Are AEDs Required in Schools?

On a normal day, children spend most of their time in schools and learning institutions.

Every parent wants to be certain that their children are safe when not in their care.

Cardiac arrest can happen without warning. It could be at a sporting meet, debate club or other school event.

It is important for schools to provide adequate first aid measures to keep children, staff and visitors to the school safe.

1. What Is Cardiac Arrest?

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops working or pumping blood normally. When a blockage prevents blood from getting to the heart, the heart is starved of oxygen and this affects its regular rhythm.

Most of the time it means the heart has not received enough oxygen to effectively pump blood to the body. The pulse is weakened and when the blood stops circulating the brain is starved of oxygen. At this point, the victim falls unconscious and stops breathing. If left untreated, the victim could die.

A cardiac arrest can be caused by many things and it differs from children to adults.

For children, such causes could be:

• Trauma
• Respiratory illness
• Cardiac disease (usually hereditary)

Young children are affected because of their developing hearts. Their bodies are still growing and so their soft chest walls are easily affected. It could be as simple as bumping into another person/object or a sharp blow to the child’s chest.

The chance of survival during a cardiac arrest decreases by close to 10% for every minute the victim goes without Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and a defibrillator shock.

This is why defibrillation is very important. The sooner the victim receives CPR and AED shock, their chances of survival are increased.

If you ever find yourself in an emergency, remember these steps:

• Call for an ambulance.
• Administer CPR.
• Use an AED as soon as possible.

2. What Are AEDs?

Alsco’s Rented Defibrillator keep your workplace safe

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is used to administer a safe electric shock in an attempt to restart the heart.

They are portable, lightweight and easy to use. It is true that they can be used by anyone, regardless of experience quite effectively.

They are found in many public spaces including gyms, airports, banks, recreational centres and so on.

When used in combination with CPR, they can resume normal heart function. The process of CPR maintains the blood and oxygen circulation until the victim can receive a defibrillator shock.

Most medical practitioners use AEDs over other equipment for cardiac arrests.

You can watch this video about how to use the Alsco HeartSine Samaritan 500 P AED.

3. Should Students Learn First Aid, Including CPR and AED Use?

As part of health education, schools can choose to incorporate CPR training.

This improves response rates when victims experience cardiac arrest. It prompts bystanders into action.

The World Health Organisation believes that teaching children CPR for two hours in a year can boost survival rates and improve global health.

CPR is an easy and important skill to learn. Children can pick up these techniques quickly.

AEDs are designed to be used without training. However, proper training on the use of AEDs can improve their effectiveness. Training can answer common questions regarding AEDS. It also increases confidence and the willingness to help in an emergency.

These lessons are provided by local ambulance service or first aid trainers during Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC) sessions.

4. Emergencies and EOTC Activities

Education Outside The Classroom (EOTC) is not a new concept in New Zealand. It ranges from sports trips, school camps, museum visits and so much more.

There should be policies in place that include all major issues such as traumatic events.

Schools should do a risk assessment of all the EOTC activities before the actual event.

It is never pleasant when incidents occur during an EOTC, for any party involved. A response with procedural steps in case of any emergency should be planned ahead of time. This helps lessen the impact and speed up recovery.

The person in charge of EOTC events should check with the EOTC provider on the potential risks involved. Then confirm if there are staff trained in first aid on site. It is important to note how many first aid trainers are available and if the premise has an AED.

The EOTC provider should also provide a health and safety orientation. That includes emergency procedure and where first aid equipment may be located.

5. Benefits of Having an AED on a School Site

AEDs have voice prompts that provide step by step guidelines in an emergency situation.

For those that are hearing impaired, a step by step guide comes with all devices.

Whether a school decides to buy an AED lies with the board of trustees. The school’s health and safety policies, as well as workplace regulations, should be considered in the decision-making process.

Most schools have other activities going on besides learning. The community at large can have access to school buildings for sports events, civil emergencies, natural disasters and meetings.

When such events occur, it is worth considering the benefits of having an AED on the premises.

Although schools may be located near facilities such as hospitals. However, you can never predict an emergency. Traffic, obstructions on the road, and other factors can delay professional medical personnel from getting to the site.

Considering the rate at which the survival rate drops when it comes to cardiac arrest, it is beneficial to have an AED in schools.

5. Schools Should Train Staff in CPR and AED Use

All schools must have staff trained in first aid under the Health and safety act of 2010. This includes knowledge on how to perform CPR as well as use an AED.

Practical training is the best way to get familiar with using an AED, but not the only way. There are videos and e-learning training that ease the basic understanding of using this equipment.

Local emergency service personnel and local ambulance crews can visit your school to speak at assembly and engage the students.

This can help build the wealth of knowledge students have on areas like health and physical education, science and social studies. Real-time engagement with individuals in the medical field can help empower students to act in an emergency.

6. Where Should You Keep an AED in Schools?

Download FREE AED Arrow Downward Poster

A visible, central location that is accessible in an emergency is the best place to store an AED. Consider getting emergency signs placed right beside the AED.

When someone loses consciousness, there needs to be a clear process for getting the AED.

Did you know that in New Zealand there are apps for AED locations?

They are used to map the location of AEDs nationwide.

This makes it easy to access all nearby AEDs if you have your smartphone.

It is recommended that you register the location of your AED.

Find the nearest AED here.

7. What Does the Law Say About AEDs in Schools?

There are regulations that place responsibility on persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) or a board of trustees. They must have first aid provisions for others in their care.

Regulation 13 covers provisions for first aid facilities, equipment and number of first aid trainers.

This school trustees must assess the risks involved at the school and decide what is appropriate.

Ensuring the safety of children in schools is of the utmost importance.

The provision of an AED in a school building is not only helpful for students but the community at large.

Don’t Take a Chance, Get an AED for Your Workplace Today

An AED instantly makes your school safer for pupils, staff, parents and visitors.

You don’t have to risk a life. With Alsco, you can relax, because all the hard work is done for you.

We install, check and replace the contents of your AED throughout the year.

For an annual fee you can ensure that your school is equipped with the latest in AED technology.

Call your local Alsco branch and ask us about our rental fee.

Where Is the Best Place to Keep a First Aid Kit in the Office?

The safety of your employees is important to keep your business running smoothly.

Exposure to different elements over time can affect your employees. New safety measures are required.

They include hygiene procedures, quality uniform suppliers, and stocking suitable first aid kits for your workplace.

A first aid kit contains supplies and equipment used for medical treatment. They are essential for any establishment. Do you know the contents of a first aid kit?

You should use first aid signs that show the locations of the first aid equipment. They make first aid kits easier to locate in an emergency.

Did you know that by posting signs to denote first aid kit locations, you comply with NZS/AS 1319: 1994 Safety Signs for the Occupational Environment? Find out more about standards on www.standards.co.nz

Where Should You Keep First Aid Kits in the Workplace?

Alsco’s managed first aid kit service offers your workplace safety.

First and foremost, you need to place the kits within reach.

You should have at least one full first aid kit wherever employees are stationed. This extends to work vehicles and equipment.

The size of your establishment (both architecture and workforce) plays a big role in determining how many kits may be required, as does the kind of labour and activity involved.

A needs assessment test is important to determine how many extra kits may be necessary.

The number of kits you need also depends on the number of employees you have. You must have one kit for every 50 employees.

A multi-story building should have at least one kit on each floor.

Large spaces such as stadiums and airports should have industry first aid kits. They should be placed wherever staff work in order to meet occupational health and safety requirements.

All venues must have clear information on how to access the equipment. It would be useless to have kits locked away in a cupboard in the event of an emergency.

Kits should be unlocked wherever possible. Employees should be informed of their accessibility during orientation.

Sealed emergency kits should be available in instances or places where kits must be locked, such as areas with high traffic from the public.

Water is often needed to clean up wounds, which is why first aid kits should be placed close to washbasins with running water and clean towels.

When water is not available, a well-stocked kit would have sterile saline solution or wet wipes and hand sanitising gel.

Kits should be placed in high-risk areas. If they are mounted on a wall, the contents should be accessible at all times.

Types of First Aid Kits

Regulations apply to both contractors and employees under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

The Act and related regulations demand that workers are given the best level of protection from workplace health and safety risks within reasonable practice.

Providing such necessities can boost the image of your workplace. It could also improve relationships with your employees.

You can choose from a variety of kits, such as:

1. Office First Aid Kits

Work-related injuries can range from paper cuts to broken bones.

Accidents can happen in the most mundane ways. If not accidents, then there’s one’s health to consider.

Most first aid kits consist of nonprescription drugs, such as mild painkillers and antihistamines, which can be restocked after use.

2. Managed First Aid Kits

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Can you picture having your first aid kit tailored to your business requirements, with the ability to choose ready-made kits that have all the basics?

