IID prepares for possible employee H1N1 outbreak By DAVID STEFFEN, Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 21, 2009 12:05 AM PDT
The Imperial Irrigation District is boosting its immunity from the effects of the H1N1 virus to lessen the impact of more employees on sick leave.
“You have two flus instead of one this year, so we anticipate we’re going to have more people getting sick,” said IID Emergency Planning Assistant Supervisor Mike Kemp at Tuesday’s IID Board of Directors meeting.
IID Assistant to the General Manager Kevin Kelley said one IID employee was diagnosed with H1N1 two weeks ago. The IID began considering H1N1 precautions in September, he said.
Kemp presented a variety of preventative and response measures for IID employees in case of an H1N1 outbreak in the Valley.
Among the measures are hand-washing awareness placards and alcohol-based hand-sanitizer dispensers. Kemp said IID has already placed orders for them.
Hand-washing is one of the most important keys to reducing the spread of H1N1 and other maladies, he said.
“The No. 1 preventative measure is just good hygiene,” Kemp said.
Director Mike Abatti said the measures promoted sound preventative action.
“I think it’s a good culture,” Abatti said. “I think we have more than the (typical) flu season with a couple other things going around.”
Kemp said providing hand-sanitizing dispensers to the public in IID facilities could lessen the possibility of IID staff illness, as well.
“Hopefully, the employees and the customers are going to have the opportunity to improve their hygiene in that environment — hopefully, protecting our employees,” Kemp said.
The IID has established ties with the Centers for Disease Control, the California Department of Public Health and the Imperial County Public Health Department, among others.
Kemp said the IID will adjust for the potential of greater H1N1-related absenteeism and the IID will establish an absenteeism reporting center.
Board members asked Kemp if the precautions would be permanent. He said they would last as long as a potential H1N1 outbreak. IID may maintain some hand-sanitizing dispensers; however, most measures would be lifted to economize, Kemp said.
Kelley said a potential H1N1 outbreak would likely afflict IID members at the same rate as the general public.
“Out of 1,300 (employees), you have exponential possibility of employees coming into contact with the virus,” Kelley said.
" No wonder Imperial Valley people have a reputation of being stupid! "
18kodak wrote on Oct 21, 2009 3:47 PM:
" IID HAS TO LOWER RATES MAN, THIS IS TOO MUCH, BUNCH OF GREEDY EXECUTIVES. "
agzero75@Hotmail.com wrote on Oct 21, 2009 1:42 PM:
" With the water increases how will people be able to afford to wash their hands let alone take a shower? "
farmallalfalfa wrote on Oct 21, 2009 12:56 PM:
" When is the IID going to prepare for a possible employee laziness and sense of entitlement outbreak? I fear it may be too late... "
straightup wrote on Oct 21, 2009 11:49 AM:
" Maybe if they didn't all gather around the coffee pot, it wouldn't be such a problem. "
charlietuna wrote on Oct 21, 2009 9:17 AM:
" sorry, should have been "whether" not "weather"....
but then again, just makes it more cruby-like (read, unintelligent) "
sterig wrote on Oct 21, 2009 9:07 AM:
" Charlie, thanks for stepping up. I was afraid the plot would not be exposed. "
charlietuna wrote on Oct 21, 2009 8:59 AM:
" As I have heard it, the flu shots will ONLY be for white transplant managers who have verifiable proof of having banged their native, hispanic secretaries in a hotel room paid for with a IID credit card and for the Chicali hispanics.... Those locals, weather white or hispanic will be excluded and in fact may even be drawn and quartered, just because...
pretty cruby-esque, no? "
sterig wrote on Oct 21, 2009 7:48 AM:
" Cruby, WAKE UP! Another plot is hatching. "
jsmith wrote on Oct 21, 2009 6:51 AM:
" Good for IID. There are too many people out there in the world that think simply running their hands under the water and getting them wet is good enough after going "doody". For some reason they don't like to use soap.
Wash your hands people.
I am glad to see some people take personal hygene serious. "
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aeiou wrote on Oct 21, 2009 5:56 PM: