Fall of the Flu

Silent but deadly. Prevent the flu and other similar colds by following some of these easy tips that might just save a life.

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At some point in our hectic lives, we’ve all suffered the consequences of flu season, right? Not necessarily, because there are a few basic tips that can save those tissues for another day.

The flu may just seem to be a mild yet inevitable annoyance but it can be severe and even, in some cases, deadly. So it is crucial that we do everything we can to prevent it.

Furthermore, according to the CDC, “in the United States, each year on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications…and as of August 16, 2014, [there were] more than 105 flu-related deaths in children.”

A few kids who’ve had the flu, such as Roya Marzban, said that some of the main symptoms are “a stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, and chills.” Marzban also said that it lasted for “about a week” and she got medication for it right away.

Also, Kaitlin reported similar symptoms but she had it for about five days. She also said that she “had the flu twice” and the only method of prevention she used was a flu vaccine.

So, most people who get the flu don’t do anything, aside from taking a flu immunization. So, it is important to do everything possible to hinder it.

Additionally, Sharon Ryan, a certified nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital, said the best ways of prevention are the most basic: “good hand washing and trying not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth, as these are entry points for germs.”

She also mentioned that “what distinguishes the flu form other colds is the fever, body aches, and headaches” that nearly always accompany it. So, if any of these symptoms are noticed, head to the doctor right away to test for the flu.

Identifying these symptoms quickly is vital. “Your doctor can prescribe [a medication] but it has to be started in 48 hours of the onset of symptoms,” Sharon Ryan said. “This will shorten the length of time that you’re sick.”

Whether going to have the doctor check and give medication or not, it is important to still rest and drink lots of fluids but mainly water. Nobody can ever use too many cough drops, and everyone could always take a little bit of Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or any generic medicine of a similar nature, as long as it’s for the listed amount, which is dependent on the symptoms and is spread out across the listed time increments.

But, say, someone doesn’t have the flu and is instead aiming to prevent it; there are plenty of ways to do this. There are a few ways to stop it from spreading but the best prevention methods are usually the simplest.

Many people probably already know this, but washing hands thoroughly and frequently is key, too, especially before eating, and also keeping them away from all possible germ entrances; mainly, parts of the face, except for when eating.

Also, the flu is highly contagious and spreads as easily as a sneeze and, according to WebMD, can stay on surfaces for “a few minutes up to 24 hours, depending on the type of surface.” So, if someone were to sneeze, and then someone else touched that area, twelve hours or so later, they could possibly catch the flu.

Secondly, hand sanitizer works sometimes, but it depends on the type. For instance, a lot of the scented ones won’t work because “you have to look to make sure the sanitizer is alcohol-based,” says Sharon Ryan.

This is solely because the flu germs need the alcohol to kill it off. So, the use of alcohol-based wipes for cleaning off desks, lunch tables, and other surfaces also help tremendously in warding off the flu.

These are all pretty basic rules that most people might’ve already known, but, with lives hanging in the balance, it is vital to work hard to finally bring about the fall of the flu.