If you’re suffering from a cold — or even worse, the flu — please don’t come into the office! According to UC Riverside Health, the flu virus can spread throughout an entire building through the contamination of a single door handle or the handle of a coffee pot!

Dec. 1-7, 2019 is National Influenza Vaccination Week, so it’s a perfect time to have health top of mind. UC Riverside Health and UC Davis Health offer helpful advice around flu symptoms, prevention and when to stay home.

Avoid spreading your illness to others

When you are sick it is your responsibility to prevent your illness from spreading to others. Please do not come to work if you are experiencing the following cold and flu symptoms.

• Fever or feeling feverish/chills — A temperature of 100.5 or higher for three to four days is associated with the flu
• Uncontrollable sneezing and coughing
• Severe muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Moderate to severe fatigue
• Vomiting and diarrhea

Please leave work immediately if you are beginning to feel ill, especially if you are experiencing fevers or chills. You should stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone — your temperature should be less than 100.4 degrees, without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.

When you return to work, please take the following precautionary measures:

• Cover your mouth and nose completely when coughing or sneezing. Use a tissue; when you’re done, discard the tissue and wash your hands (or use hand sanitizer).
• Do not share liquids and foods with others.
• Avoid close contact with others.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects.

Take care of yourself during recovery

If you are sick, try the following treatments:

• Get plenty of rest. Stay home and avoid contact with others.
• Drink plenty of fluids. Hot liquids may feel more comfortable for sore throats and help with nasal secretions and facilitate drainage.
• Inhale steam from a hot bath or shower to relieve congestion.
• Gargle with warm salt water to soothe a sore throat.
• Avoid smoking, caffeine and alcohol.
• If needed, take over-the-counter medications and follow package directions. 

Protect yourself from getting sick

Though these tips can’t prevent the flu, they can strengthen your immune system, making you less susceptible to illness.

• Always wash your hands thoroughly, with soap, for 20 seconds.
• Use hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes liberally.
• Keep your hands away from your nose, eyes and mouth.
• Keep a distance from people with illnesses.
• Get regular exercise.
• Eat well.
• Get adequate rest.
• Do not smoke.
• Get a flu shot.

If someone in your family is sick

Follow these steps:

• Minimize contact by setting up a sick room.
• Keep toothbrushes separate; when the sick person is well, replace their toothbrush with a new one,
• Wash towels and linens frequently, using hot water,
• Cleanse remote controls, door handles, light switches and other commonly used surfaces regularly with antibacterial wipes.

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