Flu Season is Coming! Prepare Yourself With These Four Tips
Flu season is upon us and now is the time to take preventive measures to stop the spread of germs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue. Protect yourself and those around you from the seasonal flu with these four tips:
1) Wash your hands with soap and water.
Properly washing your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, especially before preparing food and eating, is an important step to prevent the flu. The CDC recommends washing your hands for at least 20 seconds to remove harmful, illness-causing microbes.
2) Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing.
Respiratory illnesses like the flu are spread when you cough, sneeze, or touch your face and then touch other objects. Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when this happens can reduce the number of germs that spread to people and objects around you.
3) Protect your home.
Maintaining a clean and disinfected space can also help you prevent the spread of dangerous germs and bacteria. Use an antibacterial cleaner on tabletops, doorknobs, toilets, and objects that are frequently used (remote controls, light switches, etc.). If someone in your house becomes sick, it’s recommended that you confine them to one room to avoid spreading germs to other rooms of the house.
4) Stay hydrated.
Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated is crucial for maintaining the function of every system in your body. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “a healthy person needs 30 to 50 ounces of fluid per day.”
Most insurance plans cover the flu vaccination, which can help prevent the flu. Contact your ARC representative for more information!
Resources
Flu: What To Do If You Get Sick (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) CDC Says “Take 3” Actions to Fight Flu (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Show Me the Science: How to Wash Your Hands (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Why You Should ‘Cover Your Cough’ (Verywell Health) The Importance of Staying Hydrated (Harvard Health Publishing)
