Are You Prepared for Cold & Flu Season?

As summer comes to a close, the last thing you want to think about is cold and flu
season. Unfortunately, it’ll be here before you know it. Will you be ready? Here’s
some information to help you prepare.

The flu is a serious health concern. Each year in the United States, an average of
5–20% of the population get the flu. Of those, more than 200,000 are hospitalized
from flu-related complications, and about 36,000 die from flu-related causes.

What can you do to make sure you don’t become part of those statistics? The first
thing is to know the difference between a cold and the flu. A cold and the flu have
similar symptoms, making it more difficult to tell the difference between them.

Colds can last two to three weeks, but most people are better within 7 to 10 days.
On the other hand, if the flu goes untreated, it could lead to bronchitis or
pneumonia, each of which can cause permanent health damage.

Generally, flu symptoms are more intense than those of a cold. Common symptoms
of the flu include:

• fever (usually high)
• sore throat
• tiredness (can be extreme)
• runny or stuffy nose
• headache
• muscle aches
• dry cough

Other possible symptoms of the flu include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Your
doctor can give you a flu test within the first few days of feeling sick to determine
whether or not you have the flu.

Now that you know the symptoms, it’s important to know how to avoid getting sick.
The best defense against the flu is to get vaccinated. There are several other easy
things you can do to help avoid getting the flu

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 10 seconds.
• Use hand sanitizers throughout the day to keep bacteria off your hands and
  prevent the spread of germs.
• Disinfect your home with a mild solution of 2–5% bleach in water to kill
  viruses and bacteria.
• Eat a well-balanced diet to help build a healthy immune system.
• Get plenty of rest, giving your body the time it needs to repair itself.
• Stock up on single-symptom drugs such as cough suppressants, pain relievers,
  and anti-histamines. Cold symptoms appear one-at-a-time, so treat each
  symptom separately.

If you’re feeling sick, do what you can to help prevent spreading the viruses and
bacteria.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• If you’re sick with flu-like symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention (CDC) recommends that you stay home for at least 24-hours after
  your fever is gone.

Just by taking a few simple precautions, you can avoid becoming a victim of the cold
and flu season. If you have questions about how our products can help you prevent
spreading the flu, give our Technical Support Reps a call at 800.631.1246. They’re
here to help.

Sources: www.cdc.gov, www.flu.gov, www.ehow.com,

From Insight Newsletter from Northern Safety Co. Inc.