HEALTH NEWS American Red Cross Encourages Healthy COVID-19 Survivors to Donate Plasma
Ambius Hygiene Essentials Collection Serves Up Safety for Employees Returning to Work
T h e A m e r i c a n Re d C r o s s i s encouraging all healthy survivors of COVID-19 to donate their plasma to help those battling the virus. Hospital convalescent plasma distributions have increased 250% since October, so it is critical that those who have recovered from COVID-19 donate plasma now to help patients in need. To be eligible to donate plasma, an individual must be in good health and have had a prior, verified diagnosis of COVID-19 but are now symptom free and at least 14 days from date of last symptom. They also must also meet all general blood donation requirements. Eligible convalescent plasma donors can give with the Red Cross every seven days for up to three months. All interested donors are strongly encouraged to give plasma as soon as possible; there is a major shortage for those battling the illness and prompt response could save lives. Reach out to your nearest Red Cross location for questions.
If you’re a business owner preparing for employees to return to work, now is the time to consider using the Hygiene Essentials Collection from Ambius. For as little as $5 per day, you can provide two, no-touch hand-sanitizers, a four-state HEPA13 air purifier, and your choice of clean, fresh diffused scents to keep your business smelling inviting and soothing. Complete the experience with a selection of plants to create true barriers for social distancing and functional space designs. Part of their full-service Hygiene360 approach, Ambius can save you time and effort, ensuring that your hygiene program is done right the first time, your equipment is maintained, cleaned, and disinfected often, and consistent standards are maintained. The no-touch hand sanitizers provided come with safe, gentle, dyefree foam sanitizer, deliver up to 2,000 uses per cartridge, and kill 99% of germs, viruses, and harmful bacteria. The four-state HEPA13 and carbon filtration cleans the air four times per hour in areas of up to 700 square feet, removing up to 99.7% of harmful, airborne contaminants as small as 0.03 microns—including COVID-19 and other viral aerosols, dust, pollen, smoke, mold, bacteria, odors, and volatile organic compounds. Finally, the Ambius AQ270 nebulization system neutralizes odors and provides consistent, lasting, and uniform diffusion of scent. Choose from pink grapefruit, fresh clean, cucumber mint, mandarin zest, mint energy, or white tea fusion. For more information about Ambius or their Hygiene Essentials Collection, visit ambius.com or call (402) 999-4825.
Each day, the American Red Cross is active in the community, serving those in need. To learn more or inquire about donating plasma or blood, call (402) 343-7700 or visit redcross.org/local/Nebraska.
FAMILY, Inc. Marks Children’s Oral Health Month with Dental Awareness Activities With the knowledge that an estimated 51 million school hours are lost each year due to dentalrelated illnesses and one in five U.S. children go without dental care, FAMILY, Inc. is using National Children’s Dental Health Month in February as a platform for spreading awareness about the importance of dental care for children of all ages. Although the pandemic has forced postponement of FAMILY, Inc.’s annual Give Kids A Smile Day, they have scheduled the first mobile dental screenings in Mills County, IA on February 16, and their Southwest Iowa’s Children’s Health Coalition is planning to host their 4th Annual Oral Health Champions recognition event virtually in late February. FAMILY Inc.’s Children’s Oral Health Coalition was launched in 2015 to focus on increasing awareness that all children should see a dentist by the age of 1. In the six years since then, they have witnessed a distinct increase in dental practices that are willing to do examinations on children under 3 years old, as well as an upswing in networking about the topic in community groups, and more dental referrals of newborns to 3-year-old children from medical professionals. In 2021, the virtual event will be during the last week in February. The organization also is producing an educational video to send out to schools to help teach children and parents how important dental health is to overall health and remind them that it is safe to visit their dentist and crucial to maintain oral hygiene routines. FAMILY, Inc. provides public-health and family-support services to women, children, and families in Pottawattamie and Mills counties. For more information, visit familyia.org or call (712) 256-9566. #PrintProudDigitalSmart
Nebraska Safety Council Highlights COVID Vaccine Benefits for Safety at Work, Home With an eye toward improving safety in the workplace and at home, the Nebraska Safety Council is highlighting the benefits of getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Especially in the midst of the pandemic, implementing new protocols that affect daily operations is crucial. With new vaccines being developed and some already being administered, it is important for employers to begin planning for a more normal return-to-work protocol once most of the population has been vaccinated. While it is normal to have mixed emotions about the right choice for you, your household, and your workplace, now is the time to start discussing the benefits and risks of the vaccine with your primary health provider so you are ready to make an informed decision when the time comes. The Nebraska Safety Council reports that current research indicates the following benefits of the vaccine: • The vaccine will help keep you from getting COVID-19 and also may protect people around you. • The vaccine is a safer way to help build protection. • The vaccine will be an important tool to help stop the pandemic. • More information to help you make an informed decision about the vaccine is available at Cdc.gov/covid19. The mission of the Nebraska Safety Council is to provide education and leadership to empower Nebraskans to live safe and healthy. For more information or to become a member, visit nesafetycouncil.org, call (402) 483-2511, or email nesc@nesafetycouncil.org. FEBRUARY 2021 Strictly Business 35