This package also makes you compliant with New Zealand legislation all year round since the kits will be installed, checked, and restocked for you.

There are three restocking intervals during which hospital-grade material is refilled and expired contents are removed.

Alsco carefully selects the highest quality and most durable first aid supplies as part of our service.

Plus, you get all that for a single annual fee. That means you can take a break. We’ve got it covered.
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Alsco First Aid Kit restocking supply

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3. Vehicle and Portable First Aid Kits

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Accidents can happen at any given time. It is more practical to be safe and cautious rather than sorry.

When employees have tasks that keep them out of the office and in their vehicles driving across New Zealand, they need to be well-equipped.

Employees who also operate heavy machinery, hot/cold equipment, sharp objects and so on need access to proper safety equipment.

Having the proper kit is crucial, especially if your employees are alone. On the road, you need a light and compact first aid kit that can fit in small nooks and crannies.
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Alsco’s Vehicle Portable First Aid Kits

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4. First Responder Kits

Emergency medical responders are known to have their kits close by in case of emergencies.

You never know what distress call you could be walking into.

This is why all levels of emergency medical response kits include stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, belt packs with shears and flashlights.

You can buy these kits online or in local stores.

5. Sports First Aid Kits

These kits focus on orthopedic injuries.

They have cold packs that vary in proportions depending on the size of the group and compression wraps.

These are great to have during outdoor activities such as team-building sessions.

They can also be bought online and in local stores, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About First Aid Kits

1. Do First Aid Kits Expire?

It is essential you ensure your first aid kit contents are checked regularly and replenished. This is important because there are cases where they are rarely needed. In such cases, some of the content expires and goes unnoticed for extended periods of time.

First aid kits often have a three- to five- year shelf life.

2. Who Regulates What Is Inside a First Aid Kit?

The contents of a business’ first aid kit is determined by WorkSafe, which sets strict guidelines. Their guidelines differ depending on the size of the site and the number of employees.

3. What First Aid Documents Need to Be Kept?

The Safety Statement must hold the name of the professional first aider and the location of the first aid rooms, facilities and equipment.

A health and safety inspector should be able to give out written records of the dates of all first aid training, including recertification training upon request.

The information should be kept in a secure place, appropriate for their confidential nature and be made available to the health and safety inspector should the need occur.

4. What Are the Situations in Which a First Aid Kit Can Be Used?

All kinds of wounds can be treated by a first aid kit. It does not only come in handy for emergencies and large wounds. Adhesive bandages can cover up paper cuts.

A first aid kit is a place to keep and organize essentials that could come in handy in any given medical situation. It is wise to get familiar with the contents and their uses, no matter the size.

You could also read more about the main aims of first aid in the workplace

5. Which First Aid Kit Is Best?

The best first aid kit is one that has current functioning medical supplies. Kits vary on who makes them and may be different save a few crucial items.

For example, a sports kit may be slightly different than a kit in your office, which could also vary to one meant for your vehicle. If unused for a long period, supplies may expire or become less effective.

You should review the contents of your kit on a yearly basis or replace items that may be low in stock.

Why Choose Alsco’s Rented Portable First Aid Kits?

At Alsco, we believe our kits are a grand representation of our company. We aim to deliver quality, durable first aid supplies to best suit your needs. Our kits are:

• Stored in sturdy and compact cabinets that can be installed anywhere in your workplace.
• Supplied to meet the needs of unrelated industries, whether you’re in a blue-collar workspace, hospitality, a white-collar office, etc.
• Organised with colour-coded elements so injuries are treated as efficiently as possible.
• Affordable. You only get charged once a year. No reminders, no annoying emails.

If you’d like to guarantee safety at your workplace, get a quick quote here.

Basic Prevention Methods Against the Flu

The flu season is upon us, and you need to get prepared. The best cure is prevention, and we want to ensure you’re well-informed to protect you and your family.

There are some simple steps you can do today to improve your defence against the flu.

Causes of the Flu

It is important to know how the flu is spread so prevention tactics are more effective.

The influenza virus causes the flu by infesting the throat, lungs and nose. It spreads when people send droplets of the virus in the air through sneezing, talking or coughing. Touching surfaces with the virus on it can infect you if you touch your face with your hands.

Did you know it is possible to spread the cold before you start showing symptoms? People with weaker immune systems, like children and sick adults, are infected for a longer time.

Flu Risk Factors

There are people who are more prone to catching the flu. For these high-risk people, influenza can be deadly and lead to complications. The following people are at high risk:

• Anyone with lung illnesses like asthma or cystic fibrosis
• People with heart disease
• People with chronic kidney conditions
• Diabetics or people with metabolic disorders
• Morbidly obese people
• Anaemic people
• People with immune-suppressing diseases or treatments

Prevention Against the Flu

There’s good news! The flu is the only respiratory disease that is preventable by vaccination. Prevention measures will reduce the risk of catching the flu. When you make these part of your lifestyle, you’ll manage the flu virus.

1. Practice Good Hand Hygiene

With proper hand washing habits alone, you can avoid most respiratory diseases. These are the diseases we give ourselves when we transfer germs from our hands to our faces. The germs come from touching dirty surfaces or coming into close contact with infected people. The flu virus can live on hard surfaces for 24 hours, so it’s good to pick up the habit of washing your hands.

Essentials you need to have are hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes. They help you keep your hands as clean as possible. You can also wipe down surfaces you need to touch. Especially in public spaces. Use your sanitiser throughout the day when you are unable to wash your hands.

In addition to washing your hands as often as possible, make an effort not to touch your face. It’s harder than you think. This is why you should keep your hands as clean as possible..

Hand Sanitisers eliminate microbes within seconds.

Proper hand washing technique recommends washing your hands for 20 seconds. Use warm soapy water if possible. Cold water works fine as well. After washing your hands, dry them with a paper towel and then dispose of it. Add helpful posters in your workplace to remind the team about hygiene.

In public areas, avoid using a hand towel because it could become a hub for germs.

Sneeze or cough strategically to avoid touching your face. Use your elbow or a disposable tissue for best results.

Do you know the proper hand washing technique? Here is what you need to keep in mind:

• Using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser:
  • Use a small amount of sanitiser and place it on your palm.
  • Rub it all over your hands until it dries off.
  • This should take around 15 seconds or more.
• At a sink:
  • Wet your hands and use liquid soap if available. You only need a coin-size amount of soap on your hands.
  • Rub your hands until the soap lathers up.
  • Rub over the top of the hands, in between fingers and around the fingernail area.
  • Be thorough and take at least 20 seconds rubbing your hands. To time yourself, sing your favorite song. A common example is the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. Sing it twice.
  • Rub your hands with a paper towel to dry them. Use the towel to turn off the tap and open the door.
  • Avoid using a hand dryer when you can. Paper towels are the most hygienic method.

2. Get a Flu Shot

A flu shot reduces the risk by about 40-60% when the vaccine is well-matched to the prevalent flu. The vaccine works by triggering antibodies within two weeks of taking the shot.

Antibodies help fight the flu strains contained in the vaccine. Although side effects are reported in some people, you cannot get the flu from a flu vaccine.

Who should get a flu shot?

The shot is available for everyone above six months. Get one every year. Discuss with your doctors beforehand to ensure it is safe for you to receive the flu shot. People with allergies and specific conditions can get bad reactions from the vaccine.

If the flu vaccine is in short supply, priority goes to expectant women, children and people with weak immunity. They are at the highest risk of developing complications and need added protection.

3. Clean and Disinfect Surfaces

Clean and disinfect surfaces at home and at work. This reduces the risk of infection since the flu virus can survive for 24 hours on hard surfaces. Disinfecting kills the flu germs and prevents cross-contamination.

Disinfect publicly used items and surfaces several times a day. They include things like doorknobs, toys, light switches and telephones. Quarantine infected people to prevent them from spreading the flu to others. This is important if your loved one becomes infected. Keep them in one part of the house until they stop being contagious.

When caring for sick people at home, wear a mask and gloves when attending to them. Disinfect surfaces to keep you safe and to help the patient recover faster. Remember to always wash your hands after caring for them.

4. Improve Your Immunity Through Diet and Exercise

As you work hard to prevent getting the flu, it is important to strengthen your immune system. In case you catch the flu, you need to be able to fight it effectively. Your lifestyle choices could have weakened your immune system, but it’s never too late to improve it.

Habits that help increase your immunity include:

• Eat a balanced diet with a rich intake of fruits and vegetables.
• Lower stress levels by starting relaxation techniques, gratitude practises and taking breaks.
• Get enough sleep to allow your body time to heal and recover from the business of living.
• Get active and ensure you have moderate daily exercise to keep your body in good shape.
• Make good hygiene a habit to prevent cross-contamination from sick people or dirty surfaces.
• Increase your vitamin D intake. If possible, get sufficient sunlight, and take supplements and eat food rich in vitamin D, like salmon and tuna.

