How to Stay Healthy
Prevention tips and information about seasonal flu and the H1N1 influenza virus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Avoid close contact
Avoid close contact with those who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance (at least 6 feet) from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
Stay home if you are sick
Stay home from work, school or errands when you are sick, so you don’t spread the illness further. Read the FAQ on this site for more details on class attendance and sick leave policies.
Cover your cough
Cover your nose with a tissue when sneezing and dispose of the tissues properly. When coughing, cover your mouth with your arm, not your hand. This will help to prevent those around you from getting sick.
Wash your hands
Washing your hands often, with soap and water, is one of the best things you can do to keep from getting sick. The flu spreads readily when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs (which could be anything: doorknobs, desks, telephones, stair railings, etc.) and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth. If you cannot wash your hands use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
Avoid touching your face
Avoid touching your face unless you wash your hands first. As noted above, germs spread readily when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
Practice good health habits
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids, manage your stress and eat nutritious foods.
Know if you’re at risk
There isn’t enough data yet for the CDC to determine who is at highest risk for complications if they contract H1N1 influenza virus (swine flu). For now, they advise that the same people who are at highest risk with other types of flu should be considered at highest risk with H1N1 flu.
The higher-risk groups include:
- Children less than 5 years old;
- Persons aged 65 years or older;
- Children and adolescents (less than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
- Pregnant women;
- Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular or metabolic disorders;
- Adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV);
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.
If you fall into any of these higher risk categories, the CDC recommends you follow the precautions on this page.