The Flu: Protecting Yourself and Others

No one likes to be sick, especially with the Flu. January is usually the “high point” of the flu season, though you can get the flu at any time throughout the year. PuroClean is concerned with the safety and welfare of its employees and with our clients and customers. As everyone knows, the flu can be cause for real concern.

Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may also suffer from vomiting and diarrhea. It is also possible to have the flu and suffer from respiratory symptoms yet have no fever. Someone infected with the flu can spread it to others who are up to about six feet away. Most experts believe that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. Sometimes these droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. More often, a person may become contaminated by touching a surface or object that has the flu virus on it (such as doorknobs or push plates, drinking fountain handles, money/currency,etc.), and then touching their own mouth, nose or eye. A person with the active flu virus may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after symptoms develop. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms typically start one to four days after the virus enters the body.

Protecting yourself as well as those around you is extremely important. The CDC recommends following a few actions to protect yourself and others.

• • Get the flu vaccine- this is the first and most important step in protection. The vaccine protects against the three most common flu viruses, H3N2, Influenza, and H1N1. Children as young as 6 months old can receive the shot, and the parents of younger infants should receive the shot themselves to keep their child protected. They also recommend people at high risk of serious flu complications such as young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease, and people 65 years and older should receive the shot.

• • Try to prevent spreading germs- this is also another important step. Make sure to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. You also want to throw away used tissues immediately after use. Washing your hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spreading of germs. You can use soap and water or a hand sanitizer, both will do the job. Even with clean hands, you should avoid touching your face with your hands. If you do become sick with the flu, try to stay at home as much as possible. You should stay at home at least 24 hours after your fever/symptoms have gone away.

• • Take the medicine your doctor has prescribed- the medicine for the flu is an antiviral drug, not an antibiotic. This will potentially shorten the time you are sick and help prevent any serious flu related complications.

In certain situations it is necessary or desirable to have properties cleaned to reduce the chance of spreading flu or other infectious diseases. If you do have a property affected by infectious material, your local PuroClean restoration professionals are highly trained and skilled in situations involving pathogens. The PuroClean office can perform an evaluation of the situation and work with concerned parties to plan a course of action to return the property to safe and clean conditions. PuroClean restoration professionals can effectively remediate pathogens such as viruses and bacteria in structures in accordance with industry standards and at a reasonable cost. Home or business owners are returned to a safe condition in the shortest time possible.