5. Keep Confined Spaces Hygienic

Crowded or heavy-use areas like workplaces and schools are high infection zones. They can lead to the easy spread of an epidemic. A study reveals that one doorknob can spread a virus to 40-60% of workers within 2-4 hours of contamination. It’s important to go home immediately when someone has the flu. Spreading it is very easy.

The same concern should be extended to schools. People are in close proximity and use the same facilities. Avoiding crowds is difficult, but limiting contact as much as possible is advised, especially during a pandemic. If your immune system is weak, wear a facemask when in public.

‘’Good health is good business.’’ — Paul Drechsler, Chairman/CEO, Wates Group Limited

Give a little extra love to high usage washrooms. Making courtesy flushes eliminates floating odours. Maintain good circulation in your washroom and open up windows for good airflow.

If there aren’t enough good windows, invest in a good ventilation system. Air fresheners keep the air pleasant. A great washroom keeps a workplace healthy.

Clean all surfaces to get rid of spills, discolourations and potential germs. Use good quality towels to wipe the surface for maximum absorbency and effectiveness.

Schedule deep cleaning to reach the corners that daily mopping could not. It removes all residual dirt and smells.

6. Avoid Physical Contact During an Epidemic

During an epidemic, it is better to be safe than sorry. Follow the below simple steps to minimise the spread of the flu virus:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay away from work or school if you have flu-like symptoms.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue after sneezing or coughing and throw it away immediately.
• Make handwashing with water and soap a habit. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser when you cannot access soap.
• Disinfect all surfaces you have to share, whether this is at home, school or work.
• Wearing surgical masks has been proven to reduce the spread of symptoms by up to 75%. This was a study by the University of Michigan.

a. Avoid Touching Your Face

Many of us are unaware of how often we touch our faces. Start avoiding it. This is because most respiratory diseases are self-inflicted. We touch infected surfaces or people who spread the virus to us. The eyes, nose and mouth are especially sensitive because this is how germs gain entry into your body.

Learn proper respiratory hygiene by covering your mouth and nose. Best practise is using your bent elbow or tissues when you cough or sneeze. Avoid reusing tissues and dispose of them after use. This is because droplets spread the virus.

b. Avoid Physical Touch Greetings

Recent studies reveal that people fall short of the recommended hand washing time. Only 5% of people admit to regularly washing up for at least 20 seconds. With this in mind, it is wise to avoid direct physical contact until the epidemic is over.

Use alternative greetings to handshakes and hugs. Things like waving, bowing or the elbow shake avoid contact but maintain the social ritual of greetings. Whenever possible, work from home until the epidemic subsides. If you’re the one who’s sick, self-quarantine at home until you feel well.

Flu Prevention Starts With You

The flu is a viral infection that is preventable with a few lifestyle changes. Since influenza has a vaccine, take advantage and ask your doctor if you can have a flu shot. With the coronavirus, a vaccine is not yet available, but you can prevent catching it through other flu precautions.

If you have to move around during an epidemic, do not panic. The simple rule to remember is to keep your hands as clean as possible and keep them off your face. Wash your hands as often as you can and keep a hand sanitiser with you at all times. The same rules apply if you need to take care of a sick loved one at home. Cross-contamination is only possible if the germs enter your body.

Reduce stress by sleeping enough and spending time with family and friends. The laughter and community will keep your immunity high. Keeping your immune system strong is important in case you catch the flu. Coupled with a good diet and moderate exercise, you’ll get through flu season without a problem.

Photo: UFV

Why Handwashing Is Your Best Defense Against the Flu

The flu is a respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. It’s spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or people.

Washing your hands is the best defence against transmitting germs to your body.

Studies reveal that only 5% of people wash their hands well. The average time spent washing is only six seconds, which is a far cry from the recommended 20 seconds.

With such bad hand washing habits, we are spreading the virus and infecting ourselves.

Touching your face with dirty hands is the cause of many respiratory diseases. What if I told you that these diseases are often self-inflicted?

This is good news. It means you can prevent it by washing your hands as often as possible. Having hand sanitiser can come in handy when you don’t have access to soap and water.

Proper Hand Washing Technique

Hand washing is important for everyone. Wash your hands as soon as you feel they are dirty. There are also specific instances where you should always wash your hands. They include:

• Before, during and after food preparation
• After using the washroom
• After touching hospital surfaces
• After petting animals and gardening
• Before eating anything
• After coughing, sneezing or attending to a patient

Since few people follow the proper hand washing routine, here is a refresher on how to do it. The simple steps to effective handwashing are as follows:

With hand sanitiser:

• Place a small amount on one palm.
• Rub all over your hands until they dry up.
• The process should take at least 15 seconds.

At the sink:

• Wet your hands with running water.
• Add a coin-sized amount of liquid soap.
• Rub your hands until it lathers well.
• Rub all over your hands, in between your fingers and under the fingernails.
• Scrub for about 20 seconds and sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song twice to help you time it.
• Rinse your hands and dry them with a paper towel.
• Close the tap and open the door with the paper towel before immediately tossing it.

If you are under the care of health professionals, ensure they maintain good hygiene. They are usually vigilant, but it’s good to stay aware. Feel free to raise your concerns if something is not right.

Click image to view the whole Infographic. Source CleanLink

How Hand Washing Prevents the Flu

A simple change to your hand hygiene habits can help you avoid the flu. Hand washing is a great tool for you and the community. Take note of the ways in which it protects you.

1. Hand Washing Prevents the Spread of Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases are not spread by dirty hands. They start when dirty hands touch your face and the germs get access to your body through the nose, mouth or eyes. The loop must be completed to cause disease.

Hand Drying keep your workplace as safe as possible

The best defence against the flu is to avoid touching your face. This is a hard habit to break since most of the touching is subconscious. The best solution is to keep your hands as clean as possible. That way, if you happen to touch your face, your hands are germ-free.

Good hand washing habits keep your hands as clean as possible. The germs in the droplets can stay alive on surfaces for up to 24 hours. Use and throw away tissues after sneezing or coughing. This prevents you from touching your face and spreading the droplets. Do the same for tissues that you use to dry your hands after washing.

Hand washing is a social act. It benefits the people around you because you can’t transmit infections to them. It is a considerate act that we should all take up. If you are sick, you should self-isolate, observe great hand hygiene or sneeze into your elbow if you’re out in public.

2. Hand Washing Prevents Self-Infection

Washing your hands with soap removes infection-causing germs. This is important because dirty hands can pass these germs into your body. Clean hands have a big impact on health. Hand washing education reduces diarrhoea cases by 23-40% and respiratory illnesses by 16-21%.

Removing germs from your hands is important for several reasons:

• The germs could get into the food or drinks you are preparing.
• Germs from dirty hands are transferred to household objects and cause cross-contamination.
• Touching your eyes, nose and mouth is often subconscious and germs can get into the body and make you sick.
• It prevents infections of the eye and skin, as well as respiratory diseases.

In the workplace, the best prevention tactics are non-pharmaceutical. These are measures that don’t use medication to minimise risk. The flu shot is not always an option. Especially in pandemics where the vaccine might not exist. The best Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention (NPI) is hand washing.

NPI guidelines for the workplace include keeping the workspace clean. This involves regular disinfecting of all surfaces as well as hand washing education. Providing cleaning and sanitation supplies is helpful as well. These include washing stations and hand sanitiser.

3. Hand Washing Keeps Crowded Areas Safe

Hand hygiene education is important at home and at work. A decline in enforcing hygiene happened due to changing roles in modern households. Parents may teach kids how to wash their hands, but the emphasis stops once they are older.

A rise of community-based infection signals a decline in hand hygiene. Clean hands are a social responsibility that’s neglected by both adults and children. Germs are unforgiving, and laxity in hand hygiene can lead to a pandemic. This increases the burden of infectious diseases on the economy. We can see a rise of related deaths by 22% between 1980 to 1992 globally.

It’s not surprising that teaching is one of the top germ professions. This is due to a high bacteria count per square inch in schools. A frightening thought for any parent. Touch screens and phones are often dirty because they are passed around and dropped frequently. Keep your kids safe by reinforcing the importance of hand washing.

Click image to view the whole infographic. Source Medicalxpress

If you think only elementary schools are dirty, think again. Colleges and universities have a high rate of cross-contamination as well. An effective hand hygiene program has ripple effects across generations. Compliance with hand hygiene is at 58% among elementary kids. Only 28% of girls and only 8% of boys use soap.

The responsibility of hand washing awareness is shared. Good hand hygiene reduces absenteeism, costs of infection and other associated costs. A family-centred approach works best. With the rise of social media, we can use edutainment to educate the community.

4. Hand Washing Keeps Your Immunity High

The body is an efficient machine. The immune system does a great job of self-regulating. That’s unless it’s hindered by things like allergies, autoimmune diseases or medication. Healthy habits increase your immunity. They include:

• Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruit
• Frequent exercise and movement
• Reaching and maintaining an optimal BMI
• Get between seven and nine hours of sleep daily
• Reduce your stress levels

When washing your hands, all you need to protect your immune system is soap and water. Antibacterial soap is unnecessary since it can lead to microbial resistance bacteria. Scrub for at least 20 seconds with soap and you are good to go.

Have you noticed that it’s hard to find a hand dryer in medical facilities? This is intentional. Avoid hand dryers because they blow germs into your face and all over the room. The best way to dry your hands is to rub them with a paper towel that you can immediately dispose of.

Wash your hands often to stay healthy. This isn’t just after visiting the washroom. You touch surfaces and people throughout the day; it is important to disinfect your hands when you get the chance. That is the key to good hand hygiene.

5. Hand Washing Fights the Spread of Epidemics

At the workplace, stop the spread of the virus through concentrated hygiene measures. Hand washing is your biggest ally in keeping infection at bay. Some of the measures include:

• Keeping a stash of cleaning and hygiene supplies like tissues and soap
• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces and items like door handles, phones and keyboards
• Training people to handle each other’s work in case they have to go home and self-quarantine

When a colleague gets sick, allow them to go home as soon as possible. They may cough into a tissue or their elbow, but how many people wash their hands afterwards? There is a high risk of cross-infection, so prevention is your best plan. The droplets spread easily, and a contaminated surface can infect many people.

Your immunity is vulnerable in aeroplanes and hotels. Bring sanitising wipes to clean all the surfaces you’ll need to touch. Conde Nast travel recommends using alcohol wipes to wipe your hotel phone, desk and remote. Wash your hands to ensure you’re safe.

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In public places, surfaces like elevator buttons and gas pumps can cause cross-contamination. Avoid touching them as much as possible or use an antibacterial wipe to handle them. Any place with crowds has the potential to spread infections. Avoid them as much as you can.

Hand Washing Battles the Rise in Antibiotic Resistance

A rising threat to global immunity is antibiotic resistance. Hand washing solves this by reducing the occurrence of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. Antibiotics are often wrongly prescribed for these preventable conditions. Reducing the number of infections decreases the need for antibiotics. Overuse of antibiotics is the leading cause of resistance.

Hand washing prevents the spread of disease by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It gets expensive to treat conditions that are resistant. Proper hand washing education can save lives and money for our economies.

The flu is preventable with a conscious choice to keep hands clean. It slows down epidemics, reduces self-infection and increases your immunity. As a manager, it is your responsibility to keep your workers safe. Fight the flu before it gets to you and your family.

Photo: Gentle07

New Zealand’s Laws for Workplace First Aid Kits

It was due to the railway construction in 1888 that first aid kits emerged.

Robert Wood Johnson was on a train en route to Colorado when he wound up speaking to the chief surgeon of the Denver and Rio Grande Railway.

The doctor revealed the dangers of railroad construction. Especially the shortage of medical supplies to treat industry-specific ailments.

Hospitals were a distance away and proved troublesome to reach for emergencies.

This gave Robert his eureka moment, a chance to both advance the field of healthcare and develop his business.

Then came the genesis of Johnson & Johnson’s First Aid Kit!

What First Aid is Required in the Workplace?

First aid refers to immediate help given to any person in distress or pain over a serious illness or injury before a doctor, health professional or emergency service intervene.

The aim is to preserve life and prevent the condition from worsening.

This is done by maintaining breathing and circulation levels, immobilizing broken bones, stemming blood, protecting the unconscious and more.

At work, there are three categories for first aid requirements:

• Well stocked facilities and first aid kits
• Information for employees on first aid dispositions
• Trained first aiders available where needed

Here you will find suggestions to help you organise adequate first aid kits, the number of first aiders needed, facilities and helpful information for employees.

Find out What are the contents of a First Aid Kit?

Did you know that every workplace has a legal obligation to ensure ample first aid provisions?

If you are a person conducting business or undertaking (PCBU), it is your responsibility to ensure your workplace provides employees and others with access to proper first aid equipment.

Several factors come into play when determining the set-up of your first aid equipment and the number of first aiders you may need.

Certain workplaces have heightened risks of injury and illnesses because of the nature of the work undertaken.

These factors could range from the size of your workforce, the industry, location and so on. they aim to help you counter the possible risks and be better prepared.

Employers must then provide first aid kits that take into account all the potential hazards of the workplace or industry.

A sure way to get this done is to conduct a needs assessment that will help you determine your first aid requirements.

Note: this should also include deliberation with your employees to take their views into account.

How to Conduct a First Aid Needs Assessment

You can use these questions as a guideline:

1. What Are the Hazards in my Workplace and Is There Any Potential Harm?

Examples of hazards are:

• Physical: Physical hazards consist of environmental factors that can harm an employee. Including (but not limited to) heights, noise, radiation and pressure.
• Biological: Biological hazards could be bacteria, insects, viruses, animals, etc., that can bring about dire health impacts. Click this link to find 4 Ways to Maintain Your Workplace Hygiene Effectively.
• Chemical: Chemical hazards are substances that can inflict harm. These hazards can have both health and physical impacts, such as skin irritation, blindness, respiratory system irritation etc.
• Ergonomic: Ergonomic hazards come about when physical factors can result in musculoskeletal injuries. For example, a poor workstation set up in an office, poor posture and manual handling.

2. How Many Employees Are in the Workplace and Where Are They Located?

The higher the number of employees, the more the facilities required. An awareness of the number of employees will also help you determine if you need trained first aiders, and how many.`

When it comes to trained first aiders consider:

• Location of the establishment and the distance from medical services.
• The likelihood of people being hurt and the intensity of the injuries.
• The size of the workplace and how dispersed your employees are within the location.
• The number of employees in the workplace at all times.
• The nature of their work and the hazards they face.
• Whether there are other people than employees at the workplace i.e. clients.

You need to allow some of your first aiders to have their leave days, or to be absent on unplanned occasions such as sick leave.

This means your first aid provisions must be able to cover all hours when employees are working. This includes their shifts and overtimes.

Regardless of their work plan or schedules, employees need access to first aid.

Workplaces that have employees with disabilities or special needs need to also have their medical and first aid needs taken into account.

To do so, consultation should occur with the employees concerned (with their consent) for their best medical advice.

3. If Employees of More Than One Employer Are Working Together Can They Share First Aid Resources?

It could be easy to get equipment mixed up if there are multiple first-aid boxes present. In such environments, it would be advisable to agree to share first-aid provisions. An agreement could be made, for example, the employer with a higher number of employees on-site can handle the first aid provisions.

To avoid conflict, the agreement should be in writing and both parties owning copies. Each employer has to make sure the employees are also aware of the agreement.

4. How Does the Size and Layout of My Workplace Affect My First Aid Needs?

This depends on accessibility.

First aid kits should be easy to access especially in case of an emergency. To do so, you must consider:

• The size of your workplace.
• The time it takes to access the first aid kit.
• If employees are spread out in several buildings across a worksite.
• If employees work on several floors or one floor of a building.
• The communication channels in large worksites and how fast they are i.e telephones, pagers.
• The security on site and after-hour requirements.

5. What about Employees Who Work Away from the Site?

Vehicle & Portable First Aid Kits

When employees are working away from the main workplace you should ensure they have portable first aid provisions with them. It varies according to the work being conducted, the potential risks and if they are working in groups or alone.

Alsco offers light, compact and portable vehicle first aid kits that would be great to have in such situations. They are colour coded thus easy to use and have the most essential supplies meaning your employees as safe as possible wherever they are.

6. How Does the Location of My Workplace Affect First Aid Needs?

Your employees may require immediate medical attention that surpasses the abilities of a first aid kit. If hospitals, medical centres or ambulances are far away this could pose a challenge.

Workplaces in remote locations need to have back-up plans or special arrangements. Find a medical service you can partner with and understand how they operate; their working hours, their efficiency and so on.

7. Can You Provide First Aid for People Who Aren’t Employees?

Alsco’s Rented First Aid Kit Service

Yes, anyone who requires first aid in your workplace should be able to receive it.

This could include contractors, volunteers, interns or work experience trainees and loaned employees.

As such your first aid provisions should take others into account. Your kit needs to be as extensive as possible.

You can get Alsco to provide your workplace with managed first aid kit services that are regularly restocked and tailored to suit your business at a single, all-inclusive annual fee.

