Influenza .... Beat the Bug!
Influenza, also called the Flu, is a serious, acute respiratory illness that is caused by a virus. People who get Influenza have a fever, chills, cough, runny eyes, stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, extreme weakness and fatigue. Children can also have earaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
People of any age can get Influenza. Illness due to Influenza usually lasts 2 - 7 days; sometimes longer in the elderly and in people with chronic diseases. The cough and fatigue can persist for several weeks.
Influenza spreads by respiratory droplets from infected persons through coughing or sneezing. It is also spread through direct contact with surfaces contaminated by the Influenza virus, such as toys, eating utensils and unwashed hands.
The Influenza Vaccine (flu shot) can prevent illness in about 70% - 90% of healthy children and adults. It takes about 2 weeks after the immunization to develop protection against Influenza; protection may last up to one year. People who receive the vaccine can still get Influenza, but if they do, it is usually milder. The vaccine does not protect against colds and other respiratory illnesses that may be mistaken for Influenza.
Check for Flu Clinics in your community.
For more information, visit the Huron County Health Unit
Meeting Dates:
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 Wednesday, July 25th, 2012 Wednesday, October 31st, 2012
Melanie Thackeray Lynne Armstrong
Joelene Scully Cris Reed
Everyone should be able to work without fear of violence or harassment, in a safe and healthy workplace.
Changes to Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act - effective June 15, 2010 - strengthen protections for workers form workplace violence and address workplace harassment. They apply to all workplaces to which the Act currently applies.
Defining workplace violence:
* The exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker.
* An attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.
* A statement or behaviour that it is reasonable for a worker to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.
Rights and Responsibilities:
Everyone in a workplace has a role to play in ensuring it is safe, healthy and free of violence and harassment. Workers have the same rights and responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for violence prevention as they do for other hazards in a workplace. They must report potential workplace hazards to employers.
Telling your Employer:
Workers should report threats or incidents of workplace violence to the employer.
Resources:
For more information on Workplace Violence, visit:
* the Ministry of Labour's website at: www.labour.gov.on.ca/english
* Ontario Health and Safety Associations website at: www.healthandsafetyontario.ca