It’s that time of year – when so many of us will be noticing we’re feeling a little run down, maybe a little sniffly, maybe coughing and sneezing a few times – oh no, it’s cold and flu season!
No one likes being sick, so how can you help prevent it?
- Wash your hands a lot! Germs can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours, and some surfaces like door handles are touched constantly by lots of people. Wash your hands frequently, using lots of soap and warm water, also clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer throughout the day.
- Disinfect common surfaces in your home and work, especially spots like doorknobs, phones, keyboards and light switches. Don’t forget to disinfect your cellphone too!
- Try to keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth to keep germs out of your body. This one can be especially tricky for my fellow nail-biters, but it is very worth it!
- Get the flu shot. Talk to your health care provider to find out if the flu shot is a good option for you and your family.
Okay, we all know that even when you try your hardest, it’s still possible you’re going to get sick. So what now?
- Stay home! This helps keep folks around you from getting sick, and also gives you time to get better.
- Use this chart to find out if it’s a cold or the flu. This helps because treatment options differ depending on which one you’ve got.
- Get lots of rest, plenty of fluids, and catch up on whatever show people keep talking about that you haven’t seen yet.