City of Saskatoon

1. City of Saskatoon Pandemic Education for Civic Employees

2. Session Objectives • Review Basic Influenza facts • Projected impact to the Citizens of Saskatoon and the COS • The Concept of the COS Pandemic Plan • Departmental Pandemic Policy Review • Questions

3. Objective 1 Basic Pandemic Influenza Facts

4. Introduction • In June 2009, the World Health Organization declared that the H1N1 virus had become a pandemic • Second wave of the pandemic is expected to be upon us in fall/winter 2009 • Preparation and prevention are key!

5. Seasonal or Swine Flu? • Seasonal (Human) Flu • Influenza virus spread among humans • Swine Flu (H1N1) • A completely new strain of Influenza virus that easily spreads from human to human

6. What Is Influenza? • Respiratory illness caused by a virus • Symptoms • Abrupt onset • Fever / Headache • Chills / Muscle aches • Fatigue • Cough / Sore throat • Sneezing / Runny nose • Watery eyes • Cough and general fatigue may persist for several weeks after recovery

7. How Is Human Influenza Spread? • Upper Respiratory Spread: • Direct person-to-person contact • Large droplet sneezing / coughing (2 metres) • Contact with contaminated hard, non-porous surfaces (24 – 48 hours) • Contact with contaminated cloth / paper or tissue (8 – 12 hours) • Shaking hands (5 minutes)

8. Pandemic Influenza - Spread • This virus is defined as ‘Novel’ • Humans have no initial immunity to it and the entire population of the world will be at risk of getting sick • -Can infect others up to 24 hrs before onset of symptoms • -Can still infect others up to 1day after feeling better

9. What You Can Do • Improve your overall health • Consider getting an annual seasonal flu shot AND H1N1 flu shot (when they become available) • Wash hands regularly with warm soapy water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol based products Before and after eating After going to the bathroom After coughing and sneezing After shaking hands After touching surfaces that may be contaminated

10. What You Can Do • Cough and sneeze into tissue or your sleeve to avoid droplet spread. • Throw away tissues promptly. • Frequently clean and disinfect household and work space surfaces. • Stay at home when sick. Expect to stay away from work for 7days or 24 hours after you are symptom free • Avoid visiting people who have influenza if possible.

11. Why Talk About This Now? • The Saskatoon Health Region and World Health Organization expect the 2nd of three waves of the H1N1 Pandemic to begin the Fall of 2009

12. Objective 2 Pandemic Influenza impact on Saskatoon

13. 3 Pandemic Waves Wave #1 Wave #2-3

14. The Projected Impact for the Saskatoon Region SHR ESTIMATES • 25% to 50% of people in Saskatoon will become ill, require hospitalization or outpatient care during the pandemic wave. • This is why it is so important for everyone to understand the best ways to minimize the risk of becoming sick and to be prepared at work and home

15. Vulnerability By Age Groups

16. Pandemic Influenza – Social Effects • Fear of close proximity to people. • Stress due to dealing with illness, deaths, quarantine. • Possible closures of public venues, schools. • Interruption of critical community services. • Estimated costs (loss of productivity) $5-38 billion.

17. Pandemic Influenza – Impact on COS • We may need to operate at ¾ staffing for three separate 6 – 8 week periods. • In addition, some healthy staff may need to take care of sick loved ones, further depleting the work force. • A portion of the staff who are missing will be those in critical positions. • We may be called upon to assist the SHR as they deliver non-traditional health care.

18. Pandemic Influenza – Impact on Business • High absenteeism • Travel may be restricted • Supply chains may be interrupted • Fewer customers • Financial losses Its important to recognize the potential for the Pandemic to impact our professional and personal routines. -- Services you normally count on may not be available for short periods of time.

19. Vaccine Assumptions • Vaccine • It may become available in limited supply some time in October and more widely available around December • Health Authorities will establish priority groups Employees should consider taking both the seasonal flu shot as well as the pandemic H1N1 flu shot when it becomes available. Seasonal flushots will be offered at the City as they have in past

20. Will Masks Be Effective? • Masks have an unproven medical value for the • general public and are impractical as a prevention • strategy. • If used or disposed of incorrectly, masks may • actually increase the risk of contracting the virus. • The Public Health Agency of Canada does not recommend the use of masks by the general public: • http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/h1n1/faq_rg_h1n1-eng.php#faq1

21. Objective 3 Conceptual Review: The City of Saskatoon Public Health Plan

22. COS Plan Activation: • ‘Trigger points’ for plan activation are pre-determined… • On discretion of Senior Management Team; • Saskatoon Health Region activates their Emergency Operation Centre in support of their Pandemic Plan; and • Saskatchewan reaches 25% Influenza Like Illness rates

23. A Two Point Plan • First plan element is to provide support to the Saskatoon Health Region • We will support the Health Region through providing them with access to COS facilities for vaccination clinics or other forms of non-traditional health care…(should those be needed)

24. A Two Point Plan • Safely and effectively conduct business on a day to day basis • Identify 3 Service Reduction Levels. • Conduct a Daily ILI Absentee Report to assist in making decisions regarding staffing levels and civic service levels during pandemic wave. • Ensure a safe working environment for COS employees. • Employee pandemic education on reducing the risk of transmission of H1N1 at home and work.

