Tips for preventing the flu

By: Julie McCoy February 19th, 2009

For those of you who visited Residency Manager Blog on Tuesday after receiving our free e-newsletter, may have noticed things hadn’t really been updated in awhile. It’s because I was out with the flu.

Yes, my boyfriend and I spent a very romantic Valentines Day sitting in the doctor’s office waiting for confirmation that I had the dreaded influenza. I had never had the flu before, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy– it was awful!

To keep you healthy for the rest of this flu season, consider the following tips:

The CDC suggests that you avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as much as possible. You may get sick if you touch something contaminated with the flu virus and then touch your face.
Hand sanitizers can kill the virus, according to the CDC. If someone close to you is sick, keep hand sanitizer near by. After putting the gel on your hands, rub them together until they are dry. Also use sanitizer after you cough or sneeze.
Drink plenty of liquids that hydrate you, the CDC recommends. Drinks such as coffee and soda are not ideal because they are the best hydraters. Also watch out for beverages high in sugar, like sports drinks. Water is your best bet.
WebMD suggests wiping your work area down with disinfectant wipes. Clean your desk, where you typically touch drawers or file cabinets, and carefully wipe down your keyboard and phone.

What do you do to avoid getting the flu and colds?