Congregational Health Ministry Action TeamRecommendations for H1N1/Communicable Diseases Preparedness

Congregational Health Ministry Action Team

Recommendations for H1N1/Communicable Diseases Preparedness

November, 2009

On November 19, 2009, the Congregational Health MAT met to discuss the preparations and progress made by staff in response to current health issues, specifically the containment of the H1N1 flu virus.

The MAT is made up of medical health professionals, a member of the Center for Disease Control and the Executive Director.  Each brought areas of expertise to the MAT.

The MAT was charged with three main tasks.

1. Review current steps taken by the directors and staff of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church to contain the spread of communicable diseases
2. Provide recommendations for practices to be followed to contain the spread of communicable diseases
3. Establish a plan/checklist to monitor preparedness for a pandemic outbreak based on the most current and up to date information

Task Item #1
 
With input from directors and staff, Executive Director, Bill Jesse prepared a current procedures list already adopted or emphasized.  The MAT expressed most common sense procedures and practices are already being done. It was recommended someone be appointed to be responsible for common areas such as the office, Gathering Place, etc.

RECOMMENDATION:  Using the Weekly Word and the Gloria Dei website, and the Tiny Treasures email list, communicate with the membership the current procedures and practices already adopted or emphasized. Include practices from the Kitchen Ministry concerning food preparation and serving.

Task Item #2

Discussion was held around the current practices during service in regard to Greeters at the doorways to Gloria Dei, our practice of greeting during the services, the passing of the pew registers, and the passing of the offering plates.

RECOMMENDATION:  During the flu season, (roughly through March) continue the non-contact greeting at the entrances.  Smiles and verbal greetings are recommended. The greeting during the service should follow the same guidelines as the greeting at the door.  Current greetings including fist bumps, verbal greetings etc. should continue through the flu season.  Greeting the pastor after services should follow the same guidelines.  The pew registers will continue to be used but congregation members may want to use their own pens rather than share the pen in the register.  Elders and ushers may wipe down offering plates after or between services with a disinfectant wipe.  A suggestion to put hand sanitizers in the pews was rejected as this was overkill in the opinion of the MAT as congregation members already may carry their own sanitizers.

Task Item #3

Discussion was held concerning the preparedness for a pandemic outbreak.  Bill Jesse supplied a Faith Based and Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist obtained from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) The MAT reviewed the checklist to determine Gloria Dei’s preparedness. Creating an Infection/Disease control policy to sit on a shelf and not be maintained was viewed as a waste of time and resources.

RECOMMENDATION:  Maintain an up to date checklist to reflect current practices and procedures.  Routinely use this document to determine the preparedness and to keep abreast with new information and to keep best practices in the forefront.

H1N1/Communicable Diseases Procedures
and First Steps

The following procedures have either been adopted OR emphasized in our programs in the past 6-8 weeks to assist with the containment of the H1N1 outbreak.

Preschool

1. Teach students good hygiene skills
1. Hand washing
2. Sneezing/Coughing
2. Communication home to parents
1. Letters and emails
2. Keep kids home when sick
3. Fever free for 24 hours before returning
3. Clorox Anywhere used by teachers the first thing in the morning, before and after snacks and at the end of the day
4. Adapt songs to eliminate hugs/hand shaking etc.
5. Clorox wipe toys after use
6. Parent group in to wash small toys

Family Ministry (includes Nursery, Children and Youth)

1. Teachers/leaders wipe down tables (Clorox Anywhere) before and after classes
2. Hand Sanitizers used when students come in and when they leave
3. Kindermusik instruments cleaned and washed after use
4. Encourage parents to keep sick children home if sick
5. Use more pre-packaged snacks
6. Unused non-pre-packaged foods discarded not recycled
7. Minimize physical contact in classes

Gloria Dei

1. Installed touch free hand sanitizers around the building (10)
2. Posted signs form State of Iowa concerning spread of disease
3. Provided all teacher carts with Clorox Anywhere spray and wipes
4. Increased bathroom cleaning (whole building with emphasis on Preschool bathrooms)
5. Hands free stools in Narthex bathrooms
6. Weekly Word articles
7. Posted website articles
8. Implemented different greetings protocol in services and at door
9. Kitchen Manager has attended food safety classes
10. All food prepared on site is cooked and served at proper temperatures
11. All serving tables and dining tables are wiped before and after use
12. All servers are required to wear gloves during food service
13. Two different types of disinfectant are alternated on kitchen surfaces
14. Proper dishwashing techniques are followed
15. Access to refrigerators/freezers is limited to reduce spreading of germs

Recommendations

1. Greetings during the services
2. Greeters at the entrance doors
3. Pew registers
4. Offering plates
5. Disease/Infection Control policy
6. Other recommendations…