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7 Tips for Staying Healthy When Someone You Live with Has the Flu

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7 Tips for Staying Healthy When Someone You Live with Has the Flu

With flu season upon us, it’s time to take extra steps to make sure you stay healthy. But what happens if someone you live with already has the flu? Germs can spread easily in tight spaces and can cause the flu to linger around your house for longer. You can protect yourself from the flu and stay healthy during flu season by following these seven tips.

10/09/2017
  1. Get Your Fu Shot: If you haven’t already, make sure to schedule an appointment and get your flu shot right away to protect against the flu.
  2. Wash Your Hands Often: Wash your hands before eating, drinking or touching your face, especially after touching shared surfaces in your home. Also, make sure to wash your hands the right way by using soap and reciting the “Happy Birthday” song two times or counting slowly to 20 as you wash them.
  3. Sanitize Surfaces: Start with places like the bathroom faucet or refrigerator door, which are handled frequently. Sanitize them with a disinfecting wipe daily, and each time after the person who has the flu uses them.   
  4. Make a Separate Sick Room: If possible, try to give your loved one with the flu their own room. It’ll provide them with their own space to rest up and get better, as well as help to keep you away from flu germs.
  5. Stay Away When You Can: Stay about six feet away from someone with the flu. Any closer and you’re in prime range for inhaling germs.
  6. Follow Good Germ Etiquette: Encourage the person who is sick to follow good germ etiquette by coughing or sneezing into a disposable tissue or their elbow whenever they can.
  7. Keep Your Immune System Healthy: When your immune system is healthy, your body can do a good job of protecting you from illnesses most of the time. Eat lots of fruits and veggies, and get plenty of rest to stay healthy.