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Unless you’re living in a cave with no contact with other people or the media, you know it’s flu season. And whether or not you plan on getting the flu shot or have received the flu shot, we know it’s not 100% effective. As a matter a fact, despite what you keep hearing in the media, we don’t really know current flu vaccine’s efficacy at all. The key is to not get the virus in the first place.

What can you and your family do to avoid getting the flu?

Wash your hands The most common way a cold or flu virus is obtained is by touching your nose, eyes or mouth after your hands have been contaminated. The importance of washing your hands cannot be overstated and is our number one defense in stopping the spread of infections and illness.

Wash your hands:
Before you eat
Before touching your face
After you use the bathroom
Before and after you prepare food
After touching/petting an animal, a leash, or an animal toy
Before inserting or removing contact lenses
Frequently

Teach your family the proper way to cough and sneeze. Let others know they should turn their heads and cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue or the inside of their elbow and not in their hands.

Avoid close contact. When you?re sick or others around you are sick, try not to expose yourself or others to germs. If you are sick do not go to school, work, or any other places where many people could get exposed.

Practice good lifestyle habits:
Get plenty of sleep
Manage your stress
Eat nutritious food
Drink plenty of liquids

Despite strides in science, disinfectant sprays and anti-bacterial products, our best defense against infectious disease is simply washing your hands with ordinary soap. Unfortunately, many don’t wash their hands enough or if they do, they’re not doing it properly.

Hand Washing 101:

1. Use lukewarm water and lather your hands with ordinary soap. Anti bacterial soap is not necessary and simply rinsing your hands under running water is useless. Cold water is not as effective and avoid hot water because it will dry the skin too much.
2. Rub your hands together making sure to get the entire surface of your hands and fingers. Intertwine your fingers and don’t forget the back of your hands and around your finger nails.
3. Wash your hands properly for at least 20 seconds.
4. Rinse your hands well. try to let the water run from your wrist down off your finger tips.
5. Dry your hands with a clean paper towel or air dry. Use a paper towel to turn the faucet off. Remember you turned it on with dirty hands.