7-Eleven® Readies Stores as Concerns over Swine Flu Grow
Displays Hand Sanitizers, Cleaning Supplies, O-T-C Medicines
DALLAS (April 29, 2009) – As the number of U.S. swine, or H1N1, flu cases continues to increase, 7-Eleven Inc. is stocking stores with merchandise to help curb the spread of the illness and alleviate the disease’s symptoms, which are similar to seasonal influenza.
Items organized in a small, in-store display include alcohol-based gel sanitizers and hand wipes, liquid hand soap, all-purpose disinfecting cleaners and wipes, pine cleaners, spray disinfectants, alcohol, bleach, paper towels, facial tissue, and over-the-counter medicines like analgesic pain relievers, cough syrup, flu and cough drugs, anti-nausea and diarrhea remedies, and children’s medicines.
“While drug stores may be the first line of defense for consumers seeking medications to combat the disease, 7-Eleven is working with its suppliers to ensure we have adequate health and personal care products to alleviate symptoms,” said Kris Nelson, 7-Eleven product director of non-foods. “These are convenience items we carry everyday, but we are now recommending that our stores display them together, near the check-out counter for our customers’ convenience.”
Symptoms for swine flu include fever, sore throat, cough, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue with some reporting diarrhea and vomiting. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
The Dallas-based company operates and franchises more than 6,200 convenience stores in North America.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised the swine flu pandemic alert to 5, the second highest level and a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent, and urges governments to activate response plans. Both
WHO and
CDC maintain current information about the spread of swine flu in this country and abroad as well as tips to avoid transmission and stay healthy. The following suggestions are from their websites:
These are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
- If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
- Practice good health habits including adequate sleep, eating nutritious food, and keeping physically active.
For an ill person at home:
- Try to provide the ill person a separate section in the house. If this is not possible, keep the patient at least 1 meter in distance from others.
- Cover mouth and nose when caring for the ill person. Masks can be bought commercially or made using the readily available materials as long as they are disposed of or cleaned properly.
- Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly after each contact with the ill person.
- Try to improve the air flow in the area where the ill person stays. Use doors and windows to take advantage of breezes.
- Keep the environment clean with readily available household cleaning agents.
If you feel unwell, have high fever, cough and/or sore throat and think you have swine influenza:
- Stay at home and keep away from work, school or crowds as much as possible.
- Rest and take plenty of fluids.
- Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when coughing and sneezing and dispose of the used tissues properly.
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and thoroughly, especially after coughing or sneezing.
- Inform family and friends about your illness and seek help for household chores that require contact with other people such as shopping.
- When making a doctor’s appointment, let the medical staff know that you believe you might have swine flu.
CONTACT:
Margaret Chabris
7-Eleven, Inc.
972-828-7285