Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 19, 2007

Metro to Distribute Free Hand Sanitizer to Help Fight Flu

Metro officials, alongside local public health department volunteers, will be distributing free bottles of waterless hand sanitizer to Metrorail and Metrobus riders next week to raise awareness of easy ways to reduce the chances of passing germs as the fall flu season begins. Health officials say that every year in the United States sees an average of 5 to 20 percent of the population getting the seasonal flu.

Metro is partnering with the local public health agencies of Fairfax, Arlington, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and the District of Columbia to distribute health information at booths set up at Metrorail stations in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Metro officials and public health representatives will provide information and free hand sanitizer to the first 2,000 riders at each station where the information booths are located.

Health information booths and the free hand-outs are scheduled for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. as follows :
• Monday, October 22, at the Federal Triangle and Fort Totten Metrorail stations;
• Tuesday, October 23, at Branch Avenue and Silver Spring Metrorail stations; and
• Wednesday, October 24, at Vienna/Fairfax-GMU and Rosslyn Metrorail stations.

“Using good personal hygiene can prevent the risk of catching diseases,” said Polly Hanson, Metro’s Assistant General Manager for Safety, Security and Emergency Management. “Good health habits include washing your hands often, covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth, avoiding close contact with those who are ill, and staying home when you are sick.”

Hanson said that she hopes Metro’s participation to raise public awareness of “staying germ-free to help reduce flu and other diseases, works as I know that similar programs have reduced absenteeism up to 20 percent in other concentrated awareness efforts.”

For more information on reducing the risk of catching the flu, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.
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News release issued at 12:00 am, October 19, 2007.