Brooklyn, NY – In Wake Of Swine Flu Hikind Pushes For Bill Requiring Signage Outlining Proper Hand Hygiene

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    Brooklyn, NY – In the wake of the swine flu outbreak, Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is pushing for the swift passage of his bill, A.5487/S.4363, which requires the State Department of Health to develop and post signage describing the importance of hand hygiene in all restrooms, gymnasiums and locker rooms located in public and private schools.

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    Reports indicate there are 20 confirmed cases of swine flu in various states throughout the country, including New York. At least eight students at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens have already contracted the illness.

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Swine Influenza (flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza. It typically triggers outbreaks of influenza among pigs, but normally does not infect humans. However, people can become contaminated with swine flu and may unknowingly transmit it to others through coughing, sneezing, or touching their mouth or nose, and then handling untainted objects. The CDC has issued a number of precautionary guidelines to avoid contamination, namely, “Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.”

    “Clean hands save lives,” said Hikind. “Wash your hands often. The life that you save may very well be your own. It’s really as simple as that.”

    Hikind originally introduced what has been dubbed the “hand-hygiene bill” in the previous legislative session. It unanimously passed the Assembly, but was never brought to the floor for a vote in the Senate.

    “It confounds me why this bill has not already been signed into law,” Hikind remarked. “The simple and sad fact is that people don’t adhere to fundamental standards of hygiene. Last year, New York confronted outbreaks of MRSA. This year, it’s swine flu. Who knows what disease we might avoid next if we educate our kids about the life-saving benefits of hand washing?”


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    12 Comments
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    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Stupid, the kids brought it from mexico, in mexico there is no soap i would hope there is tissues over there.

    lipa
    lipa
    14 years ago

    hikind teaches us about life issues…he is a enstandger varhaver

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    it doesnt matter were it came from. people dont realize how quickly it can spread when they dont wash their hands. if kids dont wash, its because their parents dont either!!

    Hal
    Hal
    14 years ago

    I’m not exactly sure why we need a bill for such a mundane thing as washing our hands. Really, isn’t that common sense. Why does the government need to tell us to do such a thing. If it is so necessary then I think we may have some other bigger problems in our country.

    But back on the swine flue problem, I read this morning that some think the strain shows a weaponized aspect to the virus. I don’t know how true it is but you can read it here: http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_4631.shtml

    I thought it interesting this morning how the markets around the world have been reacting to the news by selling off. Though the financial markets don’t seem to be to concerned by it now. DOW opened down but is up now by 33 points and gold and silver are holding steady judging by the widget ( http://www.learcapital.com/exactprice ).

    Of course if this flu does start popping up all over the place this week though, you can expect the markets to get real scared. So people, wash your hands and carry around some of that antiseptic hand wash stuff.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    And BTW you should call it Mexico flu in honor of Litzman

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Mr. Hikind

    It’s time to
    Pull the towel out of the Talmud Torahs and shuls. It’s a DANGER to our kids and adults as well. “EKELDIG”

    MARKMAYER
    MARKMAYER
    14 years ago

    DOV DOES BILL INCLUDE CHILD MOLESTORS AND THEIR SO CALLED FRUM PROTECTORS AS WELL GO FOR IT

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Sad to say but the chedarim may have soap dispensers however they are always empty!!!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Unfortunately, cleanliness/hygiene in many of our Mosdos are in need of improvement, especially preschools. Many 3-4 year olds are permitted to use the bathroom out of a class and sometimes even within the class, unsupervised, no hand washing. In many classes, for safety reasons there is no warm water. At least a dispenser with such as Purell or other hand sanitizers would be helpful.
    Another is issue with those handling food not wearing gloves. Many may come straight from bathroom , no gloves and handle food. It’s a miracle that B”H there are so few issues arising out of the above mentioned.

    Shimon Taylor
    Shimon Taylor
    14 years ago

    In every bad, there is good. And _I_, was thinking that at long last,there will be a worldwide drive to correct the fact that people recently cough much morethan ever before and STILL cough into other people and nearby them, with even covering their mouths securely, and NOT AT ALL!!!
    But alas! no one is even talking about this. And I know that most cold/germs are transmitted in this way.
    If ever I jump when someone coughs (here in Israel), and they realize it was because of their cough, they might say sorry, as if I am sensitive to politeness, which they didn’t quite live up to.
    The young generation is completely ignorant! Why not teach them?
    A cough can infect another person who is 50 metres away. But atleast be sensitive in 10 meters in unventilated rooms full of people.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    legistlating common sense to peopel who are too dumb to know for themselves what is common sense?!?!?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    oh, and about cleaning hands, that is no longer an issue by me.
    I always keep a tiny container of liquid soap in my pocket, and I ANYway don’t dry my hands on used towels, but I usually have enough tissues with me, or even a small towel i my bag.
    Outside Israel on shabbos (where there is no eiruv) maybe create big problems for me. Others would say I’m mad, but I EVEN use soap on shabbos. How is THAT????!!! hmmmmmm. You guesed it! Liquid soap (sufficently diluted). Or maybe some people did NOT guess it, because they believe liquid soap is osur on shabbos, simply because they also think it is osur the whole week? hmmmmmmmm