It's Flu Season Again- Everything You Need To Know To Be Prepared!

It's Fall, time for jumping in piles of leaves, carving pumpkins and trick or treating. But that crisp feeling in the air and the wonderfully cool evenings also mean the beginning of flu season. Every October, the flu season kicks off with people getting cold chills, fevers, body aches and fatigue. But don't panic, there are still ways to protect yourself against this virus.

Here are some tips for flu prevention

• Get a Flu Shot- Experts aren't expecting there to be a shortage this year, but getting yours early is a good idea. It generally takes a couple of weeks for your body to develop strong antibodies to the virus, so you won't be fully protected until about two weeks after your shot. This year, the vaccine will guard against H1N1, which made the rounds last year, as well as two other strains of flu virus. It is possible that you could catch a different strain of the flu, but even still, your symptoms will be less severe and you should have a shorter recovery time.
  
  
• Find out if you are in a high risk group- If you are in a high risk group for getting the flu, getting the flu shot is even more important. It is also a good idea to up your intake of Vitamin C and get plenty of rest to keep your immune system as strong as possible. The groups with the highest risk of contracting a severe flu are:
  • Pregnant women
  • Caregivers of small children or the elderly
  • People over 50
  • Children under age 5
  • People with chronic illnesses
  • Anyone who lives with or cares for any of the above
    
    
• Wash your hands- It is always good to make hand washing a habit, but be particularly vigilant if you are around anyone who has the flu. Remember that flu germs can survive for over 8 hours on hard surfaces. Some people find it helpful to carry around hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes. Wiping down a table in a cafeteria or restaurant before using it can cut down on your chances for picking up the germs.

Taking care of yourself is important. When you get sick with something as contagious as the flu, missing work can be difficult and look bad to your boss and co-workers. But, if you were to go in to the office and try to solider through it, you can risk spreading it around the office. Prevention is the best way to go, so wash your hands, get your flu shot and take your vitamin c!

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By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.