Avoiding The Office Flu (And What To Do If It's Too Late!)
No one really knows why we get more colds and flus in winter and in the change of seasons. One theory is that cold viruses can replicate more easily when our immune defences are lower, which is more likely in winter. It's thought that air conditioning also helps spread cold viruses throughout the office, airplane or anywhere more than one person congregates. In addition, as every parent knows, children catch every bug that is going – and kindly pass it on to the family and further– so it's easy to see how one can be hit with more than one illness each year. Running out of sick leave is no fun either, so we've outlined ways to avoid getting sick.
How We Catch Colds
Cold and flu viruses enter our body through our nose and mouth in the following ways:
- Through the Air. The cold virus can become airborne and spread when a sick person talks, coughs or sneezes.
- Through Contact. The virus can survive outside the body for some time - so sharing cutlery or a glass with someone who is sick can allow the virus to enter your body. Touching something that has the virus on it (like a mouse or keyboard) and then putting your fingers in your mouth will also allow the virus to enter your body.
How to avoid viruses
- Wash your hands thoroughly following the 60-second rule. A quick dunk under the tap is totally ineffective. Try the following technique:
Using plenty of soap, scrub your hands and between your fingers for 60 seconds under warm water. A tip – sing 2 versus of "Happy Birthday" or whatever song comes to mind and that's roughly how much time you need to wash your hands. Dry your hands completely on a paper towel or under the air drier
- Carry and regularly use hand sanitiser every time you touch anything that the public/other people or colleagues may have touched
- Avoid touching your lips, mouth and nose with your bare hands. You're increasing the risk of bugs entering your body
- Avoid meetings in confined spaces, and with people who are ill
- When travelling overseas, pre-plan to boost your immune system. You're highly likely to gain exposure to foreign germs that your body hasn't yet built immunity against. If you squeeze 300 people from all over the world into a confined space with re-circulating air - you're going to share germs whether you want to or not. This explains why people often get sick after travelling.
- Use and wash your own plates, utensils and cups when in the office. Make sure you thoroughly wash and dry using your own tea towel. The office one can be a harbourer of germs – goodness know where it has been and who has dried their hands on it?!
- Eat healthy – daily protein, fruit, vegetables and healthy grains
- Get regular exercise
- Regular doses of a good Vitamin C and an immune support supplement
- Get good quality sleep
The biggest cold and flu spreading culprits
What are the grubbiest things you probably touch every day? Apart from the obvious, did you know there a number of surfaces and things we touch every day that contribute to the distribution of viral and bacterial infections? Sanitise your hands after touching the following items, or avoid touching them:
- Supermarket trolleys and Eftpos machines
- Elevator buttons and escalator railings
- Cash – paper and coins
- ATMs
- The gym – equipment, mats and bathroom facilities
- Door handles – in every office, shop, restaurant and building
- Your colleagues' keyboard, mouse and phone
What to do if you have cold or flu like symptoms
- Stay at home away from others
- Rest and keep warm
- Take appropriate medication to help relieve discomfort and reduce fever, such as paracetamol
- Stay hydrated
- Eat nourishing foods such as soups, that also can help sooth sore throats
- Sleep, sleep, sleep
- Seek medical advice from either your doctor or pharmacist if symptoms persist or get worse
Why battling on through a cold or flu at work is doing more harm than good
Most employers know having one sick staff member can lead to the whole office going down with "the bot". On the on-set of symptoms, visit your GP and obtain a medical certificate to confirm you are unfit for work. Here are 4 good reasons why you should stay home at the first onset of a cold or flu;
- You are infectious to others and therefore passing on your bugs
- With feeling unwell you won't be working at capacity and therefore lack concentration - meaning you're more likely to make mistakes
- You're delaying your recovery
- You can get much worse. If you don't take care of yourself, your cold could develop into a secondary bacterial infection - and you may need antibiotics to help clear it
Not sure if you have a cold or a flu? Check your symptoms against this table:
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