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Nurses Rally for Strong Swine Flu Protection |
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More than 100 nurses, wearing surgical masks and carrying signs that read “Nurses and Patients Demand Swine Flu Protection,” rallied Wednesday at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center to spotlight unsafe practices in treating H1N1 (swine) flu patients and protecting health care workers and other patients.
The nurses, members of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), also protested the recent firing by UCSF of an RN who blew the whistle on unsafe patient care involving swine flu at the facility.
A recent study by CNA/NNOC of California hospitals uncovered widespread problems, including systemic trouble with safety gear for nurses and infection control procedures for patients, as well as an emerging pattern of retribution against nurses who speak out about unsafe care.
In April, a report by the AFL-CIO and several unions revealed that health care workers are at risk because many of the nation’s health care facilities are not prepared to deal with a pandemic.
Last week, a U.S. Government Accountability Office report to Congress warned the United States is still not adequately prepared for a potentially large outbreak of H1N1 this fall. The action came just weeks after a nurse at Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael died of the H1N1 flu. Says CNA/NNOC co-President Deborah Burger, RN:
Hospitals across California—and possibly the entire country—are putting registered nurses and other front-line caregivers at risk by inadequately preparing for this pandemic.
If hospitals do not take urgent precautions to reverse this lack of preparation, we may see our health care facilities become vectors for infections. That is especially worrisome for hospital patients who already have compromised immune systems, and our nurses who may be unable to respond because of their own sickness.
The nurse who was fired for speaking out, says CNA/NNOC, recently started working at the facility when she was exposed to the virus in June.
While still suffering from the infection, she protested to management about inadequate hospital safety standards that she felt contributed to her illness.
Ultimately, the RN was fired in, what CNA/NNOC calls, retaliation against a swine flu whistle-blower.
Earlier this summer, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a Phase-6 pandemic, its highest level of warning. WHO reported the death toll at 1,154, in data published this week.
Don’t forget to check out the AFL-CIO’s pandemic flu site, which includes vital resources for health care workers, firefighters, educators and more. Recently added to the site are five updated fact sheets:
- Basic Facts About Pandemic Flu and the H1N1 (Swine) Flu;
- Protecting Workers During Pandemic Flu;
- Protecting Health Care Workers During Pandemic Flu;
- Respirators: One Way to Protect Workers Against Pandemic Flu; and
- What the Union Can Do: Preparing the Workplace for Pandemic Flu.
2 Comments
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Because of chronic lung disease, I am in the first group of people eligible for swine flu vaccinations and I plan to get them. I stand in solidarity with my sisters and brothers in the CNA/NNOC.
I am wondering how the 1154 world wide deaths compare to the CDCs annual report of over 30000 deaths in the US due to influenza A & B? I am also wondering about any underlying conditions the patients had that might have contributed significantly to their deaths? I am also wondering how many of the patients had been inoculated with flu vaccines instead of developing a natural immunity to flu viruses?
I would also like to note that the Avian Flu pandemic predicted some years ago did not occur. In the present swine flu vaccine being touted as the “savior” has squalene in it which poses health hazards. Two Austrian vaccine manufacturers had Avian Viruses in their swine flu vaccines which had been sent out. It was discovered by medical people receiving the vaccines having them tested by a lab before they were to use them.
I am also wondering if these “pandemic” scares are orchestrated by the vaccine manufactures and the medical community out of greed. The medicalization of America continues. Remember we idolize our doctors. However, also remember that it takes only one dog to manage a flock of sheep!
Go to the National Vaccine Information Center and learn about vaccines and their risks to your health; particularly your children’s health. This organization was started by Barbara Loe Fisher and other parents around 1982 as a result of their children developing autism and/or other learning/behavioral disorders with dramatic losses of previously developed skills. Since the 1970s, our children have been assaulted with an ever increasing number of vaccinations peaking now at 48 doses of 14 vaccines by age six and 60 doses of 15 vaccines by age12. And don’t believe the FDA, the CDC, AMA, APA and the politicians aren’t playing a “role for profit” in this assault on all of us.
You want free choice in forming unions (I am a union member)? How about free choice in getting vaccinations for yourself and your children. I am yet waiting for the “Pandemic” that results in more deaths per year than that reported by the CDC every year. The biggest threat to our health and lives are doctors and hospitals (acknowledged by my doctor whom I have seen 3 times in 48 years!).
Thanks for reading. Hope you check out the vaccine story and join the effort to stop forced vaccinations. I had these illnesses as a child, developed a natural immunity via the exposure and I do not get flu or pneumonia shots! I’m 69 years old, have had very few illnesses since childhood (measles, mumps, whooping cough, chicken pox, flu) and the ones I’ve had in adulthood are flu/colds and they are always very light.