Center for Disease Control
H1N1 Recommendations
8 Ways You Can Stay Healthy at Work
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.
2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an
alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash
your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
3. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.
4. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into
your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles.
5. Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones,
computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.
6. Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices, or other work tools
and equipment. If you need to use a co-worker’s phone, desk, or other
equipment, clean it first.
7. Don’t spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home.
Symptoms of flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or
chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny
nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. CDC recommends
that sick workers stay home if they are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24
hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
8. Get vaccinated against seasonal flu, when vaccine is available in your area.
If you are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications you should receive the
2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009
H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic
medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes).
If you are not feeling well
Do you have a fever or chills AND a cough or sore throat?
If “yes,”you may have the flu. Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore
throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache,
tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Please do NOT come to work if you are sick with a fever AND cough or sore
throat.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that sick employees
stay home if they are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after they are free of
fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel
very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined
without the use of fever-reducing medicines (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or
acetaminophen).
If you are at higher risk for complications from the flu and you are sick, contact your
health care provider as soon as possible. Children younger than 5 years of age, pregnant
women, people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as pulmonary disease,
asthma, diabetes, neuromuscular disorders, or heart disease), and people 65 years of age
and older are more likely to get complications from the flu. Your health care provider
may prescribe antiviral drugs, and they are most effective when started within 2 days of
getting sick.
In addition, emergency warning signs that the sick person needs urgent medical
attention include
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
For more information about caring for someone sick with flu, visit
www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm
For more information visit www.flu.gov or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).