Stay Healthy During Flu Season

8 Ways You Can Stay Healthy During Flu Season

You can protect yourself and others by following these key action steps from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.
2.  Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
3. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.
4. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles.
5. Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.
6. Do not use others' phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. If you need to use a lab computer, or a friend's phone, desk, or other equipment, clean it first.
7. Don't spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home.
   Symptoms of flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit) or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
   If you get sick, stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. CDC recommends that you stay away from others if you are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after you are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines. Learn more about caring for yourself when you're sick.
   Students, contact the Office of Student Development for assistance notifying your faculty, coaches, and campus supervisors. If  you think you need medical attention, contact the Student Health Center.
8. Get vaccinated against seasonal flu. Vaccines for seasonal flu are now available from the Knox County Health Department or your health provider. If you are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications you should receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes). Learn more about vaccination.

Prepare a Cold and Flu Kit

As you pack for your arrival on campus, bring a self-care kit that includes:

• a thermometer
• acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil)
• cough syrup
• bottled water, sports drinks and soups
• alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• boxes of tissues

For more information, visit:
www.flu.gov
Contact CDC 24 Hours/Every Day
1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
cdcinfo@cdc.gov