Be aware. Contingency planning for a pandemic. online Protecting your most valuable asset - your staff

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1 Be aware Contingency planning for a pandemic Protecting your most valuable asset - your staff online

2 What s a pandemic and how does it differ from an epidemic? We are used to epidemics of 'ordinary' influenza, which occur seasonally, every year, around the world. An epidemic is a widespread outbreak of disease occurring in a single community, population or region. A pandemic, on the other hand, occurs on a much greater scale, spreading around the world and affecting many hundreds of thousands of people across many countries. One of the diseases to be aware of is pandemic influenza. A pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus, which people have no immunity to, emerges and starts spreading as easily as normal influenza. This means everyone is at risk of catching it, this includes healthy adults as well as older people, young children and those with existing medical conditions. On average there are just three pandemics every century, the last occurring in 1968 How does Influenza spread Influenza viruses are made up of tiny particles that can be spread through the droplets that come out of your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. When you cough or sneeze without covering your nose and mouth with a tissue, those droplets can spread and others will be at risk of breathing them in. If you cough or sneeze into your hand, those droplets and the germs in them are then easily spread from your hand to any hard surfaces that you touch, and they can live on those surfaces for some time. Everyday items such as door handles, computer keyboards, mobile and ordinary phones and the TV remote control are all common surfaces where influenza viruses can be found. If other people touch these surfaces and then touch their faces, the germs can enter their systems and they can become infected. That s how all cold and influenza viruses are passed on from person to person. Be prepared The Government have invested considerable resource in contingency planning for a potential influenza pandemic in the UK. The Civil Contingencies Secretariat of the Cabinet Office has released a Pandemic Influenza Checklist for Businesses. This follows the current advice from the World Health Organization that countries should be planning for a possible influenza pandemic, although timing of onset is highly unpredictable. In the event of an influenza pandemic, businesses will have a key role to play in reducing the risk to their employees health and safety as far as possible. Visit for further news and information. Other useful websites include: Official Government Website Department of Heath Health & Safety Executive Health Protection Agency European Centre for Disease Control World Health Organization National Travel Health Network and Centre online

3 What you can do now? The best thing you and your staff can do to protect yourself is to follow good hygiene practices. These will help to slow the spread of the virus and will be the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself and others from infection. When you cough or sneeze it is especially important to follow the rules of good hygiene to prevent the spread of germs: Always carry tissues Use clean tissues to cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing Dispose of dirty tissues promptly and carefully after one use bag and bin them Avoid non-essential travel and large crowds whenever possible Maintain good basic hygiene, for example wash your hands frequently with soap and water or sanitising spray, gel and foam to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face, or to other people Clean hard surfaces (e.g desks, telephones, door handles etc) frequently, using a normal cleaning product or sanitising cleaner. There s a simple way to remember this: CATCH IT, BIN IT, KILL IT. Viking Direct can help As a one-source supplier of office products and services, including health protection products, Viking Direct can provide you with health protection solutions for your business. Our health protection products include: Tissues Instant Hand Sanitisers Spray, Gel and Foam variants Antibacterial surface wipes Face Masks Grip Seal Bags Continuity kits Disinfectants and cleansers Antibacterial handwash online

4 A C B EVERYDAY V A L U E CATCH IT & KILL IT KLEENEX ANTIVIRAL TISSUES TISSUES ply absorbent white tissues per box Tissues are 21 x 20 cm White Standard Facial Tissue P7-ND White Luxury Cube Tissue P7-ND Soft, strong tissue has a clever, treated middle layer that kills 99.9% of cold and influenza viruses before they can spread. Sneeze into the tissue, throw it away and within 15 minutes the bacteria has been destroyed One of the best ways of protecting yourself and others from A and B influenza strains plus the leading causes of common colds White P7-VKCKAV E CATCH IT & KILL IT FFP2 FACIAL MASKS Branded quality FFP2 masks as recommended by the World Health Organisation P7-CPDM D KLEENEX HYGIENE KITS Convenient, effective virus protection for when you re at home, at work or travelling Includes a hand-foam pump plus two pocket packs of anti-viral tissues proven to kill 99.9% of all cold and influenza viruses - including all A & B influenza strains Germs are most commonly spread from hand-to-hand or hand-to-surface. The compact pump contains an anti-bacterial foam that requires no water and is the best, most convenient way of keeping your hands germ - and virus-free P7-VKCHK F GRIP SEAL BAGS The snap-close, self-seal plastic bag Ideal for save disposal of tissues Convenient when you are on the move EVERYDAY V A L U E Box of x 140 mm Plain P x 191 mm Plain P

