Health Matters

Flu activity is increasing and germs may be making their way around your town. Thankfully, there are precautions you can take to ensure that those pesky germs don’t find you. Check out these 8 preventative flu tips:

Get vaccinated: The CDC recommends that anyone over the age of 6 months be vaccinated by the end of October. Vaccination is the most important step in preventing the flu. Patient First offers flu shots every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and you may walk into any center to receive one.
Avoid close contact: Avoid any close contact with someone who has the flu. This also means avoiding close contact with others if you are sick to help prevent the spread of germs.
Stay home if you are sick: Take the day off! If you are feeling under the weather, stay home and rest. This will not only benefit you, but it will keep others around you from getting sick. The CDC recommends that you stay home for 24 hours after fever subsides without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
Cover your mouth: Use a tissue when coughing and sneezing. Be sure to cover both your nose and mouth to prevent the spread of germs. If you don’t have a tissue handy, you can use your sleeve to help stop the spread of germs.
Wash your hands: Make a habit of washing your hands multiple times throughout the day to help protect you from germs. Use soap and warm water, or an alcohol-based hand rub if soap is not available, and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Singing “Happy Birthday” through twice is long enough to do the trick!
Avoid touching your nose, eyes, and mouth: Germs are commonly spread through touching a contaminated surface and then touching your face.
Practice good health habits: Eat a balanced diet and get plenty of sleep and exercise. Living a healthy lifestyle will help your body fight off germs.
Clean and disinfect: Wipe down frequently touched areas in your home and workplace. This will help prevent the spread of germs and keep you healthy.

Flu-like symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, headache, body aches, chills, and fatigue. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t wait. Visit your local health care provider as soon as possible. You may walk into any Patient First center from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to be examined by a physician and receive a flu test. To find a center near you, visit out locations page.