Wellness Wednesday- How to Avoid the Flu with Nurse Lauren

Hi there, Nurse Lauren here with your Wellness Wednesday tip!

Today, let’s chat about how to avoid getting sick in the middle of flu season. Yes the flu is going around and if you come down with it… it is not fun!

• Get the flu shot! Regardless of what you have heard…”it’s not working this year,” “it’s the wrong strain,” you still will be better off getting the flu shot than not.
• Wash your hands – often! You contract the flu from germs and the best way to combat germs is to constantly wash your hands. Do you work somewhere where you are touching communal surfaces? Think of everything you touch all day long and how many of those things and places can have bacteria on them. Did you just stop reading this to go wash your hands? Good for you! But come back – I’m not done!
• Clean your electronics. Your phone, tablet, iPad, and computer keyboard are huge breeding grounds for germs. These are devices that you are in constant contact with – so make sure you are thoroughly cleaning them. Of course it is not recommended to use soap and water on touch screens. Research the safest way to clean your screens without damaging them. During flu season – don’t pass your phone around to other people. Want someone to see something on your phone? Rely on the screenshot! The best way to keep these surfaces clean? Keep the thing touching them clean… so see #2 – wash your hands!

Even though you followed all my wellness tips, are you still coming down with something?

• Stay home! Don’t spread your germs by going to school or work sick.
• Coughing? Cover your mouth!
• Get in bed and rest, don’t push yourself or overdo it.
• Fluids, fluids, fluids! Keep yourself hydrated.
• Treat your symptoms whatever they may be (cough, fever) with over the counter medicines.
• As recommend by the CDC, if you get sick with flu symptoms and are in a high risk group, or are very sick or worried about your illness, contact your health care provider. “People at high risk of flu complications include young children, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease.” – Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
  

This is Nurse Lauren, contributor of NursesNOW, signing off with your Wellness Wednesday tip! Remember to follow these tips so you can avoid getting sick this season!

ICYMI – My other Blog posts, plus Nurses NOW Weekly Roundups and Friday Fives.