FLU SEASON has hit Middle Tennessee in full swing!  Everywhere you turn someone is sick or you’re hearing reports of large numbers of people within the community, schools or work environments coming down with the flu.

Whether you get the ‘oh, so dreaded flu’, cold or any number of viruses thriving to be shared this time of year, remember to practice these habits to prevent spreading and help yourself or your family feel better quicker.

  1. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
  2. Avoid school, work and/or running errands while running a fever because until the fever has been gone for 24 hours the germ can still be spread from person to person.
  3. Although fevers may go away while taking fever reducing medications, infections can still be spread.
  4. Flu and colds often cause not only the nose to run but also the eyes.  Avoid rubbing the eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible.  Use tissues to wipe runny eyes, blow and/or wipe noses, then throw tissues in the trash.
  5. Wash hands with soap and water often, if unavailable, use hand sanitizer.
  6. Increase healthy eating habits.  Push the veggies and fruits for an extra dose of immunity building vitamins.
  7. Water, water and more water – keep hydrated to help the body be strong and flush germs from the system and keep secretions thin.
  8. REST – Get plenty of sleep at night.  A tired body is a weak body therefore weakening the immune system.

When the body is at rest it is able to fight against germs and build the body’s immunity.

It’s understandable to feel the need to be at work and/or school.  Obligations must be met, family income is needed and class time for students is essential to learning.  During flu season priorities may need to be slightly adjusted to limit the number of employee or student absences.

STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES ARE NEEDED AT WORK AND/OR SCHOOL

Increased absences in businesses and/or school systems decreases the productivity of employees, staff and/or students.  If possible, plan ahead, know there will be a lull in productivity during this time and try to plan accordingly to prevent additional employee or student absences.  When someone comes to school or work with the flu while knowingly contagious you can be assured the germ will be shared!  Encourage parents, students and employees to remain home while sick.

If work or obligations need to be met, look into allowing optional ways for the work or class work to be completed at home, away from the classroom or office where the germ can be easily shared.

If you are the employee or student ask your boss or school system/teacher what’a allowed to be done from home to keep from sharing your illness with them or others.

SHARING THE FLU OR OTHER WINTER GERMS ISN’T SAFE 

Be mindful when sick not to be around children under the age of 2 years and adults over the age of 65 years.  Immune systems in children and adults in these age brackets can have weaker immune systems making it much harder for them to fight the illnesses. Doctors have discovered children and adults who are within the above age brackets are hospitalized and die from the flu more than any other age brackets.

Individuals with impaired immune systems due to medication, diseases or disorders often have a harder time recovering from illnesses and they can be detrimental to their health and well-being.  Diligently avoid the following individuals when sick, if at all possible:

  • Pregnant women
  • Children under the age of 2 years
  • Adults over the age of 65 years
  • People with weakened immune systems or the following conditions:
    • Asthma
    • Chronic Respiratory Diseases
    • Heart Disease
    • Kidney Disease
    • Liver Disease
    • Diabetics

There are a lot of things generously offered and shared to impact a person’s life in a positive manner…sharing the flu isn’t one of them!

Be Aware, Be Prepared and Please Don’t Share the FLu!

Visit the Centers for Disease Control to learn more about the flu.  https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htmhttps://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm


Cheatham News hopes the provided information helps you and/or your family.  If you’ve be lucky enough to be “shared the flu” we hope you or your loved one(s) get to feeling better very soon!

BE WATCHING! Tomorrow, February 1, 2017,  Cheatham News will share a favorite Chicken Noodle Soup recipe that’s sure to help when ‘under the weather’! 

Cheatham News (c) 2017

VIATonya Steele
SOURCECheatham News
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I’m a dedicated, fair and objective reporter/journalist currently reporting and writing for the I-24 Exchange Newspaper, circulated and distributed each week to nearly 10000 residential mailboxes, in Northern Cheatham County, Tennessee. My main objective for Cheatham News is to provide current news coverage with a wide range of compelling topics that interest the youth of today, elderly and everyone in between through an online platform. Cheatham News will focus on local and county news including politics, breaking news, community schools, sports, city and county council meetings but there’ll be more the local news. I aspire to focus on what life is like, in our little corner of the world, where my family and I live in a small southern town. The southern sayins’, ole wives tales, recipes and mannerisms are a part of history I’d like to keep alive in the fast paced world of today. It brings me joy to share the uniqueness of life in a small southern town. You can learn more about myself, representatives and sponsors affiliated with Cheatham News and contributing authors biographies and credentials under the ‘About’ tab on the Home Page.