As part of WGI Westman Groups Inc, Westman Steel wants to share some advice and corporate communication related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay Safe and Healthy
Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Stay Safe and Healthy
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 2 metres (6 feet) between yourself and anyone where possible.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the virus.
Stay Safe and Healthy
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Stay Safe and Healthy
Keep work area clean
Regularly and thoroughly clean your work place with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your work place with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your table, keyboard, mouse, etc.
Taking Care of Your Emotional Health
It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster. Everyone reacts differently, and your own feelings will change over time. Notice and accept how you feel. Taking care of your emotional health during an emergency will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family. Self-care during an emergency will help your long-term healing.
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.
If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call
-
- Crisis Services Canada Helpline: 1-833-456-4566 or text Start to 45645
- In the US call Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s)
Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746
- If you or someone you know if in immediate danger, call 911
Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include
- Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
People with preexisting mental health conditions should continue with their treatment and be aware of new or worsening symptoms.
Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.
Things you can do to support yourself
- Take care of your body – Try to eat healthy well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
- Connect with others – Share your concerns and how you are feeling with a friend or family member. Maintain healthy relationships, and build a strong support system.
- Take breaks – Make time to unwind and remind yourself that strong feelings will fade. Try taking in deep breaths. Try to do activities you usually enjoy.
- Stay informed – When you feel that you are missing information, you may become more stressed or nervous. Watch, listen to, or read the news for updates from officials. Be aware that there may be rumors during a crisis, especially on social media. Always check your sources and turn to reliable sources of information like your local government authorities.
- Avoid too much exposure to news – Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories. It can be upsetting to hear about the crisis and see images repeatedly. Try to do enjoyable activities and return to normal life as much as possible and check for updates between breaks.
Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.
For parents
Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.
Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include
- Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
- Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)
- Excessive worry or sadness
- Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
- Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens
- Poor school performance or avoiding school
- Difficulty with attention and concentration
- Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
- Unexplained headaches or body pain
- Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
There are many things you can do to support your child
- Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.
- Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
- Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
- Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
- Be a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.
As an employee of WGI Westman Group Inc, you and your immediate family have access to employee and family assistance provider Homewood Health. Homewood Health offers free and confidential services such as stress management, mental wellness, assessments, outpatient and inpatient treatment, recovery management, return to work and family support services customized to meet the needs of you and your immediate family.
To access Homewood Health Employee and Family Assistance services, call (800) 663-1142 or by visiting https://homewoodhealth.com
Coronavirus disease Links
For more information on the
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak,
please refer to these links.
Service Canada EI Benefit Link
Federal informational Portal (Canada)
Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19 (U.S.A)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak update (Canada)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (Canada)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Travel advice (Canada)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Being prepared (Canada)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Prevention and risks (Canada)
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Federal response (Canada)