Winter has
arrived and so has the flu season. A
person sick with the flu will usually have high fevers, severe body aches, a
bad cough, and will need to take a few days off from work or school. More
severe cases can lead to hospitalization or sometimes be fatal.
The flu is
especially dangerous for people over the age of 65, young children, pregnant
women, and those with health conditions like asthma or heart disease. Despite
this, many do not take the precautions needed to help protect themselves and
their family from getting and spreading the flu virus.
It’s important
to keep in mind that the annual flu vaccine is the most effective way to
prevent the flu. Many of us know that
when one person gets the flu it can spread quickly among families, friends, and
co-workers.
While the flu
shot is the first line of defense against the virus — followed by protecting
your cough and washing your hands with soap and water often— here are
additional precautions you can take to keep your loved ones free from the flu.
·
Carry
Hand Sanitizer- Consider carrying around an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in
your car, purse, or work bag, or at your desk that they can use after shaking
hands or to use in between activities.
· Carry a Personal Package of Tissues - Communal tissue boxes are a breeding ground for germs associated with the flu virus. Sending children to school with a personal package of tissues during flu season is a simple way to prevent them from using the germ-carrying communal tissue box. At work keep a box a Kleenex for your personal use.
· Clean the Toys - Frequently cleaning children’s toys — especially toys that are carried back and forth from school — can limit the spread of the flu. Clorox disinfecting wipes are great for this.
· Sanitize your Phone- Cell phones harbor more germs than many restrooms. Disinfecting your screens with a Clorox wipe regularly will help you fight common cold germs. In the workplace make sure to do the same with your handheld phone and keyboard specially if you share phones with co-workers. Keep a can of disinfectant wipes under your desk and wipe often.
· In the work place – making sure that your cleaning service is providing regular disinfecting is of most important. Make sure that your cleaning service is disinfecting popular touch points in the office will help keep your office clean and healthy and will avoid the spread of germs. Touch Point cleaning focuses on those areas that are touched frequently and by multiple people. Things like entry doors, counters, light switches, door knobs, phones are some of the most likely places to pick up viruses and bacteria. A good cleaning program will break the chain of transmission and helping reduce the spread of infection. It will keep you healthier and help reduce absenteeism this winter.
We
wish you a safe and healthy holiday season!
