How to Avoid Workplace Flu

Each year, approximately 15 to 60 million people in the United States get the flu, resulting in about 70 million missed work days. Workplace environments can be a breeding ground for the flu, spreading the virus through close contact and shared work spaces. Your co-workers can even unknowingly spread the flu virus a day before they develop symptoms. To avoid the workplace flu, follow these tips.

STEPS:

1. Get a flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is the most effective way to guard against flu in the workplace. The flu vaccine protects against three different strains of the flu virus. For example, the 2010-2011 flu vaccine in the U.S. protects against an influenza B, AH3N2 and H1N1 virus. Every person 6 months old and older should get the flu vaccination each year. Encourage your co-workers to get the flu vaccine, or work with local health officials to set up a vaccination clinic in your workplace.

2. Disinfect your work space several times throughout the day during flu season. The flu virus can live for about 72 hours on desks, doorknobs, copy machines, telephones and other work areas. Wipe these and other surfaces touched by others on a regular basis.

3. Wash your hands for a period of at least 15 seconds throughout the day, especially before eating. Make it a part of your routine after using the bathroom, making a cup of coffee, eating, attending a meeting, sharing office supplies like a copy machine or fax machine, or having contact with a co-worker.

4. Use hand sanitizer often. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer gel or a package of disposable hand wipes in your work area, and use them after every meeting or contact with co-workers. Offer hand sanitizer to co-workers who come into your office. When using hand sanitizer gel, pour a generous amount into the palm of your hand and rub it all over your hands until the gel is dry. When it is not possible to wash your hands, using hand sanitizer is a good way to reduce germs.

5. Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes while working at your desk or sitting in a meeting. Germs, including flu virus droplets, spread through warm, moist areas like these.

6. Talk to your boss about working from home if the flu virus is spreading throughout your office.

TIPS: Be on the lookout for flu symptoms in co-workers, such as a cough and runny nose. Other symptoms you might feel at the onset of the flu include a high fever, headache, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue. Some people may also experience diarrhea and vomiting.

SOURCE: http://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Workplace-Flu