1918: 40-50 million deaths1957: 2 million deaths1968: 1 million deaths

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Flu Fighters

Simple guidelines to help you avoid getting or spreading the flu

What is the flu?

• The flu is a contagious respiratory illness that is caused by various strains of a virus called influenza.

• Its symptoms include fever, headache, cough, body aches, and fatigue.

• The flu cannot be fixed with antibiotics -- it is not a bacterial infection.

Are You At High Risk?

Severe illness or death for:

•children younger than age two,

•adults age 65 or older,

•and people of any age with certain medical conditions, such as chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver, blood or metabolic diseases (such as diabetes), or weakened immune systems.

So… what can you do about the flu?

Step OneGet a Flu Shot

Vaccines Work!

• Among healthy adults, influenza vaccine can prevent 70% to 90% of influenza-specific illness.

• Among the elderly, the vaccine reduces severe illnesses and complications by up to 60%, and deaths by 80%.

Flu Shots for Everyone!• Getting a flu shot is the BEST way to avoid

getting the flu.

• Be sure to get one shot every year, preferably before December.

• If you get a flu shot in the fall, you can protect yourself from mutant strains of flu AND be sure that all the helpful antibodies are doing their job when flu season starts.

The Flu VirusMaster of Disguise

• The virus we know as the flu changes and mutates every year.

• All the mutations that the virus goes through mean that the flu shot you got last year might not be up to fighting the newest rounds of flu this year.

• Just because you had the flu once doesn’t mean you’ll never get it again -- this virus is a sneaky one and each mutation can get past existing antibodies in your system.

The Flu ShotKeep your friends close and your antibodies closer

• A flu shot contains three different strains of influenza, all of which will help you avoid various types of flu.

• After you get a flu shot, your body begins producing specific antibodies to kill the flu virus. It will take two weeks for you to produce enough antibodies to effectively fight the flu.

Quick Quiz -- Flu Shots

• How many strains of influenza are in a flu vaccine?

* One * Three

* Two * Four

• True or false? -- You should get a flu shot every year.

The flu vaccine is not perfect. It does not guarantee that you will not get the flu. That’s why you need to take other steps too. Steps like…

Step TwoAvoid Danger Zones

Stay Away from Germs Friends don’t let friends catch their flu

• STAY AWAY FROM SICK PEOPLE!

• If you’re in an area with lots of germs, be sure to avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose. Touching those areas after touching a contaminated surface is one of the fastest ways to spread germs.

• Influenza can live on a surface for 2-8 hours after first contact. Don’t take any chances!

Quick Quiz -- Danger Zones

• How long can an influenza virus live on a random surface?

* 24 hours * 12 hours

* 8 hours * 48 hours

• Be sure to avoid touching your* Mouth * Eyes

* Nose * All of the above

Step ThreeWash Your Hands

Wash Your HandsGood things come to those who wash

• Wash your hands as often as is reasonably possible.

• Be sure to scrub your hands with soap for at least twenty seconds before rinsing them thoroughly.

• If counting to twenty is too boring, sing happy birthday to yourself twice. Singing quietly is recommended, but not required.

Hand SanitizerFriend or Foe?

• If you don’t have access to running water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

• Hand sanitizers eliminate many germs, but they are not as effective as soap and water.

Quick Quiz -- Handwashing

• How many times should you sing happy birthday while washing your hands?

* Once * Three times

* Twice * Never sing in a bathroom

• How much of your hand sanitizer should be alcohol?

* More than 60% * Less than 60%

* 100% * None

Step FourAdopt Healthy Habits

Stay HealthyYour body is a temple. Make it a fortress.

• When you are tired, stressed, or not eating right, you are more likely to catch the flu than someone who is rested, relaxed, and eating healthy.

• Get at least 8 hours of sleep per night.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN!A friend who’s cleaned is a friend indeed

• Wash surfaces that are touched often -- that will stop germs from hanging out there.

• Remember to clean your doorknobs, keyboard, and desk!

Quick Quiz -- Healthy Habits

• In order to be less susceptible to the flu, you should get at least ___ hours of sleep per night.

* Six * Eight

* Ten * Twelve

• True or false? -- If you wash surfaces that you use regularly, you will be more likely to catch the flu.

Step FiveStay Home

Don’t Spread the FluHome is where the sick stay

• If you do catch the flu -- stay home! Don’t expose your friends and coworkers to the virus.

• Stay home for at least a day after your fever goes away to make sure that no one else can get the flu from you.

• Avoid any errand outside of visiting your doctor’s office until you have recovered.

Cover Your MouthIn the case of coughs, sharing is NOT caring

• If you have to go out and about while you’re sick, be sure to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

• The best thing to do is cough into a tissue. Then you can just throw it away.

• If you don’t have a tissue, cough into the crook of your elbow -- people are less likely to touch that.

Quick Quiz -- Containment

• After your fever goes away, you are free to return to your normal activities after __ hours.

* 24 * 12

* 36 * 48

• If you have to cough or sneeze, do so into a…

* Hand * Tissue

* Foot * Stranger’s face

Summary

• Follow the five steps for fighting flu1. get a flu shot,

2. avoid contamination,

3. wash your hands as often as you can,

4. adopt healthy habits,

5. and stay home if you get sick.

• Keep everything clean.

Step Six

Just kidding -- we’re done!

Do you have any questions?