The news is full of stories about the virulence of this season’s flu outbreak and, judging by the empty cubicles and desks around our offices, it looks like they aren’t kidding.

How can you keep yourself, your family, co-workers, and colleagues safe this flu season?

The Centers for Disease Control recommend a “Take 3” approach to fighting the flu. [The following content comes directly from the CDC website at www.cdc.gov.]

1. Take time to get a flu vaccine.

• • CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.
  • Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine as soon as the current season's vaccines are available.
  • Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.
  • People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
  • Vaccination also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.
  • Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.

2. Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs.

• • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
  • If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
  • While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
  • See Everyday Preventive Actions [257 KB, 2 pages] and Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) for more information about actions – apart from getting vaccinated and taking medicine – that people and communities can take to help slow the spread of illnesses like influenza (flu).

3. Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them.

• • If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat your illness.
  • Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. They are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) and are not available over-the-counter.
  • Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For people with high risk factors [702 KB, 2 pages], treatment with an antiviral drug can mean the difference between having a milder illness versus a very serious illness that could result in a hospital stay.
  • Studies show that flu antiviral drugs work best for treatment when they are started within 2 days of getting sick, but starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a high-risk health or is very sick from the flu. Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking this drug.
  • Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

For our CPR instructors, don’t forget to disinfect those manikins and all your training equipment after each class!

When the weather warms up (it’s just a few months away, I promise), don’t leave your flu prevention skills behind. Flu season usually runs longer than just the winter months, so these truly are year-round practices.

At any time of year, flu outbreaks can sometimes grow into full-blown pandemics. At your home, school, or workplace, keep those germs under control with today’s good advice from the CDC.