• It's important to know the difference between a cold and flu to determine when to call a physician and what to tell them.
• Colds are annoying but can mostly be treated with over the counter symptom relief products.
• Influenza can lead to pneumonia and other serious illnesses. Antivirals must usually be started within the first 48 hours of symptom onset to be effective.
• When in doubt, such as with fever, chest pain and severe cough and breathing difficulties, always call a physician for medical advice.
• Antibiotics are not appropriate treatment for cold or influenza unless a secondary infection, such as sinus, ear, bronchitis or pneumonia develops.

• The flu shot does not cause the flu. Typical side effects of the immunization are soreness at the site, low grade fever, mild body aches and stomach upset. If you develop cold symptoms it is most likely because you were exposed to someone with a cold or touched something, like the grocery cart, and were exposed to a cold virus. After all, it is cold season.
• The flu shot does not guarantee that you won't get the flu; however, it decreases the intensity and duration of the illness.
• The flu shot decreases your ability to spread influenza to others, such as the elderly, children or immunocompromised individuals.
• The flu shot is typically administered starting in October. It takes 10 to 14 days to obtain immunity. The immunization is most beneficial in the first three to four months and then begins to weaken.
• It's easy to get with many pharmacies, grocery stores and businesses offering it. Most insurance programs pay for it.

• The #1 most effective way and most cost effective way to stop the spread of infection is with correct hand washing.
• The CDC recommends this process: wet your hands with warm water, apply soap, use friction for 20 seconds making sure that the entire surface of the hand, wrist, and fingers is addressed, rinse from the wrist down, dry your hands and turn off the faucet with the paper towel.
• Thorough hand washing decreases the viral counts on your hands to a point below the infectious threshold.
• Wash your hands before you eat, before and after contact with an ill person, after you cough or sneeze, before, during and after food preparation, after using the rest room, before and after using personal protective equipment, after touching animals, when your hands are visibly soiled, and if you have to ask "Should I wash my hands?."

• Use a 60 to 90 per cent alcohol concentration based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available.
• Use the sanitizer correctly to be effective: apply a liberal amount to the palm of your hand and use friction to cover all surfaces of the hand until the sanitizer dries.
• Remember that hand sanitizers do not kill all classes of germs. Hand washing is best.
• A hand hygiene regime that includes both hand washing and hand sanitizing is an effective process to prevent transmission of organisms.

• The CDC recommends you cough or sneeze into a tissue and dispose of it immediately. If not available, use your inner arm. Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands.
• When you capture a cough or sneeze in your hand, you're likely to pass the virus on to someone else via door knobs, elevator buttons, phones and pretty much anything you touch.

• Cold and flu viruses can be introduced into your body from your hands.
• 80 per cent of all infectious diseases are transmitted by touch.

• Utilize antiseptic wipes at your work area
• Bleach is a wonderful surface sanitizing agent when used correctly: One tablespoon per gallon of water for kitchen use and 2.5 tablespoons per gallon for bathrooms, do not mix bleach with other household cleaners, do not mix with hot water, clean the surface before sanitizing, do not use on stainless steel, and use it in a well ventilated area. For other mixing directions, refer to manufacturers' guidelines.

• Stress weakens the immune system.
• Exercise, sleep, pets, good eating habits and sticking to a holiday budget can help reduce stress.

• A scary fact about the cold and flu viruses is that you can shed the virus one to three days before you have signs or symptoms of illness. This is a reminder why hand hygiene is so important.
• This does not eliminate the need to stay home when you are ill as you will continue to shed the
  virus for several more days once your symptoms develop.
• Keep it to yourself. Keep your co-workers safe by staying home.

• Just because it deserves repeating; frequent, correct hand washing and influenza immunization are the best ways to prevent transmission of the influenza and cold viruses. 

• Johnson Controls, Inc.,
   Energy, Engineering
   
• Pennsylvania Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (PAPERS), Pension Services

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