If an infected person coughs or sneezes near you, virus-filled droplets will move through the air, often making contact with the mouth and nose of other people.
- Prevention Tip: Be aware of those coughing and sneezing. Move away and keep your hands from touching your face. If you are the one sneezing and coughing, cover your mouth with a tissue and discard it as soon as possible. If no tissues are available, use your sleeve or elbow
Infected droplets will also reach surfaces like doorknobs, tabletops, handrails, phones, keyboards, and remote control devices. Flu viruses and other germs can live for two hours or longer on hard environmental surfaces, ready to be spread into the eyes, nose and mouth, if touched.
- Prevention Tip: If your hands touch surfaces outside the home, keep them away from your face until washed. If a family member is sneezing and coughing inside the home, keep surfaces clean and disinfected, and continue a regimen of frequent and thorough hand washing.
Many families may be required to care for the flu at home. Along with getting the flu shot, the best preventative is frequent hand washing alongside a strategy to build your immunity. Here’s a helpful checklist if you are the caregiver:
- Keep your patient at home for seven days after his or her symptoms begin, or until the person has been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
- If pre-existing medical conditions are a concern (such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or pregnancy) check with a health professional in case special attention is required.
- Give your patient clear fluids to drink, such as water, broth, and sports beverages to prevent dehydration.
- To help stop the spread of illness, give your patient a room of their own. Choose one that is as far from common areas as possible. A separate bathroom would also be ideal.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and immediately discard away from future contact. If no tissues are handy use a sleeve or an elbow.
- Support the immune system, by ensuring everyone eats healthy and gets enough rest. Some natural supplements work too. It is worth noting that clinical tests of a unique extract of North American ginseng (COLD-FX) show virus-fighting results as high as 89 % —and you can now take an effective extra strength version once symptoms appear.
- Be sure everyone washes their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use paper towels to dry hands, or else assign everyone their own towel.
- Be watchful of high fever, forced breathing, delirium and other warning signs for serious medical attention.