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. Read the rest of this entry »