recommends that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used.  If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work as the alcohol within it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where people have been identified with novel H1N1 flu and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people. CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.  Staying at home means that you should not leave your home except to seek medical care. This means avoiding normal activities, including work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed.

Gold Coast Beverage – Company Plan

1.   As a general rule, any employee who displays the above symptoms is asked to visit their physician for evaluation and treatment.  Employees are asked to remain home until they are feeling better and to report to H.R. if they have been diagnosed with the virus.   An employee should never report to work if they have a fever, and the employee should wait 24hours after the fever has passed before reporting back to work. 

2.  Hand sanitizing stations, identified with signs, will be positioned throughout the company warehouses.  General office staff will use the main bathroom sanitizers.

·        Employees are directed to sanitize their hands before starting their work shift and to re-sanitize their hands several times periodically during their working hours.

·        Additionally, prior to beginning of each shift, employees will sanitize all work equipment, such as;

-      Forklift and rider-walkie steering wheels

-      All control handles

-      All control knobs

-      Multi-use telephones in shared offices

-      Office doorknobs

·        Cleaning staff will be trained to disinfect high traffic areas. 

3.  The company will provide employees up-to-date information from the Health Department on status of the virus on the company website.   

4.  Company supervisors are to assess employee symptoms and report to H.R. any employee who may be ill and have the flu. 

5.  The company encourages employees to develop their own personal action plan to care for sick family members and/or situations where schools may be closed and, as a result, children may need day care, etc.

6.  The company will provide the Swine Flu vaccine, once available, to all employees.  The Swine Flu vaccine will be distributed through the same insurance network which now delivers the standard yearly flu vaccine.  Once available, H.R. staff will give further direction as to when and how to obtain the vaccine.