5 ECO CLENZ 250ML GEL Combines a secure germ-killing action with a hand moisturiser Independently tested and proven to kill MRSA and 99.99% of all germs within 15 seconds, but is mild, gentle and acts as a hand moisturiser. Ideal for regular use anytime in the home or at work Just place a small amount in the palm of your hand and rub the palms and backs until dry. Requires no water and can be used as often as needed for a fast, easy safeguard from viruses A P7-VECOECG NO GERMS 25ML FRESH AIR SANITISER B NO GERMS 25ML INSTANT HAND SANITISER C Put one in your pocket for protection when you're out and about A gentle atomiser spray that s completely safe to use around food, children and pets. Pollen-free, it contains no common allergy inducers, just leaves you with a more hygienic, fresher environment As you ll only need a small amount at a time, the 25ml size gives you plenty of use and is small enough to carry Take it along for protection while you re on the move The alcohol-free formula is safe for children to use and won t dry-out or irritate skin. Natural, organic Chamomile and Lavender protects and moisturises The handy, portable pump for protection when and wherever you need. Safe and legal for air travel. 25ml size gives up to 90 separate applications Lasts for up to four hours after use Spray P7-NG25MLAS Spray P7-NG25ML Cleaning your hands is the single most efficient means of preventing illness. These compact pumps contain an anti-bacterial, alcohol-free formula that requires no water and eradicates viruses including MRSA, H1N1 swine flu and H5N1 bird flu. NO GERMS 210ML INSTANT HAND SANITISER D NO GERMS 50ML INSTANT HAND SANITISER E The alcohol-free formula is safe for children to use and won t dry-out or irritate skin Natural, organic chamomile and lavender protects and moisturises The 210ml capacity bottle offers great value and is suitable for home work or even your vehicle ideal for delivery drivers too! Lasts for up to four hours after use The alcohol-free foam is safe for children to use and won t dry-out or irritate skin. Natural, organic chamomile and lavender protects and moisturises The handy, portable pump for protection when and wherever you need Safe and legal for air travel 50ml size gives up to 100 separate applications Lasts for up to four hours after use Foam P7-NG210ML Foam P7-NG50ML

6 A B ULTRAZONE CLEANSER 500ML Effective against a wide range of bacteria including MRSA and the viruses that cause HIV and Hepatitis B 4 per pack P FOAMING HAND SANITISER AND MANUAL DISPENSER Approx 1800 handwashes per 1 litre cartridge Low level indicator panel lets you see when its time to refill 1L Foam Hand Sanitiser Cartridge P7-VHPHYFD Soap Dispenser P7-VDPCFS C WASHROOM HYGIENE Maxima un-perfumed bacterial hand wash 250ml Handwash P7-VCWMAS D E ECOTECH WIPES No more messy cloths and sprays - a clean fresh cloth every time Ideal for the office, food preparation areas, shops and factories Keep one by doors for quick surface wiping Effective against E-Coli, listeria, salmonella and MRSA Tub of P7-VECO150 Tub of P7-VECO500 GERM WARFARE (MICELLE ACTIVE) The ultimate cleaner and sanitiser spray kills MRSA, E-coli, salmonella and listeria Does not contain bleach and is suitable for use in all food preparation areas Antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal cleaner and sanitiser spray 750 ml P7-CMAXBA F EVERYDAY V A L U E MULTIPURPOSE WIPES AND REFILLS 100 pre-saturated wipes suitable for all hard surfaces Refill pouch of 100 multi-purpose wipes order Multi-Purpose P Refill Wipes P EVERYDAY V A L U E G TELEPHONE WIPES tub contains 100 bacterial wipes TELEPHONE CLEANING WIPES SACHET Bacterial telephone cleaning wipes in sachets Tub of P Pack of 50 Sachets P H

7 A B WITH DESK HOLDER Keep Purell on your desk, where you need it Convenient solution for use anytime Ideal for anyone working from a desk Complete with a 240ml bottle of Purell Purell Pal P7-N06206 HYGIENE HAND GEL 240ML Ideal for use at your desk Can be used with the Purell desk holders Helps stop the spread of germs that may cause illness P7-N06208 D C HYGIENE HAND GEL 118ML Skin cleansing disinfectant Recommended and used by medical care establishments for quick, effectiveness Quick-drying, no rinse or towel required Dye-free, perfume-free, leaves no residue or fragrance on the skin Ideal for people who come in to contact with others throughout their working day P7-PS118 HYGIENIC HAND RUB 60ML Ideal on the move Fits neatly into pocket or briefcase Can be used with retractable clip Hygienic Hand Rub P7-N06196 Attachment Clip P7-N06199 CONTINUITY KIT E Contains the products recommended by the World Health Organization Ecotech Wipes Facial Masks Tissues Eco Clenz Gel - tub of 150 per pack - 1 facial mask - 1 box of tissues ml container P7-VMAX

8 Did you know? In 2008 workplace absences cost the UK economy 12 billion The average cost of absence in 2008 was 666 per employee per year In 2008 the average level of workplace absence was 8 days per employee per year Coughs, colds and influenza symptoms normally account for 15% of all absences across the UK workforce. The highest single cause During the 2008 influenza season coughs, colds and influenza symptoms accounted for over 20% of all absences across the UK workforce There were three influenza pandemics in the 20th century: in 1918, 1957 and Up to 25% of the UK population became ill each time The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) believes that a severe influenza A(H1N1) outbreak (also known as Swine Flu) could cost UK employers 1.5bn a day A pandemic could escalate quickly, last for many months and infect 25% or more of the world s population, according to public health experts. Office Depot International (UK) Ltd, registered in England at 501 Beaumont Leys Lane, Leicester LE4 2BN with registration number online