 Hand Sanitizer Given to Metro Riders
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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Katie Nagus of the American Red Cross hands out free mini bottles of hand sanitizer to passengers at the Central West End MetroLink station on Wednesday. (David Carson/P-D)
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Free trial-size bottles of hand sanitizer are being given to passengers at six MetroLink stops across the St. Louis area over the next two weeks.
The idea is to cut down on the spread of the flu virus. This effort is being done in partnership with Vi-Jon, Inc., the makers of Germ-X hand sanitizer.
The American Red Cross and Metro staff began handing out bottles of Germ-X at the first of the six stops -- the Central West End MetroLink station -- from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. today.
They're also passing out information sheets about the flu and tips on how to avoid getting it.
"It's a great cross section of the community," said Elena Sabin, an emergency services specialist with the Red Cross. "Lots of people go through there every day."
More than 100,000 people board a Metro bus or ride a MetroLink train every day, said Craig Macdonald, director of Risk Management, Safety and Claims for Metro.
Both the seasonal flu and the swine flu are threats this year, organizers say. How bad do they think it will get here?
"It's really hard to tell before anyting happens, but we're looking at it like any other emergency, we need to be prepared," Sabin said. "People need to be washing their hands well, avoiding people who are sick.
"In any kind of a public setting, you have to make sure you're being careful," she added.
Here is the schedule for the other distribution sites:
Thursday – Sept. 3 from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink Station
Friday – Sept. 4 from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Fairview Heights MetroLink Station
Tuesday – Sept. 8 from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Civic Center MetroLink Station
Wednesday – Sept. 9 from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
North Hanley MetroLink Station
Thursday – Sept. 10 from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
5th & Missouri MetroLink Station
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