8. What If My Workplace Provides In-House Occupational Health Services?

This is a bonus to your workplace and first aid planning can be done in consultation with the medical practitioners in charge.

It does not need to be staffed continuously, as long as there is sufficient help or coverage for employees when the service is not operating. This is when the trained first aiders can step in.

Trained First Aiders Needed?

This is dependent on the hazards in your workplace, the number of your employees, their workstations and how your location in terms of access to medical services.

The needs assessment test should help you be able to gauge the needs of your workplace better and judge how many trained first aiders you should have.

You need to think about ensuring that first aid cover is available on all shifts and determine if the first aid response is adequate for the hazards employees face.

Alsco’s managed rental service has other types of first aid kits and services to handle various emergencies. Remember, having a well-stocked first aid kit can make all the difference in an emergency.

6 Ways to Prevent Contracting the Flu

Protecting yourself from the flu begins with a basic understanding of the flu and its symptoms.

The flu is a common respiratory infection.

It affects millions of people around the world every year.

The flu begins with a viral infection with mild to severe symptoms.

Common flu symptoms include:

• A fever
• Body aches
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Coughing
• Fatigue

In many cases, these symptoms will improve within a week. Most people will recover completely without any serious complications.

But, older adults with weaker immune systems might develop serious complications like pneumonia. Up to 85 per cent of flu-related deaths affect people older than 65. Medical intervention for older adults with the flu can save a life. They need immediate medical attention once they start presenting flu-like symptoms.

Practical Measures to Protect Yourself From the Flu

During the flu season or a respiratory infection outbreak, you need to protect yourself.

There are different protective measures you can take before and after exposure to the flu virus:

1. Stay Away From Crowded Spaces

If you can, stay away from crowded spaces. Limit your contact with people as much as possible.

This will reduce your chances of getting in contact with an infected person.

Some of the spaces to avoid include:

• Local government facilities and offices
• Hospitals and other medical centres
• Schools and other learning centres
• Public transport facilities and hubs
• Health and fitness facilities such as the gym
• Religious centres and gatherings
• Stadiums and large spotting venues

How to Protect Yourself While in Public

Since you cannot avoid these places entirely, make sure you protect yourself in public.

You should:

• Avoid touching surfaces and objects other people touch regularly, such as the rail on a staircase.
• Do not shake hands, hug or kiss people you meet. If you must exchange pleasantries, limit it to a handshake and wash your hands as soon as possible.
• Whenever possible, keep a safe distance between you and other people. For example, you can choose to sit at the back of the bus to avoid people.
• Wear a face mask if you are sick, have a weak immune system or are currently treating another respiratory infection.
• Pay attention to your surroundings. If you see anyone coughing or sneezing, keep your distance.

2. Practice Safe and Regular Handwashing

Efficient and convenient first defense Soap Dispensers

The flu virus, like most other respiratory viruses, can live on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours. The virus can enter your body through your eyes, nose or mouth if you touch your face with contaminated hands.

Since you are likely to touch your face several times in a day, get into the habit of washing your hands regularly.

This is especially important if:

• You are eating or preparing food.
• Taking care of children.
• Working with the sick or the elderly.
• Are in constant contact with strangers, such as working as a receptionist.

If you cannot access a sink with water and soap, make sure you always have a bottle of hand sanitising gel with you.

You can use the hand sanitiser after shaking hands or when handling commonly touched surfaces, such as doorknobs.

While hand sanitiser can play a role in reducing the rate of infection, it is not as effective as handwashing.

Proper handwashing techniques include:

• Using soap and water.
• Washing your hands under running water.
• Spending at least 20 seconds washing your hands. You can time yourself by singing the happy birthday song twice.
• Drying your hands with a clean towel or dry, disposable tissues.

If you have the flu, you can protect others by coughing into a tissue or your elbow. This reduces the risk of you infecting others around you when you shake hands.

3. Boost Your Natural Immune System

A strong immune system is more resistant to the flu virus. It will help your body fight off the infection and any related complications.

If you get infected, a strong immune system will reduce the severity of your symptoms. It might even help you recover faster.

There are some habits you can develop to strengthen your immune system, for example:

• Make sure you get enough rest by sleeping for seven to nine hours every night. Sleeping allows your body to produce cytokines, a protein targeting inflammation and infections. Cytokines strengthen your immune system. They give your body the ability to fight viral infections.
• Create a physical exercise routine. You can start with 30-minute sessions at least three times a week. Physical activity increases blood flow within the body. This allows white blood cells (in charge of fighting infections) to travel through your body faster.
• Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. They contain vitamins and antioxidants, which promote good health and support the body’s immune system.

If you have a low immune system, talk to a medical professional. Your doctor will recommend multivitamins to support your natural immune system.

4. Ask Your Doctor for a Flu Vaccine

Make sure you get your annual flu vaccine. The dominant flu virus changes every year, thus, you need to update your vaccine annually.

Getting your annual shot reduces the risk of getting the flu by 40 to 60 per cent.

Schedule your vaccine in mid or late autumn. This gives it enough time to kick in and protect your body. It can take up to two weeks to become effective.

If you are over 65, talk to your doctor and ask for a higher dose of the flu vaccine. The doctor will assess you and give you the right dose for your immune system.

In addition to the flu vaccine, ask your doctor for pneumococcal vaccines. They protect the body against pneumonia and meningitis.

Advantages of Getting the Flu Vaccine:

• It reduces the chances of getting the flu or flu-related illnesses. In some cases, it can also protect you from viruses similar to the flu-causing viruses.
• It lowers the chances of children and the elderly getting hospitalised for the flu.
• The flu vaccine serves as an important life-saving measure. It can make a big difference for people with pre-existing health conditions.
• It keeps pregnant women out of the hospital during and after the pregnancy.
• If you still get sick, it significantly reduces the severity of your symptoms.

Getting the vaccine protects you and the people around you. You should prioritise it if you come into contact with children, the elderly or sick people.

5. Make Use of Disinfectants

Hand Sanitisers eliminate microbes within seconds.

Clean and disinfect all shared spaces to reduce the risk of infection.

If you or someone around you has the flu, keep them secluded from everyone else.

You can use disinfectant wipes to:

• Wipe the keyboard on your computer and desk at work. This is especially important if you work in shifts and share your work station with others.
• Use a disinfectant on commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs and remotes.
• Clean the spaces designated for the sick. Make sure any caregivers getting into these spaces wear masks and gloves. This will stop the flu from spreading.

6. Consult Your Doctor if You Have Flu-Like Symptoms

In most cases, the body can fight the flu. There is no cure for the flu-causing virus. Doctors will only give you medication to manage the symptoms and boost your immune system.

Even so, it can lead to serious complications in children and people over the age of 65.

Visiting the doctor early can help you manage your symptoms. This helps doctors test for related infections and treat them early.

Going to a doctor within 48 hours of the infection can help you get an antiviral. The antiviral will help shorten the duration and severity of the flu. This reduces the risk of complications and hospitalisation, which can lead to death.

The Most Important Preventative Measure

In most cases, you can manage the flu with a strong immune system.

Still, the flu poses a serious health risk to the elderly and sick around you.

You have a responsibility to protect yourself and those around you.

Always take advantage of handwashing stations around. Cleaning your hands regularly is the best way to avoid spreading the virus.

Alsco NZ offers a wide variety of handwashing and hand sanitising solutions you can use in your workplace.

If you are committed to preventing the spread of the flu, you can contact Alsco NZ for these and other sanitation solutions.

Photo: Freepik

5 Benefits of Having a First Aid Kit in Your Workplace

What happens when there is a quick medical emergency in the office?

Do you have a first aid kit to help you respond to the situation as you wait for professional medical help?

Accidents and medical emergencies will happen in the workplace even with the best risk management in place.

You need to ensure you have the capacity to respond to common workplace injuries and accidents.

What Are Some Common Workplace Accidents in New Zealand?

While setting up an office, you must ensure it is reasonably safe and healthy for your employees. According to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA), this responsibility extends to anyone visiting the office. Workplace safety includes customers, suppliers and visitors.

Some common injury risks in the workplace you should watch out for include:

1. Lifting and Carrying Injuries

Keep your workplace safe and your employees happy.

Lifting and carrying heavy objects around the office can lead to injury if:

• The load is too heavy or too large.
• The carrier must bend and twist when handling the load.
• You need to place or remove the load from a high shelf.

Lifting and carrying heavy and bulky objects can strain the back and other large muscles. You should watch out for injuries such as:

• Muscle strains and sprains
• Injuries to ligaments and the back
• Soft tissue tears
• Chronic pain

How to Prevent These Injuries

There are several things you can do to reduce the risk of lifting and carrying injuries, for example:

• Get the right lifting equipment for your office. You can either buy the equipment or hire it when needed.
• Train your workers on proper lifting techniques.
• Invest in ramps and trolleys if you need to move things around on a regular basis.
• Install your racks and shelving at accessible heights.

