At Hillcroft Physicians, we take cold and flu season very seriously and want you to do the same. The workplace is where most people are likely to be exposed to flu viruses and other forms of respiratory illness, which is why they’ve provided a list of essential cold and flu prevention tips for the workplace. Following these easy tips will help you and your loved ones stay as healthy as possible during the winter season, giving you more time to enjoy the essential things. Keep reading to learn more.
Wash Your Hands
The easiest way to prevent the spread of the flu is by washing your hands. Washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds is the best way to remove germs from the skin and a reliable way of preventing the spread of germs around the workplace. So, be sure to encourage employees to practice proper handwashing etiquette. Your staff will be grateful, and so will your immune system.
Avoid Touching Your Face
Being mindful of your hands can also help prevent the flu from taking hold. This means avoiding touching your face while in the workplace. The mouth, nostrils, and eyes offer vulnerable orifices for the flu virus to enter the body. Keeping your hands away from your face can help reduce the spread of unwanted bacteria or viruses; that’s why it’s a Hillcroft Physicians’ top tip going into flu season.
Cover Your Mouth When You Cough or Sneeze
The flu virus is primarily transmitted through viral droplets traveling through the air and entering the body through the nose or mouth. That is why covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze is so essential. Covering your mouth, preferably with the crook of your elbow, helps prevent contagious spray from becoming airborne. Not only can this habit help prevent the flu and other viruses from spreading, but it’s also just good workplace manners.
Practice Healthy Habits
The best way to stay healthy during flu season is to work on staying healthy all year long. This means taking time to exercise weekly, eating a healthy diet, and getting plenty of sleep. All of these play a part in preventing the flu from attacking your immune system. With a healthy immune system, your likelihood of catching the flu is dramatically reduced.
Take Immune Boosting Supplements
During flu season, you’ll want your immune system to be in fighting shape. You can help it get there by adding an immune-boosting supplement into your daily routine. Even something as simple as taking a Vitamin D supplement, like the ones offered on the shelves of local drug stores, can give your immune system a leg up in fending off unwanted viral invasions. Taking one of these immune boosters before entering your workplace will help control and prevent the flu.
Make it Virtual
With the rise of the Coronavirus, this cold and flu prevention tip for the workplace is almost a no-brainer. If there’s a chance that someone in the office could be infected with the flu or any other contagious illness, it should be a priority to maintain your distance from them if they are still coming to the office. That is made so much easier when meetings in the workplace are made virtual. Using a platform like Zoom can allow everyone in the office to attend a meeting without violating the social distancing rules we’ve all become so familiar with. Hillcroft Physicians is leading by example. We offer telemedicine appointments for all of our patients who are choosing to stay safe at home.
Provide Flu-Fighting Supplies
Business owners must be helping their employees stay safe by providing flu prevention supplies. These items include:
- Hand Sanitizer
- Tissues
- Antibacterial Soap
- Sanitizing Wipes
- Masks
Whether employees are using hand sanitizer to keep themselves germ-free or sanitizing wipes to clean their workstations and common areas, providing supplies and encouraging employees to use them is a massive boon in preventing the spread of the flu. If employers are not providing supplies to the workplace, you may want to consider bringing your own into the office.
Get Your Flu Shot
The last and possibly the most important cold and flu season tip for the workplace is this: get your flu shot! Whether you are an individual employee choosing to get their flu shot, or an employer trying to incentivize their staff to get the flu vaccine, the doctors at Hillcroft Physicians think it’s a great idea. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also recommends that anyone who qualifies get the flu vaccine from a reputable provider, like Dr. Farizani and her staff at Hillcroft Physicians.
Hillcroft Physicians Can Help
Staying healthy during the peak of flu season isn’t easy. We hope Dr. Farizani’s cold and flu season tips for the workplace will help you feel a little more prepared to stay safe during work hours, so you can stay healthy and get back to enjoying the fun of the winter season. Remember, prevention is key! If you have any questions or are experiencing symptoms and fear you may be suffering from the flu, call and make an appointment with Hillcroft Physicians today.
