Infection Control & First Aid Blog

"Bless you!"

It's so ingrained in us to offer this common courtesy after a sneeze, that we rarely think about the impact a person's sneeze can have on our health. Here's the disgusting truth about sneezing and coughing: contagious germs can spread further and faster than you think.

The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on how unprepared for disasters we are as a country, business owners, and individuals. From pandemics to hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, chemical spills, house fires, and beyond, do not get caught unprepared. September is National Preparedness Month, and honestly, this could not come at a more relevant time.

Safetec started in 1992 with just one product, a medical liquid waste solidifier to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, mainly HIV. Since then, Safetec has grown steadily, not only in our product catalog but also in size. Thanks in part to customer-driven new product development and the ever-increasing need for infection control products, we are growing again!

America is five months into the COVID-19 Pandemic, by now, you should be practicing proper hand hygiene, retired the handshake (at least for now) and have the art of adequate disinfection near perfected. Most of us returned to work as stores and restaurants open, sports resumes, and gather in larger groups. These activities increase the chance of harmful germs, bacteria, and viruses like SARS-CoV-2 that cause COVID-19, taking up residence on your hands.

The rapid growth of COVID-19 from an outbreak to a global pandemic showed how quickly a virus could spread. While we've since learned that COVID-19 is transferred mostly through person-to-person transmission, other underlying causes have played a role. Poor hand hygiene, inadequate cleaning of contaminated surfaces, and travel also factored into the increased surge of COVID-19 cases everywhere

In the midst of a global crisis, it is difficult to see a week into the future, but teachers, administrators, and parents are turning their attention to the fall. In the United States, most schools have been closed since mid-March. The 2020-2021 school year will bring a list of new challenges, from the academic challenges of school closing early last school year to maintaining a clean and safe environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Ah, the lazy days of summer, sitting poolside, hiking, biking, sunshine, bonfires, grilling, fireworks, playgrounds, and playdates. With an increase in outdoor activities, comes an increase in injuries. While minor injuries usually do not require an ER visit, they still need treatment to avoid infection or further damage.

As we inch closer to cold and flu season in the United States, the collision of COVID-19 and the flu seems inevitable. How severe the flu / COVID-19 season will be is still hotly debated. On the one hand, you have nearly 1 million flu-related hospitalizations during a non-pandemic year. On the other hand, the preventative measures and changes in behavior used to fight COVID-19 could help lessen the seasonal flu's impact.

If you look around your workspace or facility, you will probably notice various hazards and safety risks. Identifying all the hazards in your facility probably feels overwhelming. We get it. That's why we created the below guide to help you understand the different categories of hazards, where they might be present, and how to prepare.

According to the National Safety Council, every 7 seconds, a workplace injury occurs. Is your facility correctly prepared to handle a workplace injury? Do you have a first aid kit? If so, do your employees know where it's located? How can Safetec help you prepare and respond?