The flu is heavily prevalent during the winter months. You're around a lot of people and usually in close quarters. All of this closeness and extra time around others is a recipe for disaster and can end up with you getting the flu or some other type of illness. If you end up with the flu, or flu-type symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, achiness, a fever, sore throat, and/or vomiting or diarrhea, you need to get treatment from your physician. Treatments may include antibiotics, rest, and over-the-counter pain relievers. Preventing the flu in the first place is important in controlling this illness. Read on for some tips to help you prevent the flu. 

Wash Your Hands Often

Wash your hands often to help prevent spreading germs to others. You touch quite a bit throughout the day, and all of those hard surfaces that you touch contain germs. Those germs then spread to your mouth or nose when you touch your face, and this is how you end up with the flu in the first place. Washing your hands and not touching your face will help to prevent the flu. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and use warm water and anti-bacterial soap. Lather your hands together and be sure to wash the top of your hands and your fingertips as well.

Sanitize Surfaces

Sanitize the surfaces around your home to prevent the spread of germs. Use anti-bacterial wipes, an anti-bacterial spray, or just plain old soap and water to sanitize the surfaces that are touched often throughout your home such as doorknobs, counters, toilet handles and faucet handles. Wipe these surfaces down daily, especially if anyone in your home has been sick, or a few times per week to prevent the spread of germs. You should also sanitize items such as backpacks and lunch boxes that your children use and take with them to school, where germs are plentiful.

Cover When You Cough

Cover your mouth when you cough and cough in the crook of your elbow, rather than in your hand. Coughing in your hand and then touching surfaces will only cause more of a spread of germs. You should do the same when you sneeze. If you happen to cough or sneeze in your hands, you need to wash your hands immediately and not touch anything along the way if possible.

If you have symptoms of the flu, you should stay home and only go out to go to the doctor for a diagnosis and treatment options. Preventing the flu is important in stopping the spread of this illness. Talk to your doctor about other ways you can prevent the spread of the flu and how else you can prevent getting the flu.

Contact a flu care center near you to learn more.