Photo by Michael Norris Mary Thomas (left) and Jacqueline Gandy (foreground) of the Installation Safety Office talk with Eddie Williams (right) and Denny Knizer of DPW's Team Four about H1N1 Oct. 27.

Mary Thomas, an industrial hygienist, and Jacqueline Gandy, a safety specialist, sat down with four employees from the shop to discuss facts and fallacies about swine flu. The briefing occurred during the beginning of the workers’ day, from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m., at a time the shop typically reserves for training activities.

Thomas and Gandy, who were familiar with the employees from periodic inspections and other training, were greeted warmly — Thomas especially, who garnered several hugs from workers in Bldg. 325 who hadn’t seen her since her return from a temporary duty assignment in Iraq.

Because of the pre-existing relationship, the training was relatively informal, with Thomas trading good-natured ribbing with employees while dispensing essential information.

Thomas described how an international outbreak gets labeled a pandemic by the World Health Organization and how H1N1 is spread.

She said droplets in a spray from coughing or sneezing spread the virus and that it is more likely to be contracted by mouth rather than through the nose, because of protective factors in the nasal cavity.

She reminded shop employees to cover up when coughing or sneezing. Not everybody adequately covers up by coughing or sneezing into their arm, she said, resulting in the spread of the virus to hand rails on public transportation, for instance, after someone coughs into their hand.

‘‘That’s why I wear gloves when I take the Metro,” said Team Four’s Eddie Williams, taking in the information.

Thomas reminded her audience to wash their hands frequently with soap and water or a hand sanitizer to avoid contracting the flu. While the AIDs virus only remains viable 10 minutes after exposure to the air, N1N1 can linger for two to eight hours, she emphasized.

‘‘Don’t just do the fingertips,” she said. ‘‘Do all of the hands. Come a little bit up your arm [when washing],” with the water ‘‘as warm as you can get it.”

‘‘Please, please wash your hands,” Gandy stressed, underlining her colleague’s talking point.

‘‘If you think you’re sick, keep your butt at home,” Thomas told the group. ‘‘I don’t care if you’re the most important person ... Don’t bring it to work.” She advised people to keep a stockpile of several days’ worth of food at home in case they become sick to avoid passing the virus on to others.

At the conclusion of the session, Thomas and Gandy fielded questions, explaining when H1N1 flu shots would most likely be available to employees on base and who they can contact for more information.

For more information on Toolbox Tuesdays and safety briefings, call the Installation Safety Office at (703) 696-6996.