WORKSITE WELLNESS FUNDING PROVIDED THROUGH DELTA REGIONAL AUTHORITY WORKSITE WELLNESS CHALLENGE GRANT Cold and Flu Prevention

Objectives of the Lesson Know the symptom differences between a cold and a flu Know how to prevent a cold and flu in the work setting Know appropriate ways to wash hands

Let’s take a little Quiz 1. Sniffling, achy, a little tired? You may have: a. Common cold b. Flu c. You could have either 2. You have a mild cough, but no fever. You are dealing with: a. Common cold b. Flu c. You could have either 3. Your ears are aching. You could have: a. Ear infection b. A Cold c. You could have either 4. You are no longer congested or achy, but a cough has lingered for over a week. Could it still be a cold? a. Yes b. No c. No sure 5. What should you do if your cold symptoms get worse after three days? a. Get more rest b. Call a doctor c. Take over the counter medicine for your symptoms

Cold Flu (Influenza) Common cold is an upper respiratory infection that is caused by several families of viruses. It is one of the most common infectious diseases and most Americans get one to three colds each year. The flu is a respiratory infection which is caused by the influenza virus. The infection is very contagious and typically is spread through air or direct contact from one person to the next. The peak season for flu epidemics is during the winter months. How are they different?

Preventing the spread of Cold and Flu Blow your nose in a tissue and place in a trash can Sneeze in your sleeve and not your hand Do not touch your face Wash hands often for at least 20 seconds Get physical activity regularly Reduce or cut out alcohol consumption Don’t smoke Get a flu vaccine (Health Department) Drink plenty of fluids Clean and disinfect surfaces that may be contaminated

Cold Flu Relieve symptoms with over-the- counter medications Congestion, cough, and nasal discharge may be treated with a Decongestant Antihistamine Combination of the two Cough medications Adequate fluid intake Eight glasses of water or juice per day Use tissues and wash your hands frequently Antiviral medications may be given by doctor within 2 days of flu symptoms appearance. Check with your doctor Over-the-counter meds can help minimize the discomfort Over-the-counter medications do not treat the virus Drink adequate liquids to prevent dehydration Adequate nutrition is needed for rapid recovery Bed rest is a good idea Wait until symptoms are gone to return to full activity Treatment of Cold and Flu

When should I go back to work? The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to get medical care or necessities. The fever should be gone without the use of fever- reducing medicine. If you begin to feel bad at work you should go home.

Proper Hand washing When a sink is not available, alcohol based hand sanitizer can be used Warm water and soap, rub hands together Scrub backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails Continue rubbing hands for at least 20 seconds Hum “Happy Birthday” song beginning to end twice Rinse hands under running water Dry hands using clean towel or air dry

HOW WILL YOU PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE COLD AND FLU WITHIN YOUR WORKPLACE? Closing