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Outbreak co-ordinators checklist
| Action must taken immediately you are aware that someone has symptoms
of gastrointestinal illness (Vomiting or Diarrhoea) - remember that by acting
early you can substantially reduce the number of people who will catch the
virus. |
Affected guests
Guests should be treated with sympathy, remember that through nobody's fault
they are ill while on holiday. It may be hard for them to understand that
they are contagious, especially after the symptoms have stopped.
- Visit the affected room to assess whether or not
the Hit Squad should be sent in.
- If there are no visible signs of contamination the
accommodation may be treated by a nominated member of the housekeeping
staff using the specified chemicals. Keeping it to one person reduces
the risk of cross contamination.
- If the bathroom or room is grossly contaminated
the Hit Squad must be informed and brought in to clear up.
- You should identify whether the guests are diabetic
or taking oral medication which may be life threatening if they cannot
keep it down. Should this prove to be the case the relevant medical practice
should be informed.
- The people affected and their spouses/partners must
be quarantined immediately until 24 hours after last symptoms. This step
is absolutely crucial if the spread of the virus is to be contained. You
will need to arrange to: -
- Provide room service for meals, soft drinks, teas
and coffees.
- Provide bottled drinking water free of charge.
- Provide additional towels.
- Provide a receptacle for guests to be sick in i.e.
an old ice cream tub.
- Encourage them to drink lots of fluids and not eat
food if possible.
- Provide regular contact with them via a member of
management or staff.
- Ensure all guests are regularly updated with information
on what is being done to stop the outbreak spreading.
- Give the guests a leaflet with information on the
disease.
- Inform reception who should keep an up to date account
of all rooms affected.
- Complete an Illness Report Form for each person affected
(see attached).
- Make sure they are regularly visited, kept informed
and provided with drinks and food as often as necessary.
- Encourage the guest to make use of room service once
they are feeling a little better.
- One of the most common comments from guests when
writing to complain about being ill in one of our Hotels is “No-one
from Management came to see us” This is usually an unfair comment,
so ensuring that several visits are made or sending your regards with
another senior staff member may prove to be helpful.
Affected staff
Staff infected with the virus represent the greatest risk of the virus not
being eradicated from the hotel.
- Keep a daily check on incidents of staff illness.
- Ensure any infected staff are excluded from work
for the duration of the symptoms and a further 48 hours.
- If they live in, they should remain in their own
room until they are well again. Ensure that their room is properly quarantined.
- Make sure someone is looking after them without risk
of cross contamination. Only one member of staff should take them meals
and drinks.
- If the staff illness persists the local G.P. should
be brought in to take stool samples.
Routines to put in place immediately
After the initial response to an outbreak the following procedures
should be implemented to ensure accurate information is available
and the correct action is taken.
- Have a daily Heads of Department meeting to
ensure all staff are kept up to date with the outbreak reminding
them it is a viral infection and not food poisoning.
- Remember it is not a crime to have an outbreak!
- Increase vigilance at meal times for signs
of illness or guests being absent.
- Ensure all drivers know what the illness is
and what action is being taken.
Insist that all staff entering a food preparation area are seen
to wash their hands using a virucidal hand wash.
- Keep a daily check on members of the Hit Squad
for any symptoms of illness.
- Once it has been established the outbreak
is not related to food produced at the hotel it is no longer necessary
to complete and Illness Report Form for each ill person.
- Details should now be recorded on the Illness
Summary Form which should be faxed daily to Head Office.
- Daily cleaning procedures must be meticulous
both in the hotel and on the coaches In particular all switches,
door handles, key tags salt and pepper pots etc The products recommended
for this are Milton, Dettox or Magic Safeguard in particular.
- Remember to air the building as much as possible.
Thorough vacuuming also helps as flaked skin deposits also pass
on the virus.
- If an outside laundry is involved you are
duty bound to inform them of possible contamination of linen immediately.
- For laundry washed in the hotel dissolvable
alginate bags should be used for instances of gross contamination.
- Check that the wash cycle is hotter than 60C
and that a half load is washed on a full wash cycle to maximise
dilution.
- Keep a regular check on essential supplies
of chemicals and food spillage kits.
- As soon as any cases have been diagnosed any
coach involved must be fogged. It is our responsibility to make
sure that drivers know the correct procedures.
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