It’s that time of year when everyone is sniffing, coughing, and sneezing. The flu is back.
In the U.S. alone, millions of people fall ill, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized, and thousands die all from the flu on a yearly basis according to the CDC.
“We have about ten students come in a day with flu like symptoms,” says Timber Creek Nurse Howell.
One of the best preventive actions is washing your hands. When people sneeze or cough into their hands and go on to touch desks, doors, and other people’s germs will spread. Washing hands helps reduce this problem heavily.
Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing to stop the spread of germs via air. “Those air particles can travel up to eight to ten feet away, and those germs can stay active up to 48 hours,” Howell says.
If you get sick, stay at home. “To come back to school, you have to be fever free without taking medication for 24 hours; that includes Tylenol and ibuprofen.” says Howell.
“Don’t forget to get a flu shot,” says Timber Creek Nurse Finley.
Each year, flu vaccines protect against the strands that research suggests will most common.
While vaccines do help boost the immune system, they are not the best preventive action to take. The flu shot will prepare your body better to fight off active viruses.
Stop the flu epidemic; cover your sneezes, get the flu vaccine, and wash your hands.