2. Posture and Equipment Related Injuries

Spending long hours sitting and working on a computer stresses the body.  In workspaces without the right furniture, this can lead to strains and injuries.

As more people spend time working on their computers and mobile devices, you need to prepare for posture-related injuries.

Wrong use of office furniture and equipment can also lead to serious injuries.

How to Prevent Posture and Equipment Injuries

• Equip your office with adjustable furniture and equipment to suit different users.
• Educate your employees and workers on the right working posture.
• Offer flexible working options such as standing desks or laptop stands.
• Provide extensive handling and safety training for all workers.

3. Slips and Falls at the Workplace

Slips and falls can lead to minor or major injuries. The severity of the injury will depend on the magnitude of the fall.

How to Avoid Slips and Falls in the Office

You can make your office safer by looking out for:

• Clutter around the office.
• Poor lighting, especially in high traffic areas.
• Damaged floors and broken tiles making the floor uneven.
• Water and other liquids on the floor.
• Poor workflow through the office space.
• Structural issues such as the absence of a rail on a staircase.

How Do You Respond to Workplace Injuries?

Alsco’s Managed Rental Program for First Aid Kit Supplies

In case of an accident or injury in the office, you should call for medical help immediately. But, having a first aid kit can reduce the severity of the injury significantly.

Having a first aid kit in the office can save lives or prevent an injury from worsening. Equipping your office with the right first aid kit can prevent a routine injury from escalating into a life-threatening condition.

A basic first aid kit should help you:

• Treat cuts and scrapes.
• Clean and dress wounds.
• Attend to sprains and burns.
• Offer some OTC medication such as painkillers.

If you run a high-risk workplace, you can add more supplies to your first aid kit. You can speak to Alsco to help you assess the risks in your office. Thereafter, they will customise your first aid kit to suit your working environment.

For example, adding an eyewash station if you run the risk of employees accidentally touching their eyes after handling chemicals.

How Will a First Aid Kit Help You in the Workplace?

There are several benefits to having a well-equipped first aid kit in your office, namely:

1. Respond to Emergencies as You Wait for Help

Having a first aid kit keeps you ready to respond to a medical emergency or an injury.

The first aid kit will not help you cure an illness or an injury, but it can help you offer relief before help arrives. You can apply basic treatment to the patient such as stopping bleeding.

While equipping your kit, start by assessing possible injuries in your workplace. This will help you find the right mix of supplies for your first aid kit.

For example, a welding factory will need more burn supplies in their kit.

After the emergency, make sure you replace all the used supplies. You need to ensure the kit stays well-supplied at all times.

A quick response also helps reduce the recovery time for some injuries. This reduces the amount of time the patient spends in the hospital or on bed rest.

2. Reduce the Risk of Workplace Infections

You cannot keep your employees from getting hurt. But, you can offer the necessary protection in case of an injury. For example, having an antiseptic solution to clean a cut before dressing the wound.

Minor injuries in the workplace can escalate quickly, leading to life-threatening infections.

Besides, other workers on the floor can protect themselves from infection while responding to an emergency. Handling a bleed or exposed flesh exposes both the injured and the responder to infection.

A well-equipped kit helps ensure the patient gets the necessary help fast. It also helps to protect the people helping out.

3. A First Aid Kits Helps Save Lives

Alsco’s manage Defibrillator rental Services

Having a first aid kit gives other workers the confidence and tools they need to respond to an emergency fast.

This response can make the difference between life and death in many workplace accidents.

A first aid kit can help save a life in different ways:

• If you have trained first aiders in the workplace, they will know how to manage most injuries as they wait for help. But, this is only possible if they have access to a well equipped first aid kit.
• Once you call for help, you can have the medical response team walk you through basic life-saving procedures using the available first aid supplies.

With a custom first aid kit, you can have access to equipment such as portable defibrillators. These make it easy for you to respond to cardiac issues, which cause up to 6,000 deaths annually in New Zealand.

4. Provide Emergency Medication in the Workplace

A good first aid kit will have a selection of medication to help you respond to different situations. A kit should have both preventative and remedial medication, such as:

• Pain relief medication
• Antacid tablets
• Cold relief medication
• Antihistamine liquid or tablets
• An EpiPen
• Alcohol wipes
• Antiseptic cream or ointment

5. Inspire Confidence in the Safety of the Workplace

Having a first aid kit on site inspires confidence in everyone in the office.

Your employees can go on with their work without worrying about your ability to respond to an injury or a medical emergency.

In addition to having a first aid kit, you can earn the confidence of your employees by:

• Offering first aid training to everyone as part of their safety training. This way, everyone learns the basics of responding to different emergencies.
• Having a few people receive extensive first aid training and certification. This way, workers are confident of receiving the best emergency care possible as they wait for medical professionals.
• Customising the first aid kit to your needs. Make sure you have a safety assessment to identify the best supplies for your office.

How to Equip Your Workplace with a First Aid Kit

According to the New Zealand Health and Safety Laws, every business must have a first aid kit.

With Alsco’s managed first aid kit, you can keep your workplace safe and follow New Zealand’s safety regulations.

Once you sign up to Alsco, you can customise your kit to meet your needs at no extra cost.

Our first aid kit rental services guarantee you:

• A regularly stocked kit supplied every three months so you never have to worry about it.
• Customisation to ensure your kit meets safety standards in your industry.
• An all-inclusive and affordable annual charge exclusive to Alsco.

You can upgrade the safety in your office today with Alsco. Request a custom quote right now.

How to Clean Your Office to Prevent the Spread of the Flu

Influenza or flu viruses survive on some surfaces for up to 48 hours.

Flu patients start spreading the virus before any symptoms appear and they stay infectious for up to seven days after their first symptoms.

Routine workplace cleaning plays a role in reducing the spread of the virus.

Common cleaning agents you can use against the flu include:

• Detergents (soap)
• Alcohol-based cleaners
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Chlorine
• Iodophors

Cleaning helps curb the virus, especially if there is an asymptomatic patient.

Why Cleaning Helps Reduce the Spread of the Flu

Regular cleaning prevents the spread of the flu. Understanding how the viruses spread will help you appreciate the role of cleaning.

The different flu viruses spread by:

• One-on-one contact – When people shake hands or touch an infected person.
• Indirect Contact – This happens by touching shared or contaminated surfaces. Common culprits in the office include doorknobs, staplers and printers.
• Shared Air – If an infected person coughs or sneezes and you breathe into the same air. If you inhale droplets from the infected person, you can get sick.

Different types of cleaning kill and/or remove the germs, reducing infection rates.

In the workplace, cleaning and personal hygiene can help save lives. It starts with basics such as handwashing or disinfecting surfaces several times.

Types of Office Cleaning Services

There are many approaches to cleaning. Each approach should help reduce the risk of spreading the flu virus.

Different cleaning methods have varied effects on flu-causing viruses. You need to understand each to decide the best one for your office.

Office Cleaning

Cleaning focuses on removing dirt, debris and dust. In the process, you also get rid of surface germs. It helps reduce the number of germs on a surface.

Cleaning encourages the removal of allergens and microorganisms. This helps improve the health of office occupants.

Yet, failing to clean the cleaning tools thereafter leads to the spread of germs. You need to use a germicide cleaner on your tools after every cleanse.

There are two common approaches to office cleaning:

ROUTINE CLEANING

This is everyday cleaning and focuses more on appearance. It helps get rid of dirt and dust, making the office look good.

Regular cleaning during flu season is crucial to reducing the spread of germs. It helps get rid of surface germs.

DEEP CLEANING

Deep cleaning requires moving of office furniture combined with strong cleaning agents. The goal is to get rid of grime and any accumulated dirt. This is an opportunity to clean hard-to-reach surfaces.

You can easily combine deep cleaning with sanitising and disinfection sessions.

OFFICE SANITISING

Hand washing is the first line of defence against infections. Learn more

Sanitising your office kills up to 99% of bacteria but has little effect on viruses and fungi.

Proper sanitisation requires you to leave the sanitiser on the surface for up to 30 minutes. Rinsing it off too fast reduces its effectiveness.

If you want to use it, find an alcohol-based sanitiser with up to 60% alcohol content. Look for a neutral-smelling sanitiser you can use around the office. Avoid any strong scents, which can make your employees uncomfortable.

During flu season, sanitisers come in handy. You can use them to wipe down shared spares and reduce the accumulation of germs.

Sanitising is quite effective on water-resistant surfaces. It also offers a quick solution for hand cleaning. You can even use it on commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs.

