Boulder Valley School District

5 Things You Need to Know: Staying healthy during cold and flu season

Girl with a tissue
Randy Barber

This time of year marks the beginning of cold and flu season. The Centers for Disease Control says that this may be a particularly nasty one – so we would like to remind you of a few simple ways you can help avoid these bugs.

Here are 5 Things You Need to Know about avoiding cold and flu season from the CDC:
 

  1. Wash your hands OFTEN

    The best way to stay healthy is to keep your hands clean by washing them with soap and hot water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
     
    Handwashing Tips for Kids | Children’s Hospital Colorado
    Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives
    It’s a SNAP Toolkit: Handwashing

       

  2. Avoid Close Contact (Stay Home if you are Sick)

    Colds and flus are easily transmitted from person to person when they are close contact. That is why we encourage people who are sick to stay home. How sick is too sick? - See Health Services for guidelines on when to stay home
     

  3. Cover your mouth and nose

    Typically cold and flu are transmitted through your mouth and nose. By avoiding contact with your face and even covering it with a mask – you can avoid getting sick.

    Of course, if you sneeze or cough, make sure to cover your mouth and nose (elbows are great for this) and wash your hands.

 

  1. Clean surfaces regularly

    Oftentimes the cold and flu are transmitted when sick individuals touch doorknobs, desks or other items – and by cleaning surfaces with disinfectant, you can keep these diseases from spreading.

 

  1. Stay Healthy

    By sleeping well, eating healthy, exercising regularly, managing your stress and drinking plenty of fluids, your body is less susceptible to illness. 
     


Healthy Habits to Help Prevent Flu | Centers for Disease Control

 

Resources:
 

Cold Versus Flu | Centers for Disease Control

Influenza (Flu) | Boulder County Public Health
Influenza (Flu) | Centers for Disease Control

Flu View | Boulder County Public Health

 


 

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