How To....

How to Stay HEALTHY during Flu Season

1) Wash hands at every interval possible in the nearest restroom.While washing your hands make sure sure that you use soap every time to kill bacteria.

2) Buy a package of hand sanitizer! Even though it gets a bad reputation for not being effective and exaggerating its effects, hand sanitizer can be a good alternative to washing hands if a restroom is not readily available and can be put in a pouch of a backpack.

3) Stay away from people who are already sick! The flu is very contagious and can be spread through the coughing and touching so it is always best to avoid those who are confirmed to have the flu or are exhibiting symptoms.

4) If you do indeed get the flu, go immediately to the doctor/hospital! The flu is a serious illness and can be fatal in some cases while 2012-2013 has been the worst flu season in several years. The doctor will confirm the flu with a simple, quick test and prescribe medication like Tamiflu. Symptoms of the flu include coughing, sneezing, high fever, ear ache, exhaustion, body aches, and possible vomiting.

5) While the doctor may prescribe medication for the flu, it will only check its spread to other people so it's important to note that over-the-counter medications like Tylenol Cold/Flu, Advil, and DayQuil/ NyQuil are key in helping symptoms.

6) Follow a healthy diet! Make sure to consume a good amount of Vitamin C while foods like milk, citrus fruits, and nuts can all help strengthen the immune system.

7) Lower your stress level! Relaxation can be key in preventing either the spread of the flu and/or keeping yourself from getting it.

8) Make sure to clean all shared items within the family! Common-use items like telephones, computers, TV remotes, and doorknobs serve as breeding grounds for bacteria.

9) Finally, shield your cough or sneeze from the direction of others to prevent the spread of germs!