Did you know...

Did you know...

• Respiratory viruses like colds and flu are spread by droplets from coughs and sneezes.
• One person infected with flu can easily spread the virus simply by breathing.
• Cold and flu viruses travel through the air from a cough or sneeze and get into the body through the mouth or eyes.
• Some droplets are invisible but can still be inhaled through the mouth or passed through the eyes.
• One sneeze can travel as far as 5 metres.
• You can get flu simply by touching a surface like a phone or door handle that has been contaminated by a touch from someone who has flu.
• Studies have shown that human influenza viruses generally survive on surfaces for between two and eight hours.
• A person can spread flu one day before he or she falls ill. Adults can continue to pass the virus to others for another 3 to 7 days after symptoms start.
• Antibiotics will not cure flu.
• 5% - 20% of the population gets flu.
• More than 20,000 people are hospitalised from flu complications
  About 3,000 People die from flu each year.
• Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually due to the common cold or flu.

What YOU should do to avoid it...

•  Have a flu jab!!
• Wash your hand regularly and particularly before eating.
• Do not put your hands in your mouth unless they have been washed.
• If you do get cold or flu or feel unwell, stay at home until your symptoms subside.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Eat a balanced and healthy diet and plenty of exercise.

Last year many of you took up the offer of a free flu jab. We all have a duty of care to our patients and family to ensure that we protect them from communicable diseases.

BE A GERM STOPPER: STOPPING GERMS AT HOME OR WORK!