How to Flee the Flu
While colorful foliage, flannel shirts and pumpkin spice lattes are all but guaranteed this fall, the flu doesn’t have to be. We have simple ways to help prevent yourself—and others—from catching it.
Start here
Vaccination is the best way to protect both you and your children from the flu. As a Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan member, your family’s annual flu shots are free when you see an in-network provider. Protect your loved ones, especially children under five or those with chronic health conditions, by getting vaccinated each year.
Wash your hands
Use soap and warm water and wash thoroughly for 20 seconds. Do this especially before meals and after any period of prolonged exposure in public places, like the train or the bus. Keep a pocket-sized, alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you at all times for when you may not have access to a nearby sink.
Cover up
Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve in the crook of your arm. Make sure you use disposable tissues and not handkerchiefs. This is because they simply trap the germs—and then your germs go wherever your handkerchief goes.
Post-sneeze tip: wash your hands afterward!
Stay in good company
Avoid crowded public places when you can, and encourage friends or coworkers to stay home if they feel sick. If you feel sick yourself, don’t go into work. The hospital is a breeding ground for bad germs, so don’t go unless you’re having trouble breathing or running a high fever.
Routinely clean
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces or objects to remove germs, like your phone, doorknobs, desks and tables. Do this at home, work or school, especially when you know someone around you is already sick.
Don’t touch your face
Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. Even if you’re extremely adamant about washing your hands, it’s always possible to pick up germs, and these areas are the easiest places for bacteria to invade the body.
Ways to get care
Rest assured that when you’re not feeling your best, we have a variety of ways to help you get back on track. Go to Ways to Get Care to learn about the care options available to you. These include our 24/7 Nurse Line, telehealth services through Teladoc Health®, urgent care centers and more.
Sources:
webmd.com/cold-and-flu/11-tips-prevent-cold-flu
cdc.gov/flu/vaccines-work/index.html
