Flu Precautions at the Library
We're taking the flu season seriously at the Garland County Library. Not only do we want to share useful and up to date information with the community, but we also want to make sure the library is a healthy, clean environment for patrons and staff.
If you or your child is experiencing any flu or flu-like symptoms, please wait to visit the library until symptoms subside. The library staff will do the same.
While using the library facility and library items, we urge you to wash hands often and to use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer dispensers, surface cleaning wipes, and tissues are available at the front desk.
If you have questions or concerns, please let us know.
Tips for Staying Healthy
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.
2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
3. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.
4. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles.
5. Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.
6. Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. If you need to use a co-worker’s phone, desk, or other equipment, clean it first.
7. Don’t spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home. Symptoms of flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. CDC recommends that sick workers stay home if they are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
8. Get vaccinated against seasonal flu, when vaccine is available in your area. If you are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications you should receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes).
-From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
If you are around young children, I have a tip. My child came home from school the other day saying that they learned to cough and sneeze into their elbow with Germy Wormie, and I was totally taken aback. I always covered with my hands. But I went to the website and now I get it, hands touch, elbows don't!! Kids can touch 300 surfaces in 1/2 hour and they hate to wash their hands. This is a simple thing that can make a huge difference.
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