Golden 1 CU Prepared For Flu Outbreak

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As concern grows regarding the H1N1 virus–also called "swine flu"–at least one credit union is already prepared to deal with the situation.The Golden 1 CU prepared for a possible outbreak of avian flu last year by distributing pandemic kits to all 77 of its branch locations, which the branches can now use in response to the latest flu scare.Terry Halleck, CEO of the $6.5-billion CU, based here, said an e-mail was sent to all Golden 1 staff members sharing information related to the current outbreak, alternatively referred to as “swine flu” or “H1N1” (public health officials in recent days have attempted to avoid attaching the term “swine” to the flu virus after reports of people needlessly avoiding eating pork or even slaughtering pigs in a misguided attempt to avoid illness). Halleck told Credit Union Journal the e-mail memo had information on the virus, how it is spread, what the symptoms of the flu are and when they are likely to develop, and that there is medication that can be effective. “Also in the e-mail was a link to our employee intranet and a flu pandemic brochure we had previously posted for interested staff members,” she said. “We believe proactive communication to staff is key to help them avoid becoming ill and also to help them prevent spreading illness if such occurs.”Golden 1 is asking its branch staff to use hand sanitizer from the pandemic supply kits to help prevent the spread of germs. In addition, Halleck said management has asked employees to be empathetic to members who opt to wear the gauze face masks some believe will help prevent them from becoming ill. “While we have a ‘No Hats, No Hoods, No Sunglasses’ policy in our branches, the medically-styled face masks do not mask the identity of persons coming into our branches if properly worn,” she explained. “As of this early point in time, we have not had reports of members wearing these medically-styled masks; our communication to branch staff was simply proactive so they are prepared if that occurs.”The pandemic kits distributed to Golden 1’s branches and headquarters include the following items: masks, tissues, protective eyewear, disposable thermometer, gloves, sani-cloths (to clean areas where individuals may spread illness, such as telephones, computer keyboards and countertops), hand sanitizer, Lysol Disinfectant Spray, and a hazardous waste bag for disposal of items that may become contaminated.“These are not pre-made kits that Golden 1 purchased from a provider, these are kits that our staff assembled last year and then distributed to the branches,” Halleck said, adding any new branches in the last year are required to have pandemic kits to ensure a state of readiness across the organization. “Golden 1 had already proactively prepared for a pandemic flu outbreak about a year ago and we remain prepared to deal with the current pandemic concern in the event a serious outbreak occurs in any of the areas where we have our 77 branches as well as our headquarters location.”