Sanitising should complement routine cleaning.

Office Disinfecting

Disinfecting kills bacteria, pathogens and viruses.

Disinfectants work by using a unique set of chemicals to kill germs on contact.

Some cleaning agents contain disinfectants. Nonetheless, you should get a professional to disinfect your office at least once a year.

You can also use disinfectant wipes to clean surfaces or as a handwashing substitute. If you use a disinfectant, leave it on the surface for a few minutes.

Disinfectants offer the best protection against viruses such as influenza. If you can, include them in your routine cleaning.

Air Purification

Air purification dilutes flu viruses in the air and limits their spread. It reduces the risk of airborne infections.

You can purify the air by:

• Increasing the number of fans in the office.
• Opening windows to invite fresh air into the office.
• Increasing the exchange rate of the building’s ventilation system.

You can also prevent the spread of the virus by encouraging all sick employees to wear masks. It will reduce the risk of contaminating office air.

Flu Season Cleaning Tips

Image from: Pickpik

Focus on Commonly Touched Surfaces and Objects

Shared objects and surfaces can increase the spread of the flu.

Create a standard procedure for cleaning and disinfecting all shared surfaces and objects.

Most office surfaces and objects require a proper cleanse once a day. If you run a busy office, you can clean it twice or thrice a day.

Use disinfectant wipes on commonly touched surfaces every few hours if you are in retail. This also applies to offices that handle a high volume of walk-in customers.

You need to pay attention to surfaces such as:

• Desks, computer keyboards and mouses
• Faucet handles
• Doorknobs
• Staplers and printer surfaces
• Fidget toys
• Rails
• Lift buttons

If you have a confirmed flu infection, limit the person’s use of common surfaces. Provide them with a disinfectant they can use to wipe surfaces and/or objects they touch.

Regular cleaning gets rid of flu viruses fast. Get into the habit of wiping down surfaces, fumigating rooms and using disinfectants.

Follow Labels on Cleaners and Disinfectants

Make sure you follow the labels on your cleaning products correctly.

Start with a general cleaner to remove germs and rinse off with clean water. Afterwards, wipe the surface with a disinfectant to kill remaining germs.

If the surface does not have visible dirt, you can wipe it down with a sanitiser and follow up with a disinfectant.

You should leave the disinfectant on surfaces for a few minutes, giving it time to act on the germs.

Make sure you wipe down electronics with disinfectant wipes or solution. If you use a solution, avoid spilling it on your electronics.

Practice Safe Handling With Cleaning Solutions

Rubbish Bag 60L Black LD 50

Always pay attention to hazard warnings and directions provided on cleaning products.

Follow proper handling instructions when dealing with any disinfectant or sanitising chemicals.

You should follow general safety instructions, for example:

• Everyone handling cleaning products should wear gloves and eye protection.
• Avoid mixing cleaning products unless the labels show it is safe to do so. Careless mixing of cleaning supplies such as ammonia and chlorine can lead to injury. In extreme cases, it can bring serious health complications leading to death.
• If you distribute disinfectant wipes, make sure everyone knows how to use them.
• Always have a first aid kit to help you respond to mishandling of cleaning chemicals.

Manage Your Waste

Follow your industry’s waste handling procedures with any waste.

If you supply your employees with wipes, increase the number of dust bins on each floor.

After cleaning, make sure you throw away all disposable cleaning material immediately.

Supply your cleaning team with gloves to use when handling dust bins. This will reduce their exposure to germs from disposed tissues and wipes

Make sure everyone cleans their hand with soap and warm water after handling waste or dust bins.

Why you Should Choose the Right Office Cleaning Supply Company

As you can see, cleaning plays a role in reducing the number of flu causing viruses in your office. It can help reduce the risk of employees getting sick or spreading the virus if infected.

Notwithstanding, cleaning is only effective if you use the right products and techniques.

On technique, you can train your cleaning team and improve on it over time.

With products, you have to find the right supplies. You need someone who understands your industry. Someone who appreciates the importance of a clean and healthy workplace.

Try Alsco NZ today.

Alsco NZ specialises in hygiene solutions for the workplace.

With over 130 years of experience in the industry, you can rely on them for:

• A constant supply of cleaning solutions and chemicals. They will customise their supply to meet your industry’s standards.
• Eco-friendly cleaning products. Their products offer protection against germs without compromising the health of your employees.
• Compact handwashing solutions for everyone. Alsco NZ offers compact soap dispensers. You can place them in small spaces to encourage regular handwashing.
• A steady supply of disinfecting and sanitising wipes you can use to keep the office clean at all times.

Contact Alsco NZ today for all your office cleaning solutions.

You Need a Workplace First Aid Officer: Here’s Why

Do we really need to have a first aid officer at work?

That’s a question on the minds of many business owners and managers not just in New Zealand, but the world over.  And the answer is an absolute “yes.”

If an emergency occurred right now, a first aid officer (or a team of them) could make a huge difference in the outcome.

Before we take a look at the crucial roles and responsibilities of a first aid officer, let’s examine some legal considerations.

As a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) in New Zealand, you must ensure there are enough workers trained to administer first aid at the workplace.

The number of trained first aid officers will depend on:

• The nature of the work being carried out at the workplace
• The kinds of hazards people at your workplace are exposed to
• The size and location of your workplace
• The composition of the workforce in your workplace

Failure to do this can result in fines of up to $10,000 for individuals.

Your legal obligations concerning health and safety are outlined in detail here.

What, then, are the roles of a workplace first aid officer?

1. Assess the Situation and Understand Its Severity

Thanks to their training, first aid officers can make a comprehensive assessment of emergencies quickly and effectively.

On the other hand, other employees are likely to panic, be at a loss for what to do or even complicate the situation further.

A first aid officer not only remains calm but helps others at the scene to regain composure.

They start by checking whether it’s safe to approach casualties.

First aid officers look around for anything that poses further risk to affected persons, onlookers and themselves.

Next, they identify the cause(s) of the situation at hand. Their judgement forms the basis of the kind of care they’ll give to those affected.

2. Protect Themselves and Others

We’re all aware that there’s no shortage of hazards at the workplace.

However, simply knowing they exist doesn’t mean everyone knows what to do about them.

The training first aid officers receive gives them an understanding of the different types of hazards as well as the correct action to take in different scenarios.

First aid officers know what to do in an emergency by following principles such as DRSABCD.

DRSABCD is an acronym that stands for:

Danger

First aid officers check for anything in the vicinity that could compromise the safety of everyone at the scene.

Response

The next step is to check whether the victim is responsive or has lost consciousness.

Send

Once this is established, send for help by calling 111.

Airway

For this step, check if there’s any obstruction of the airway.

Breathing

Check if the victim is breathing normally.

Compressions

If they’re not, perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) compressions.

Defibrillation

Cardiac arrest causes the heart to stop and interrupts its normal rhythm.

Blood may, therefore, not flow as it should.

Defibrillation is the process of restoring the rhythm of the heart by administering a controlled electric shock.

CPR and defibrillation are covered in more detail in the section below.

3. Perform CPR

Alsco’s managed Portable Defibrillator rental Services

Cardiac arrests are one of the leading causes of death in New Zealand. Nearly 6,000 people die from cardiac-related diseases annually.

When someone suffers from a cardiac arrest, it’s important to preserve brain function until blood circulation can be restored.

Keeping their blood flow active manually increases the possibility of successful resuscitation once medical professionals arrive.

This is achieved through Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), a lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating.

If administered immediately, CPR can double or triple a person’s survival chances after cardiac arrest.

Workplace first aid officers know how to do this using an automated external defibrillator (AED)

There are two commonly known versions of CPR.

Of the two, the more elaborate one should be administered by trained first aid officers only.

It entails chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing at a rate of two breaths for every 30 compressions.

4. Recognise and Attend to Common Medical Issues

First aiders are better placed to recognise the symptoms of common conditions such as:

• Breathing difficulties
• Choking
• Coronary syndromes
• Diabetes complications
• Seizures
• Stroke

In any of these situations, they provide the patient with necessary care, buying them time until the emergency medical services (EMS) arrive.

They ensure that the patient is ready to receive advanced treatment once professionals take over the situation.

And, in everyday scenarios, a first aid officer is the person to help anyone on the premises affected by:

• Burns
• Cuts
• Eye injuries
• Fractures
• Head injuries

5. Manage Workplace First Aid Resources

Regardless of the size of your business, there is a need for first-aid resources to be properly managed.

As a PCBU, you are required to keep a register of all accidents and near misses when someone is harmed at work.

This register has a particular format and should be stored in a designated place.

Because you must report certain incidents to the Department of Labour, it’s important to have a first aider, as they know which cases qualify for reporting.

