10 ways you can stay healthy at work

Stay healthy with these easy steps

As we face this extraordinary flu season, consider these ten things you can do to protect yourself and others:

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.



2. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.



3. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles. Wash your hands after disposing of soiled tissues.



4. Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.



5. Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment. If you need to use a coworker’s phone, desk, or other equipment, clean it first.



6. Don’t spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home. Symptoms of flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, tiredness, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. CDC recommends that people with flu-like illness stay home for at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines. If supervisors or employees have questions about use of leave for illness or to care for an ill family member, please contact your local Human Resources office or your office’s leave administrator.



7. Get vaccinated against seasonal flu. It can protect you against seasonal influenza viruses, but not against 2009 H1N1.



8. Get vaccinated for H1N1 flu. People who are in the groups at highest risk for H1N1 flu complications will be given their vaccinations first. Other people who are at lower risk for complications will receive their vaccination after higher risk people are protected. For more information about who should get vaccinated, visit http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.



9. Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, and exercise.



10. Learn more. Visit Flu.gov or contact Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:



• 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)
• TTY: (888) 232-6348
• mailto:cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.