How to Reduce Your Risk of Catching the Flu

The flu season is here. According to the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the peak months for catching the flu is December – March, with the month of February being the highest month. To know how to reduce your risk of catching the flu, it’s first important to know how the flu spreads.

The flu is often passed person to person. People with the flu can actually spread the flu germs to other people up to six feet away. When someone coughs or sneezes, germ droplets can land on the person that is not sick thus infecting them with the flu virus. Beyond coughing or sneezing, healthy people can catch harmful flu germs from coming into contact with items (table tops, keyboards, faucet knobs, toilet flush) from those carrying the flu virus touch. To avoid this, you should always wash your hands and make certain you avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth throughout the day.

Although the flu virus is very contagious, there are specific steps you can take to ensure you drastically lower the risk of catching the flu virus. These include the following:

Wash Your Hands

Make sure you wash your hands throughout the day. Don’t wash your hands just after you use the restroom, make it a habit to wash your hands regularly throughout the day regardless of menial your task may be. Just because you can’t see germs such as the flu virus, doesn’t mean they are not present.

Avoid Contact in the Restroom

As you use your school or office restroom (or any public restroom facility), try to avoid coming into contact with any of the equipment in the restroom. Many offices and schools have leaned on the latest technology to help them combat public restroom germs. These decisions have generally been made due to an outcry from employees and students alike for a clean restroom facility. If you currently do not have access to a restroom with touch free equipment, ask your teacher, supervisor or manager about those opportunities.

Some touch free bathroom equipment options include automatic toilet flushers, automatic faucets and soap dispensers, and hands free feminine waste disposal units just to name a few. These specific products allow you to use the restroom facilities without having to come into contact with any of the equipment inside the restroom.

You don’t have to be a victim to the flu virus this flu season. Take the precautionary steps listed above and be proactive in avoiding some of these potential germ areas.