{"id":9129,"date":"2018-04-24T16:41:01","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T20:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.atl.com\/?p=9129"},"modified":"2018-04-25T11:34:21","modified_gmt":"2018-04-25T15:34:21","slug":"atls-good-neighbor-program-aids-in-fight-against-flu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.atl.com\/atl\/atls-good-neighbor-program-aids-in-fight-against-flu\/","title":{"rendered":"ATL’s Good Neighbor program aids in fight against flu"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Good Neighbor program features 10 characters representing travelers of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.<\/p><\/div>\n

By Shane Blatt<\/b>
\nSenior Public Relations Manager<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

Wash your hands frequently. Cover your mouth when you sneeze.<\/p>\n

Those simple messages, presented as life-size cartoon cutouts, fan out across the world\u2019s busiest airport. There are 200 in all, representing travelers young and old, business and leisure, and foreign and domestic.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re part of ATL\u2019s health-focused Good Neighbor program, the brainchild of Innovation and Strategic Business Development Manager Doug Strachan.<\/p>\n

“You have to find a way to break through the clutter,” Strachan said. “People are focused on getting to their gate \u2026 and they\u2019ve learned to ignore. The idea was to make these life-size and make people do a double take. And then to have enough of [the characters] out there with enough variety that by the time [passengers] get from Point A to Point B, they\u2019ve seen them five or six times. And by then, they\u2019ve got the message.”<\/p>\n

The cutouts rolled out three weeks ago, but the idea was born eight years ago, Strachan said.<\/p>\n

At the time, the H1N1 pandemic prompted worldwide concern among health organizations.<\/p>\n

Strachan, working in coordination with local artist Jack Davis of Mad magazine fame, developed 10 distinct characters as a visual reminder that good hygiene keeps the flu at bay.<\/p>\n

But Good Neighbor faced bad timing and was ultimately shelved.<\/p>\n

Strachan and an ad hoc team consisting of Department of Aviation colleagues Paul Brown, Jai Ferrell, Jorge Cortez, Chris Warner and LeAndrea Holliday banded together to quickly review, approve and breathe new life into the program during this year\u2019s flu, a virulent strain that has swept the nation.<\/p>\n

The life-size cutouts will circulate until May and possibly longer, given the CDC warnings of a second wave of flu.<\/p>\n

“Drug-resistant germs are a serious problem,” Strachan said. “We’re trying to do our part to keep everyone safe.”<\/p>\n

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