They understand that such reports need to be made within a given period (seven days).

Workplace first aid officers help efforts aimed at preventing accidents at work.

They share crucial information as well as health and safety resources to raise awareness. This helps everyone take responsibility (both personally and collectively) for their well-being.

Lastly, it’s their responsibility to maintain all the first aid kits at work.

The number of first aid kits required at your workplace depends on:

• How many people are on the premises
• The nature of work done
• The kind of hazards people are exposed to.

For businesses with more than 100 employees, there should be a first aid room and a team to attend to workers.

Understandably, it can be overwhelming to be in charge of all these first aid resources.

You should consider working with a managed first aid service to improve workplace safety.

This kind of service can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your first aid officer(s) as well.

What Is Alsco’s Managed First Aid Service?

Alsco New Zealand offers a comprehensive first aid kit rental service.

Rather than buying, restocking, managing and replacing all your workplace first aid kits manually, Alsco handles everything, so you don’t have to.

Alsco provides you with as many kits as needed, and your kits are restocked with hospital-grade supplies regularly.

With Alsco, you never have to worry if your kits are in the right condition. Every kit is checked to ensure that you’re compliant with government regulations.

Alsco New Zealand FAQ

Is it better to rent or buy first aid kits?
Renting is a better alternative to buying. It’s cost-effective, and Alsco offers maintenance and restocking at no extra cost!

Does Alsco have kits for my kind of business?
Alsco offers different kinds of kits which are tailored to meet your unique business needs.

Just by filling out a simple form, you can get specific information on what Alsco can do for you, regardless of the industry you’re in.

How often does Alsco check on the kits?
First aid kit maintenance is done every three months. This way, your kits are fit for use, and there are no expired or contaminated contents.

To choose Alsco is to choose reliable, trusted and guaranteed service.

Don’t take our word for it.

“Making contact with Alsco was the best decision we could have made. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending Alsco to any company that wants a professional service day after day.” — Miranda Sage, Administration and Marketing Manager, Delta Stock Crates Ltd

Ready to elevate safety at your workplace for as little as $1 a day? Get your quote now.

Photo: FVSU

6 Main Issues With Conventional Urinals and Easy Ways to Resolve Them

Urinals were once famously dubbed vespasiennes by Parisians. The first vespasienne appeared in Paris in 1834.

The name is derived from that of the Roman emperor Vespasien, who, according to legend, imposed a tax on urine for use in tanning.

They doubled as both urinals and advertisements stands!

As one of the earliest models of urinals, they were not without error.

We can only imagine how terrible the stench must have been for reforms to fall into place.

Now, you must understand that this was a generation in an age accustomed to chamber pots in bedrooms.

It is worth wondering what happened to the poor trees in Palais-Royal gardens from all the urine they took in.

So, what do they have in common with conventional urinals?

Well, let’s find out…

6 Main Issues and Their Solutions

Urinals are designed to last for decades.

Most problems are then derived from the plumbing, odour and external fixtures.

San Francisco grabbed the headlines in 2011 for… can you guess?

Smelling unpleasant.

The smell was traced back to low-flow toilets, which guides us to our first problem…

1. Low Flush Pressure

Because conventional urinals use water, they have flush valves installed at the top of the urinals. They are either controlled manually or by sensors.

Sometimes a lot of water goes to waste because of the timer system involved.

Consider upgrading your plumbing with PVC pipes, which are better for handling the minimal flow of newer toilets.

It is also important to note the current state of your pipes. Older cast-iron pipes could be troublesome when handling the low-flow. A pressure-assisted toilet is designed to enhance the flush with pressurised air in the toilet tank.

Caution: Pressure-assisted toilets are more expensive and noisier, which may be an issue for a bathroom adjacent to a bedroom, but they typically require less maintenance.

Take note that it would be wise to avoid also using chemical in-tank cleaners. Their corrosive nature is bound to deteriorate toilet apparatus.

They also lower the effectiveness of the water, interfering with flushing speed and strength.

This is an easy repair that can be performed by building engineers. However, there should be a regulator that can be adjusted to release more water.

2. High Flush Pressure

Then what should you do in the opposing scenario?

High flush pressure is dangerous because of all the germs that get to traverse your washroom and re-create their own adventures of Phineas and Ferb.

Simply put, germs thrive in stagnant water that sits in your toilet.

That environment is highly conducive for bacteria, and when the toilet is flushed, water can spray onto nearby surfaces, including the flush valves, walls, etc.

Follow the same aforementioned steps, but this time, turn the regulator so that less water is released.

In both cases, over time and with use, regulators may need to be adjusted. In some cases, the entire flush device may need to be replaced.

When replacing parts, try to find the original manufacturer’s equipment rather than secondhand parts.

The extra cost and effort are beneficial in the long-run, as some after-market parts do not work properly.

3. Odour Control

Smells and blockages are caused by the buildup of uric salt, body fat and limescale in waste traps.

As your urinal fixtures age, odours can develop in your washroom that could lead to overflows and flooding, which in turn can cost you time and money for repairs.

The causes of odours are usually easy to rectify but can take some time to identify.

The first step should be to find the source of the odour and make sure it really is related to the urinals in the washroom.

Sometimes it is easy to assume the origin of certain odours.

Large buildings that have a lot of open spaces could have smells emanating from one washroom and have it noticeable on other floors.

More often than not, urinals are not smelly, and this is because the cleaners are using appropriate cleaning chemicals and doing their job properly.

Install our amazing wall-mounted Air Fresheners in your washroom

Key signs of inadequate cleaning include brown stains underneath the urinal bowl, especially around the traps, and stains at the back of and underneath the urinals.

Alsco New Zealand offers odour control services that can easily help you maintain your washroom standards.

While the Alsco Auto Sanitisers are great to combat odour-causing bacteria, your Air Fresheners are the cherry on top by improving the air quality of your washrooms.

The two work best in combination to provide the ultimate hygiene experience!

Alsco also has a managed rental service. We install, maintain and replace dispensers on a schedule that is flexible with your preferences.

4. Flushing Difficulties

Since gravity can only do so much with the little water present in pressure-assisted flush toilets, they use pressurised air in the tank to push the water into the bowl more forcefully.

This makes up for the low water levels.

Australia is home to dual-flush toilets, which have options: you either push one button for flushing liquid waste or another for solid waste.

Caroma first introduced the dual-flush system to help reduce water waste and they made it efficient too!

How pervasive does it feel when a urinal does not flush?

When this happens, there could be an actual break in the piping leading to the urinal.

Sometimes, it is caused by a malfunction of some sort in the flushing mechanism, whether manual or automatic.

Most problems can be avoided by only using the toilet for its intended use.

Paper towels and other kinds of trash aren’t to be dumped in high-efficiency toilets: they are not designed for it.

This should be made common knowledge in high-traffic buildings (schools, stadiums, malls and many others) to save on maintenance costs.

5. Backed-Up Drain

When the water does not drain in a urinal, the problem can vary. It could be a simple issue relating to a clog in the urinal internal drain.

Or a complicated problem meaning the plumbing drain line may need to be snaked.

If you have unsuccessfully tried to clear your clogged drain with a plunger before, then a drain snake is your next best option.

This is the act of getting a clog to move out of your pipe so that your utilities will drain without problems.

It would be wise to also check the vet stack regularly for cleanliness.

They are designed to release sewer gases. This is usually via the roof of a facility and to provide air supply so the fixtures work correctly.

A plunger can be used to clear any debris that may be lodged in the drain hole.

If clearing the urinal drain holes does not fix the problem, you will want to check the main drain line for blockages.

Calling a plumber to oversee these tasks is best.

6. Strange Noises

As pipes age, the metal begins to fall apart in little flakes from the inside. Old buildings tend to have old pipes.

If you have ever flushed a toilet and heard strange noises, it probably came from sediment or obstructions in the waterline. You can relax.

These metal flakes can easily find their way into the nylon hoses used for sinks, urinals and toilets through the water pressure when it is flushed.

If these lines get blocked, the water flow to the toilet will be at a slow crawl, followed by backwater pressure noises until the lines are unclogged. This could sound like the beginning of a horror movie.

This urinal repair requires you to turn off the main water line and clear any iron peelings and residue from the pipes that bring in water.

What’s Next?

If your washrooms are high-traffic areas, you are bound to encounter some of the challenges mentioned above.

Focus on creating an environment that allows you, your staff and potential guests to have a pleasant experience.

When you invest in conventional urinals, invest in the training and education that equips your staff to care for them correctly.

Remember to also schedule deep cleaning from experts who will thoroughly clean every corner of the washroom.

The right supplier will make this a no-brainer. Choose an affordable but reliable partner like Alsco NZ.

Photo: Daniel Hamilton