Stay Healthy - and Keep Your Workplace Healthy This Flu Season

by Andrew Bender January 24, 2017

This is the time of year when somebody at work comes in sniffling, then somebody else starts sneezing, and pretty soon everyone is sick. It's bad enough when we're talking about the common cold, but unfortunately sometimes it can be worse. One of those worse things is seasonal influenza, also known as the flu. The flu season is underway, and while it may seem like getting sick is beyond your control, there are some things you can do to prevent getting sick.

Here are some basic recommendations for avoiding germs that can be instituted at home or in the workplace to ensure that you avoid catching respiratory illnesses like the flu. Last year's flu season hospitalized over 310,000 people according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here is a basic list of tactics to follow to avoid catching or spreading respiratory diseases, and hopefully create a culture of workplace health.

1. Avoid close contact.

Avoid coming in close contact with people who are sick in your home, office, or workplace. If you are sick, be sure to keep your distance from others to protect them from becoming sick as well.

2. Stay home when you are sick.

If possible, stay home from work or school, and avoid running errands or otherwise going out, when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others and keep you out of close contact with them.

3. Cover your mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Do not use your hands, as this will lead to spreading germs on everything you touch until you next wash your hands.

4. Clean your hands frequently.

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs and increase workplace health. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to kill germs and bacteria.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are most commonly spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

6. Practice other good health habits.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone in the environment is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

While there is no foolproof way to avoid catching the occasional sickness, some basic preventative hygiene and common-sense precautions can keep you and your workforce healthy. Looking for sanitizing solutions? We offer a number of solutions, including hand sanitizers and more.

Do you already receive our newsletter? If not, sign up for our newsletter now.