25. Three Service Reduction Levels • For business continuity purposes during a pandemic, Senior Managers answered three questions: • What are the ‘critical services’ needing to be maintained daily? • What services are important but could be reduced for a short period if required? • What services can we temporarily suspend if needed during the pandemic wave to provide staff to ensure critical services are maintained?

26. Sick/Fit Reporting Influenza Assessment Tool/Survey: • -Not a medical assessment • -Useful only during a pandemic wave of illness • -Private information will not be shared externally • -Information will be used only internally to assist with decisions regarding staffing and civic service levels

27. COS Service Reduction Levels(2of2) Participating with Sick / Fit Reporting is the key to successfully communicating the City of Saskatoon's service capacity internally as well as to the citizens of Saskatoon.

28. Summary of Plan Overview • Saskatoon Health Region and World Health Organization expect the 2nd wave to begin this fall. • The City of Saskatoon will activate its plan at the discretion of the Senior Management Team.

29. COS Employee Health and Wellness Initiatives The most important part of the plan is YOU

30. Personal Health and Wellness • The best defense against any virus, flu, cold, etc is to keep our immune systems as strong as possible at all times; not just during a pandemic wave. • Diet and Nutrition – make sure your meals are derived from the 4 basic food groups and that you are getting the vitamins and minerals you need in your diet. • Exercise – daily exercise, even short 10 minute sessions throughout the day has been proven to help boost immune systems • Work-life balance – take some time outside of work to do things you enjoy such as biking, walking, playing with your kids or pets, reading, music, etc.

31. Personal Health and Wellness Contact Health Promotion Consultant for more info on: • Employee Exercise Equipment Loan Program • Employee Wellness Subsidization Program 3. Link to Food Guide Online: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/foodguide-ailment/index-eng.php

32. Personal Health and Wellness http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/news_you_need/media_centre/media/2009/influenza_information.htm Provincial Health Information Line: 1-877-800-0002

33. Personal Health and Wellness Personal Preparedness for your Home http://www.city.saskatoon.sk.ca/org/fire_protective/emo/home_preparedness.asp#1

34. Workplace Wellness Initiatives • COS Workplace Initiatives • Hygiene and cough etiquette… our most important defense • Workplace cleaning • Proper hand washing • COS ‘Virtual Strategies’ • Phone meetings instead of face-to-face • Stay-at-home management – if you are sick, stay home to prevent transmission to others

35. Objective 4 Departmental Pandemic Policy Review

36. COS Pandemic Plan Components Business Continuity Policy: • -Addresses the purpose of having such a policy, confidentiality and responsibilities during a pandemic wave. • -7 elements address: • Workplace Cleaning • Social Distancing • Meetings • Reporting Sick From Home • Becoming Sick At Work • Workplace Entry / Denial for affected individuals • Reporting for Work

37. Reporting Sick From Home • Employee calls in sick to their supervisor or manager • Supervisor or manager will ask the employee if they have: • High fever or feel feverish/hot • Headache • Fatigue and weakness • Sore throat, cough, chest discomfort, difficulty in breathing • Muscle aches and pains

38. Reporting Sick From Home • If employee has two or more of the symptoms, they will be considered to have a possible case of influenza and should expect to stay home for 7 days, or for an additional 24 hours after the symptoms have disappeared. • After the 7 day time frame has passed, the employee will return to work if they are able.

39. Becoming Sick at Work • Employee notifies their supervisor that they are sick. • Supervisor asks the five symptom questions from the ILI Assessment Tool. • If the employee has two or more of the symptoms they will be told to go home and remain at home for the specified time period. • If employee is able to drive home, they should do so.

40. Becoming Sick at Work • If employee is unable to drive, supervisor will assist in making transportation arrangements. • The employee must make every effort to minimize contact with other employees while they are leaving the facility.

41. Conclusion • Hand washing ,cough etiquette and social distancing are important • Stay at home if you are sick • Don’t come to work too early • Keep your workspace and home clean

42. Recommended Information Sources • Government of Canada: Flu Website www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/fluwatch/index-eng.php • Saskatchewan Health www.health.gov.sk.ca/pandemic-planning • Saskatoon Health Region www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca • City of Saskatoon www.saskatoon.ca