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Stay Healthy During Flu Season

Posted on Sep 23, 2009 by Thornton Brothers |

A "hands-free" Purell hand sanitizer dispenser supplied by Thornton Brothers at Athens First Bank & Trust in downtown Athens, Georgia.

With the start of the school year, the threat of a swine flu pandemic and the onset of flu season, staying healthy this year may prove difficult.

According to the Center for Disease Control, every year in the United States, on average:

5% to 20% of the population gets the flu
more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications
about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes

This year scientists are predicting the numbers will be higher because of the introduction of the H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu. In fact, it may cause more hospital stays and deaths than regular seasonal flu.

The swine flu was first detected in the United States in April 2009. It gets its name not because it was derived from pigs but because many of the genes in this new virus were very similar to influenza viruses that normally occur in pigs in North America.

The flu is spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick.

As a provider of a wide range of antibacterial and germ-killing products, Thornton Brothers is helping the Athens community stop the spread of the flu virus in the workplace and in public areas. You may have seen some of the Purell hand sanitizer dispensers at some of our clients’ offices around town. They provide waterless, anti-bacterial hand sanitizer that is dispensed automatically when you hold your hand underneath the dispenser. Using the solution frequently will help keep you from being exposed to germs that are found on doors, elevators and other shared surfaces in offices and public areas.

The Purell dispensers can be found at Athens First, the Athens Banner-Herald, Cox Enterprises in Atlanta and other spots around town. Consider ordering one for your business and help protect your employees and clients from the flu and other common germs.

A flu outbreak in the office can hinder business and slow down productivity. Businesses will play a key role in protecting employees’ health and safety as well as limiting the negative impact to the economy and society. Check out the Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist to see how to prepare your office for an outbreak.

In addition to washing your hands often with soap and water and using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to protect from germs, take these everyday steps recommended by the CDC to protect your health:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

For more information on the flu and how you can avoid getting sick this year, visit the CDC Web site or www.flu.gov.

Tagged: flu, flu prevention, swine flu, h1n1, swine flu prevention, centers for disease control, cdc, flu prevention in athens ga, thornton brothers, athens ga, antibacterial products, janitorial supplies, hand sanitizer, antibacterial sanitizer, purell

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