Volume 5, Issue 3
November, 2011
SCOPE FOR PARAS, CUSTODIAL, PLANT OPS., BUS DRIVERS AND OTHER EDU. EMPLOYEES
Tips to Prevent Colds and Flu in the Workplace
It’s that time of year again, the time when you start hearing coughing and sneezing throughout the workplace and a box of tissues is at reach.
This month, we focus on ways to prevent the spread of cold and flu in the workplace.
The cold and flu season typically runs from November – April. Readily spread when people are indoors, cold and flu viruses are often passed along from person to person and surface to surface in the workplace.
Cold and Flu Prevention in the Workplace
- Wash Your Hands for at least 15-20 seconds with soap many times a day or sanitize with an alcohol-gel hand sanitizer, especially following contact with potentially contaminated surfaces:
• Hands or face of others – including handshakes
• Doorknob or handle (including microwave and refrigerator)
• Copier machine buttons or parts
• Another person’s keyboard or phone
• Coffee pot handle
• Elevator button
• Countertop
• Food or food container handled by others
• Shared books or other workplace materials
• Shared hand or power tools
- Following washing, turn off the faucet with a paper towel
- Dry your hands with an air dryer or a clean paper towel.
- Use a paper towel to open the bathroom door and dispose of paper towel in a trash bin outside of door
- Use a hand sanitizer between washing
- Avoid touching your face, eyes, or rubbing your nose
- Wash out your water bottle daily
- Clean shared items such as phones, keyboards, handles and door knobs with alcohol wipes or other sanitizer--type wipes
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has a cold or flu
- Sneeze and cough into a tissue, throw the tissue away, and then wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than your hand
- Drink plenty of fluids, but do not share drinking cups or straws
- Get lots of fresh air
- Exercise regularly and frequently
- Eat healthy foods such as whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables
- Don’t smoke and decrease alcohol consumption
- Relax-–stress can decrease immunity
- Avoid contact with known allergens--allergies affecting the nose or throat may increase the chances of getting a cold or flu
Heading back to school? AFT has scholarship opportunities available for you
If you are thinking of going back to school, please remember that AFT and McAllen AFT are here to support you. We have several scholarship opportunities available for our members and we have included some information below.
Union Deadline: Jan. 31, 2012 Plus Scholarship
- Awards from $500 to $4,000 to one-time winners for undergraduate study beginning in the fall of the same year.
- May use for four year community college, technical college or trade school.
- Open to current or retired AFT members, their spouses and dependent children. This competitive one-time cash award is sent to individual.
Texas: Jan. 31, 2012 AFL-CIO Scholarship Deadline
Open to members or children of members of local unions affiliated with the Texas AFL-CIO. Texas AFL-CIO awards more than 30 $1,000 scholarships. Applicants must be high school seniors enrolling in a university, college, or technical institute in the summer or fall term. Click on this link for the 2012 Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship: http://www.texasaflcio.org
Loan Repayment Assistance
Teach for Texas Loan Repayment Assistance Program
This program is designed to attract and retain teachers to shortage areas. It qualifies teachers in shortage areas for higher education loan repayment for up to $5,000. http://www.hhloans.com/borrowers/TFTLRAPFactSheet.cfm
Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program: March 15, 2012
Texas residents enrolled part or full time at a Texas college or university are eligible to receive up to $1,250 depending upon need. www.collegefortexans.com/
For more information, all AFT and Texas loan forgiveness programs are listed on the AFT.org website under Tools for Teachers.
McAllen AFT Scholarships
McAllen AFT Member Scholarship application (member may apply for our annual scholarship for continuing education) and Student Scholarship application (student’s parent must be a member of McAllen AFT) http://tx.aft.org/mcallen/ There are a total of four (4) scholarships at $500 each.