Tag Archives: Corona Virus

GN: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Background

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a type of a virus that is transferable by respiratory secretions from coughs and sneezes from an infected person. It can be spread in two ways:

DIRECTLY  – from close contact with an infected person (the longer contact, the higher risk of infection).

INDIRECTLY – by touching a surface, object or part of a body (such as a hand shake) that has been contaminated by infected persons respiratory secretions (coughs and sneezes) and then touching your mouth or nose. 

Most common symptoms of an infection are a fever and dry cough. For most people it will be a mild infection, however, it may have severe effects on people with weak immune systems, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. Smokers may be more affected as well.

Precautionary measures for individuals

The precautionary measures below are based on NHS and WHO advice:

  1. Wash your hands frequently – using soap and warm water. Follow recommended hand washing techniques. You can use alcohol based hand gel as well;
  2. Maintain social distance – keep approximately 2 metre (3 steps) distance between yourself and others. Especially anyone who is coughing or sneezing, and avoid shaking hands;
  3. Avoid touching your face: hands can pick up viruses from surfaces around you. If you then touch your eyes, nose and mouth you can transfer it to your body and become sick; and
  4. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. The best way is with disposable tissues which you must bin immediately afterwards. If you don’t have a tissue handy, bury your mouth and nose in your bent elbow.

If you show symptoms – have a fever, dry cough and difficulty breathing. Contact the medical service over the phone – dial 111 for NHS24 or call your GP.

If your symptoms are severe – dial 999.

Precautionary measures for Employers

Employers should follow general principles to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) such as:

  1. Ensure that all members of the organisation are aware of the requirement to self-isolate if they develop symptoms and support them in doing this;
  2. Consider how you can change working practices and patterns to reduce risk of spread of infection (especially for those at higher risk of illness);
  3. Introduce thorough routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched objects and surfaces (e.g telephones, keyboards, door handles, desks and tables);
  4. Promote good hand hygiene by making sure that staff, contractors, service users and visitors have access to hand washing facilities and, where available, alcohol based hand gel;
  5. Ensure any crockery and cutlery in shared kitchen areas are cleaned with hot water and general purpose detergent and are dried thoroughly before being stored for re-use; and
  6. Shared facilities like toilets, canteens, meeting rooms and social spaces must be thoroughly and frequently cleaned and disinfected as well.

For further general information and advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19) please visit NHS inform website:

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19

For information for employers please visit:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-covid-19

Contact

If you require further information or support, please do not hesitate to contact Amalgamate

t. +44 (0)141 244 0181 or e. info@amalgamate-safety

COVID-19: First Aid Training Update

As you will be aware, the UK Government have issued further advice for the public and workplaces in relation to COVID-19. The government has advised against ‘social gatherings’ and for people to work from home ‘where possible’. Also the advice for those who should self-isolate has been increased.

Our current advice is that first aid training is not a ‘social gathering’. It is essential training that is needed by workplaces, particularly when it is not possible for staff to work from home.

The government advice is changing on a daily basis but here are some things we as your training provider are doing as we stand right now:

  1. First aid training is essential training that is needed particularly by workplaces where it is not possible for staff to work from home, and particularly when there are severely extended ambulance response times due to the crisis. As such it is NOT a ‘social gathering’;
  2. Our class sizes can be reduced to minimise risk of infection. The main risk of infection in regard to COVID-19 is with people to people or people to surface contact rather than people to mannequin;
  3. We have implemented this 10 step plan to ensure hospital-grade infection prevention and control on our training courses. To view this plan please click here

We will also include the teaching of COVID-19 infection prevention and control at the beginning of our training courses.

At present our training team is operational. We will continue to support our clients with their essential training needs.

Amalgamate will continue to monitor all current developments and provide regular updates. If you would like any more information in regard to this, please do not hesitate to contact our training team on +44 (0)141 244 0181

Amalgamate Safety