VIRUS
H1N1vaccination INFLUENZ RU VI A flu swine flu infect
A Dose of Prevention
Protect your spa this flu season with a plan of action that prepares for a potential outbreak.
WHILE MOST INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING
encouraged to get a flu shot this year, you might be
wishing there was one that could inoculate your
spa from the havoc a flu epidemic can cause. With
the number of H1N1, also known as swine flu,
cases on the rise, you’re probably wondering what
you can do to protect your employees, your clients,
and your overall business.
According to Alfredo Carvajal, senior vice
president of sales and operations at Universal
Companies, it is important to have a plan in place
before the need for one actually arises and to effectively communicate it to your staff. Good hygiene,
of course, is the best way to prevent the spread of
swine flu, so encourage employees to wash their
hands frequently, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and disinfect work areas on a frequent basis.
In fact, you may even want to implement a daily
schedule to ensure that no area is overlooked.
Without proper sanitation procedures, spas
can become breeding grounds for bacteria and
viruses. Carvajal notes that it’s important to read
disinfectant product labels, because some require
longer exposure times before removal to be effective. He also suggests installing sanitizer stations
throughout your spa, such as near the front desk
and in the locker rooms.
Despite you and your team’s best efforts, it’s
not always possible to prevent an isolated incident
or an outbreak. This is especially true when you
consider that those infected with the flu virus can
begin infecting others approximately 24 hours
before showing any symptoms. That’s why it is
continued on page 36
“It is important to have
a plan in
place before
the need for
one actually
arises.”
