[Publib] supplies to prevent the spread of illness

[AMMON, BETTE]

Our local health district tells us that surgical masks are only helpful in containing germs if you have an illness. They aren't much protection if someone is sneezing and coughing near you.

As reported on CNN:

Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday (April 29, 2009)in a press briefing that the "evidence is not very strong" for masks' value outside of health care settings, and outside of settings in which people come into face-to-face contact with a person with an infectious disease.

"We would not recommend that people generally wear masks in their workplace as a precautionary measure," he said.


Bette Ammon, director               bammon at cdalibrary.org
Coeur d'Alene Public Library       http://www.cdalibrary.org
702 E. Front Ave.
Coeur d'Alene ID 83814
208-769-2315 x436                     fax 208-769-2381

________________________________
From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Tim Spindle
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 9:24 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] supplies to prevent the spread of illness

With the upcoming flu season being more heightened than usual, have any libraries gone as far as buying surgical masks for staff to wear to prevent the spread of illness?  We have purchases items such as anti-bacterial wipes, Lysol, etc but we are wondering if anyone plans to use surgical masks.

tim
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