Practice Healthy Habits
Seasonal and pandemic flus spread easily from person to person. The virus is spread by tiny droplets that come from a person's mouth and nose. It is also spread by touching objects contaminated with infected droplets.
The very young (infants and young children), the very old, and those whose immunity is weakened by chronic disease, serious illness or medical treatments such as chemotherapy are most at risk for complications of the flu. It is likely that the risk will be higher for all people during a pandemic.
To help prevent catching or spreading germs, get in the habit now of doing the following:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand wash.
- Avoid putting your hands to your mouth, nose and eyes.
- Clean surfaces that other people touch (e.g. telephone, doorknobs, computer mouse and keyboard, faucets, etc.)
- Get a flu shot each year.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue, not your hands, or sneeze into your elbow.
- Stay home when you are sick. You are doing no one a favor by going to work with the flu. You are just spreading germs to your co-workers.
- Teach these steps to your children.
Also:
- Eat healthy, exercise, live a lifestyle that promotes optimal health year-round and discourages acute and/or chronic diseases.
- Quit smoking to improve both your respiratory health and your overall health. If you need help quitting and would like a supply of free nicotine patches, call the Colorado Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or the Health District of Northern Larimer County at 224-5209.
About Masks
There are currently no recommendations for people to wear masks to avoid seasonal or H1N1 (Swine) flu. Information on the effectiveness of facemasks and respirators for decreasing the risk of influenza infection in community settings is extremely limited. Therefore it is hard to know how effective masks might be in preventing spread of H1N1 (Swine) flu.
Face masks (but not respirators) are recommended, if tolerated, in the home by ill persons with probable H1N1 when they must share space with other household members. They are also recommended for persons at high risk of complications from flu while caring for a sick household member, although the better option is to have someone who is not at high risk provide the care, if possible.
Video: Why Don't We Do It In Our Sleeves? - a fun and informative video about preventing the spread of disease.
