Three posters ask the question "Under the weather?" and provide basic hygiene tips to prevent colds and influenza. The content is straightforward: Stay home when you are sick; Cover your mouth and nose; Clean your hands; and Get your shots. Although the messages are basic, one reviewer noted that hygiene and staying home may be some of the only effective interventions during a pandemic.
Two of the posters are noteworthy because they use a bold, evocative central image. A poster featuring a man uses humor to attract people's attention, and a separate image of an upset child draws the viewer in quickly. One reviewer noted that although the colorful images on the posters depict people of all ages, they are neither racially nor culturally diverse. They also are available only in English at this point. Planners who are attempting to provide outreach to diverse populations may need to supplement these posters with other examples. The content of the posters also may need to be adapted in event of a pandemic to reflect real-time core messages and vaccine availability.
The posters are being distributed to local health departments in western Wisconsin, along with hygiene supply kits. The intent is for local health departments to provide the educational posters and functional kit to schools, child care centers, and other community partners.
