Infection Control & First Aid Blog

With the cold and flu season upon us in these winter months, repeated use of hand sanitizer is essential to keeping ourselves healthy and preventing sickness during this time of the year. Regular use of hand sanitizer by employees has shown to reduce the amount of preventable healthcare claims by 24%.

Every year people want to know approaching flu season how effective the flu vaccination will be and how severe of a flu season it will likely be as well. At this point in the season, as we have yet to reach the peak of flu season, the prediction is that it will not be as severe of a season as it was last year, which was one of the highest severities of flu seasons in many years.

How many times have we pushed off the first signs of illness only for it to emerge as the flu? What happens next varies from person to person. Some people are bedridden, others attempt to work through the illness, and in some severe cases, the flu claims their life. The flu isn’t a disease to take lightly, and the 2017 – 2018 season has been a bad one compared to years past.

UN3373 is a DG shipment classification under IATA DGR -Infectious Substances. Infectious Substances are substances which are known or are reasonably expected to contain pathogens. Pathogens are defined as micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi) and other agents such as prions, which can cause diseases in humans or animals. Infectious substances can be classified into two categories: A or B according to the level of infectiousness.

Many people aren’t familiar with the chemical Formaldehyde. In its original state Formaldehyde is a colorless gas that is incredibly toxic to humans. However, in most practical situations Formaldehyde is diluted to formulate Formalin solutions. Formalin is used to disinfect surfaces, preserve cadavers, and add longevity to furnishings. Let’s take a look at what can happen if you come into contact with Formaldehyde or other Formalin fluids.

How many times have you felt sick, but came into work anyway because you feared you would anger your boss or let your co-workers down. Because of actions like this and the high traffic of a work environment, offices become breeding grounds for the flu and numerous other viruses. Let’s examine where these germs pop up and how to keep your workplace flu-free during the next few months. 

Antibiotics are powerful medicines that fight bacterial infections. Used correctly, antibiotics can save lives. They either kill bacteria or keep them from reproducing. Your body's natural defenses can usually take it from there. However, they can cause side effects and lead to antibiotic resistance which can make them very dangerous.

I’m sure you’ve experienced at some point, a fall in gym class resulting in a cut and a swift visit to the school nurse. Schools see numerous types of accidents on a daily basis. Some accidents are minor, whereas some require immediate medical attention. Having qualified first aid staff, and teaching students the importance of first aid from a young age could help lower the severity of these accidents.

Safetec is proud to announce that we are now an official corporate partner of the Herd of Hope. When our team learned about the Herd of Hope, we could not resist the opportunity to donate to such a wonderful cause and to support Roswell Park in the fight against cancer. We are also now an owner of a blue buffalo that sits in the entrance, so all of our employees and guests can see that we are proudly a part of the Herd.

Safetec of America, Inc. is excited to announce that we’ve been undergoing renovations at our company headquarters located at 887 Kensington Ave., Buffalo, NY. This renovation project started in June and is projected to complete by the end of the year.