5 easy steps to avoid the flu
Flu season hasn’t hit full force yet, and everyone around us is sneezing, coughing and complaining of headaches.< /p>
And to make matters worse, it has been reported that one of the main flu strains is not included in the flu vaccine for this winter season.< /p>
The Christmas and New Year holidays are over and people are back to work, schools and kindergartens.
Places where a lot of people congregate are the biggest breeding grounds for viruses that bring down the flu.
But if you follow some simple rules, you can minimize your chances of getting the flu. Here are the five easiest steps.
1.Wash your hands more often
Regular handwashing with soap and water will protect you from all kinds of nasty viruses and bacteria – starting with the bird flu virus and the hundreds that cause the common cold.
Viruses and bacteria most often stick to the fingers, since we touch different surfaces with them. And through the hands we transfer them to the eyes, nose or mouth.
A quick hand rinse is not enough. To remove sticky germs, thoroughly lather hands and palms, then rinse. It’s even good to do this twice.
Kindergartens and schools especially need to educate and encourage children to wash their hands regularly and properly and help them do it well, public health experts advise.
2. Get vaccinated
The flu vaccine is not a one-size-fits-all protection against all flu viruses circulating this year, but it will help protect you at least from some strains.
Flu vaccines are designed to protect us against three or four of the circulating flu viruses.
And experts say that even if you do get infected, being vaccinated can reduce the severity of the disease.
3. Keep it clean
Clean regularly – this will help kill or remove most germs. Schools should be extra careful and encourage daily cleaning of desks, doorknobs and computer keyboards.
In the workplace, the dirtiest places are usually the coffee pot and computer keyboards, it is good to regularly clean the elevator buttons and light switches.
Flu viruses don’t live long outdoors — perhaps two to eight hours, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out.
So the best time to clean is after a room has been crowded. That’s why cleaning in the morning is a waste of time, but if done in the afternoon with disinfectant wipes – it’s a good idea.
4. Stay away from sneezing and coughing people
Keep your distance from others, especially if they are sneezing or coughing. They can spread the virus even if they just talk.
Virus carriers can infect you even when they already feel better. So keep your distance also from those you know have recently suffered from the flu.
5. Use hand sanitizers
Soap and water are the best way to remove germs, but hand sanitizer gels also work well because they contain alcohol .
Although they don’t kill all germs effectively, carry such a gel with you in case you don’t have a chance to wash your hands. Apply a larger amount of the gel to be effective.
Medicine standard agents such as chlorhexidine, triclosan or benzethonium chloride can also be used for disinfection.
