It’s That Time of Year Again – Time to Fight the Flu

It’s the middle of fall. And while some are starting to think of the upcoming holiday season, there is another season that should be top of mind for all of us – flu season.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu activity often begins to increase in October and November, with flu season peaking between December and March. While we might be thinking of holiday meals and shopping lists, we should also be thinking about preventive measures we can all take to reduce the spread of germs that can cause illness.

The CDC recommends “3 Actions to Fight the Flu."¹ The “Take 3” approach highlights the following:

• Take the time to get the flu vaccine as soon as it is available in your community,
• Stop the spread of germs with everyday preventive actions, and
• Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.

Let’s take a closer look at two simple preventive measures we can all take – the practice of good hand hygiene and disinfecting surfaces and objects.

Hand Hygiene – An Important Step in Flu Prevention

I frequently remind people that hand hygiene is one of the most important preventive measures we can all take to help us stay healthy and well. Practicing good hand hygiene, which includes either handwashing or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available, at key moments, is important in keeping you and your family healthy.

Clean and Disinfect Surfaces

At work and in our homes, we all touch a variety of surfaces. From doorknobs, to kitchen and break room counters, to light switches, germs that can cause illness are easily transferred from one person to the next via the surfaces we touch. This is why it is important to clean and disinfect both hard and soft surfaces frequently as well as objects such as office equipment and children’s toys. Also, always sanitize and disinfect food-preparation surfaces with a sanitizer and disinfectant specifically formulated for those surfaces.