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EVERYONE:
- Get plenty of rest.
- Eat right.
- Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze-- 'into the V" of your elbow or shoulder (not your hand). Throw away tissues promptly.
- Wash your hands vigorously for 30 seconds to 1 minute under running water. Have kids sing the ABCs or some other song to help them pass the time.
- Keep your hands away (and the germs) away from your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Keep the pathways to infection clear to reduce the ability of “bugs” to get in your body.
REMINDERS:
Regardless of which virus, remember:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid kissing, hugging, and sharing cups or eating utensils with people who are sick.
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys and doorknobs, especially if someone is sick.
- Use the same precautions you would use to prevent the spread of influenza.
Here are some other ways to stop the spread of infection:
- Have kids wash their hands when they come home from school.
- Wash hands after being on the subway, going shopping, or being out and about. Make it a habit to wash when you get home..
- Wash dishes well and don’t reuse glasses.
- Remind kids not to share things such as chapstick, towels, razors, toothbrushes, etc.
- Don’t pick your nose (and keep your kids from picking theirs – or yours!).
- Clean the “green 11s.”
- Keep tissues handy to clean off kid snot before they get it on their hand, to get it on the school banister, etc.
- Cover your mouth (not your hand) with your arm when you sneeze or cough. Teach your kids to do this religiously (have them practice)
- Use safe cooking (and sex!) practices
KIDS: Please help keep others safe by keeping your kids home when they are sick. Most schools have a 24 hours fever-free (with no meds) as a baseline-- but you know if your child is still sick even without a fever. (Do call the school as well to let them know).
ADULTS: Please help keep others safe by staying home and not riding subways while you are sick. While you may think the job (or you) are too important to miss work, you are jeopardizing someone else's health by being sick around other people. You too should also abide by the 24 hour fever free rule!
Finally,
DO NOT SEND YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL SICK! It doesn’t matter if they are in 4th grade and you fell the “but absences matter” pressure — keep them home for everyone’s benefit.
There are some people who can't get vaccines (infants) so please don't put others at risk by exposing them to being sick.
Check the NYC Flu page http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/flu and flu.gov for more information.
