In the United States, the flu tends to surge between October and May. The flu season takes place during the winter for many reasons, ranging from people spending more time indoors to the drop in humidity, which slows the immune system. Further, the flu still kills around 700,000 people around the world each year, with the elderly and immunocompromised being the most vulnerable. So, to keep yourself and others healthy and safe, you need to know how to take flu precautions.
How the Flu Spreads
Before you can take flu precautions, you need to know how the flu spreads. As a respiratory virus, the flu usually resides in the respiratory track. When someone with the flu talks, coughs, or sneezes, they emit microscopic droplets that contain the virus. These drops may enter the mouths, noses, or eyes of someone else, where the virus then multiplies and causes the other person to contract the flu.
In addition, the drops may fall onto a surface. When someone touches the surface and then brings their hands to their eyes, nose, or mouth, they can contract the virus. However, inhaling the virus is a more common way to get the flu.
Finally, people usually become contagious before they experience flu symptoms. So, they might spread the disease before they even think to stay home.
How to Take Flu Precautions
Get the Flu Shot
The flu shot helps people bolster their immunity. Each year, scientists predict which flu strands will become most prominent and circulate vaccines that prevent their spread. If you get your flu shot, you reduce your risk for contracting the disease. Likewise, even if you still contract the flu, your sickness might not last as long or be as intense because your body has already strengthened its immune response.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends most people over the age of 6 months receive a flu vaccine, and they make only a few exceptions. Here’s who should NOT receive the vaccine, according to the CDC:
- Children younger than 6 months
- People who have a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction to vaccine ingredients. Since there are several types of flu vaccines, research their ingredients and talk to your doctor about your vaccination options if you experience this type of allergy.
Further, those with certain conditions, such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), should talk to their physician before receiving a flu vaccine. Likewise, the nasal vaccine is contraindicated for a wider range of people than the injection form, so people need to talk to consult with a medical professional who know their health history before taking it. In fact, it’s best to speak to your doctor before receiving any type of immunization, regardless of your medical history.
Boost Your Immune Response
While shots are definitely a first-line defense, there are other ways to support your immune system and keep it ready to fight off the flu. Vitamin C helps your immune system stay strong, so taking it daily might give you the extra boost you need.
Vitamin C is sold over-the-counter at most pharmacies, making it easy to procure.
Social Distance
The words “social distance” might bring up bad memories of avoiding people altogether during the most crucial parts of the COVID-19 pandemic, so it’s not something most people want to do. However, social distancing prevents the flu from spreading, making it a smart flu precaution, especially for those with loved ones who are at a higher risk of developing life-threatening complications.
High-risk individuals and their immediate family members might want to avoid large gatherings during this time. However, other people can still go to larger events and keep themselves safe by staying at least 6 feet away from other people. When this type of distancing isn’t possible, they should wear a mask.
Wear a Mask at Large Gatherings
If you expect to see a lot of people this winter, consider wearing a mask whenever you’re indoors with other people. Masks prevent the spread of disease by trapping germs as they leave your mouth. Likewise, they protect you from inhaling viruses and bacteria from other people.
You should also wear a mask if you’re going to places that sick people frequent, like the doctor or the pharmacy. Also, wear masks around people who might be immunocompromised or vulnerable to avoid accidentally spreading the flu to them.
Wash Your Hands Frequently
You’ve probably heard that you need to wash your hands many times before, but it’s important enough that it bears repeating. Frequent and thorough hand washing kills viruses and bacteria, reducing the risk that you’ll contract or spread a disease.
For the best results, wash your hands in warm water for at least 20 seconds using a soap that kills 99% of bacteria. Scrub between your fingers and underneath your fingernails to thoroughly rid yourself of all infectious agents.
Most people wash their hands for much less than 20 seconds. So, set a timer on your phone every time you wash them.
Avoid Touching Your Face
The face contains many areas through which people can contract diseases. In particular, your eyes, nose, and mouth can take in viruses and bacteria, leading to you getting sick and/or spreading the illness.
So, during flu season, you should avoid touching your face. If you must touch your face, make sure you wash your hands before doing so. If you have a condition that causes you to touch your face frequently, such as pulling your eyelashes out when you have trichotillomania, do your best to either resist the urge or wash your hands often.
Don’t Share Cups
Have you ever eyed your friend’s drink and asked if you could have a sip? During flu season, you might want to get another drink for yourself. After all, when people share cups, their saliva, along with their germs, gets deposited on the rim of the cup and in the liquid. If you drink from the same cup as someone infected with the flu, you’re likely to contract it as well.
However, the holiday season comes with a lot of traditions and religious rituals. For example, some churches serve communion during holidays and on a regular basis. If you go to a church where everyone takes communion via drinking from the same cup, ask the church leadership how the cups are being disinfected between parishioners.
Disinfect Serving Utensils
Just like cups, shared serving utensils also facilitate the spread of the flu. If people have the flu on their hands, and they touch the serving utensils, the virus might spread to everyone else who touches the utensils. To prevent this, ask your guests to wipe down the utensils after they use them.
Test Yourself for the Flu
Before you go somewhere crowded (or before you see someone who might be at a higher risk), test yourself for the flu. You can purchase over-the-counter flu tests, which will give you results within minutes.
In fact, it’s best to test even if you don’t have symptoms because, as mentioned above, you can spread the flu even if you don’t feel sick.
Stay Home If You’re Sick
Staying home when you’re sick is one of the most important flu precautions. Whether you know you have the flu or not, keeping yourself at home prevents you from giving it to other people.
Still, staying at home is easier said than done, especially when you have a job, school, or other responsibilities. Many employers and professors will excuse your absence from school or work if you can provide a doctor’s note stating you have the flu.
Most doctors recommend you stay home until you no longer have symptoms, but if you absolutely must return to your regular responsibilities, social distance and wear a mask.
Feeling Better When You’re Sick
If you have the flu, your doctor will likely prescribe you a medication like Tamiflu. Make sure you take the medication exactly as prescribed and watch for side effects, such as heart palpitations.
And don’t forget to get plenty of rest and drink water! If you do, you’ll be more likely to recover faster and start feeling healthy.
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