If you aren’t paying attention to the calendar, fall is almost upon us and that means the kids are heading back to school.  Among other things, it also means people will be spending more time indoors and colds and flu will make their rounds.  You’d think after all the press in the last few years over swine flu and the like we’d do a better job preventing the spread of infectious disease.  Maybe it’s time we went farther and really adopted a flu prevention etiquette.

 

Etiquette is a fancy word for a set of rules or code governing behavior, so a flu etiquette would be our way to try and limit the impact of infectious disease by adopting a few simple guidelines.  Here’s our version:

 

The 9 Step Etiquette

 

Step 1: Wash your hands frequently.  The idea isn’t to become obsessive about hand-washing, but use the best means possible to prevent germs from spreading.  It is far less important to wash hands on some schedule than it is to wash them after coming into contact with doorknobs, and other items that may be touched by those suffering from an illness.  Also, the way you go about it is important.  A good hand washing should include plenty of soap and water.  One rule of thumb:  Sing happy birthday to yourself two times while washing to get hands really clean.

 

Step 2: Avoid touching your nose and face.  Germs enter the body through the nose, eyes and mouth so avoid touching these areas as much as possible, especially when you know your hands aren’t clean.

 

Step 3: Wipe down surfaces.  This goes hand-in-hand with our first rule.  If you don’t make a habit of cleaning things like doorknobs, phones, remote controls, etc. then you leave your family and friends exposed to germs.  For a list of your home’s dirtiest places see our recent post Home Project Tip #9 – Dirtiest Places.

 

Step 4: Avoid public exposure.  Just as your home contains many surfaces that are full of germs, public places offer even greater exposure.  Some good ones to avoid:  Handrails, bathroom door handles, bathroom floors, placing your purse or laptop bag directly on the ground, shopping carts, light switches and elevator buttons.  Thankfully, many businesses are installing automatic toilet flushers, automatic hand faucets and the like, but do what you can to avoid direct contact with frequently touched public surfaces.  Carrying hand wipes helps, as does wearing gloves and wiping down your shopping cart with the disinfectant wipes most stores leave in the front of the store.

 

Step 5: Stay home.  If you or a loved one has a cold or flu, stay home.  Employers take note: If you let sick employees into the workplace don’t be surprised if it hits your bottom line.  It’s far better for people to stay home and get better instead of bringing the flu to work and exposing everyone in the company.  Cut overall downtime by telling your sick employees to stay home, and where possible allow them to accumulate hours at home online while they’re on the mend.  This way, they won’t feel penalized for doing the right thing.

 

Step 6: Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.  Uncontrolled sneezing can spread germs three to six feet depending on the force behind it and air and wind conditions.  To control the spread of germs, it’s best to cough or sneeze directly into a tissue, which should then be immediately discarded into a plastic lined waste basket.  Those still under the quaint illusion it’s okay to blow their nose or cough into a handkerchief only end up filling clothes pockets or purses with the germs being discharged.  Coughing or sneezing contains millions of particles or droplets filled with germs.  If you don’t have a tissue available, the best course is cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm or an upper sleeve and never your hands.  That way, you won’t automatically spread the germs to the next thing you touch.

 

Step 7: Wear a mask if you have a cough.  A mask with ear loops or a surgical mask with ties works well to help control the spread of germs, especially with coughing or sneezing.  Also, it’s far more efficient and effective for those suffering from colds to wear masks then the other way around.   

 

Step 8: If you’re sick avoid those most susceptible.  If the kids are sick and grandma and grandpa are planning on a visit, by all means tell them to come another time.  Older people, as well as infants or those with chronic medical conditions are much more susceptible to getting colds and flu—and the risk for serious problems including death go up as well.  If you or a loved one is sick take all reasonable precautions to keep from spreading disease.

 

Step 9: Think before you go.  Already feeling run down?  Then opt out of that movie, concert or play.  Have a cough?  Then sit at least 3 to 6 feet away from others to avoid spreading your germs.  Also, if attending a family dinner ask someone else to serve you so you don’t need to touch serving bowls, plates or utensils.  Fighting off an infection or meeting someone you know has a cold?  Skip the handshake and offer a fist bump instead, or better yet, transact your business online or postpone the meeting altogether.  A little commonsense goes a long way toward prevention.

 

The Numbers Are Staggering

 

According to this article at MSNBC:

 

Researchers know the flu can be deadly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that of the 15 million to 60 million Americans that get the flu each year, and 5,000 to 45,000 die from it. About 200,000 people end up in the hospital with the flu each year.

 

With so many people at risk each year, it makes a lot of sense to do whatever we can to protect both ourselves and our loved ones.

 

By Bob Anderson
© 2011 Javabird LLC.  All rights reserved.

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