Flu Prevention Practices Could Save You Money
By now you’ve heard a lot about flu prevention practices to help avoid getting sick, but did you know those same prevention practices could save you money? Consider the following:
Cold and Flu medicine for over the counter products such as cough medicine, decongestant, cough drops etc. can cost upwards of $40 per person per bout especially when you consider that symptoms can last up to 14 days. And who ever goes to the drug store and buys just medicine?
If your condition worsens and merits a trip to the doctor, the average cost is between $30 – $50 if insured. If not insured it is roughly $200. An emergency room visit will cost you $1,000 or more for very minor issues such as a severe cold or flu. And then you’ll get a prescription taking you back to that overpriced drugstore.
So how do you avoid getting sick?
Keep your hands away from your face! You can’t avoid touching dirty surfaces. A study conducted at the University of Arizona, concluded that of any surface tested in the workplace (including the bathroom) the average desktop had more bacteria. What does this tell us? While your employer makes sure the bathrooms are routinely cleaned, most custodial staffs are instructed not to disturb workspaces, so it is vital that you take responsibility to keep your workspace clean. And because you can’t control others, don’t transfer the germs from your hands to your face. Germ contact with your eyes, nose and mouth is what results in illnesses.
- Invest in disposable disinfectant wipes.
- Wash your hands often – soap and hot water for at least 30 seconds – In a pinch? Try a waterless hand sanitizer.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when sneezing or coughing (not your hand!)
- Keep your kids home from school when they are sick (this keeps other kids and their teachers from getting sick and continuing the spread of disease).
- Avoid sharing food, eating utensils, drinking glasses, pens, pencils, towels, or other personal items. (Use extra precautions for those office pot-lucks during the coming holidays.)
- Wipe down your desk surface, phone, (hand set or headset and buttons) and keyboard everyday….any surface you touch with your hands.
- Take it upon yourself to wipe down community areas especially the copy machine, community water cooler, commonly used filing cabinets, light switches or anywhere else others regularly touch.
Following prevention precautions will not only help you avoid the flu but other illnesses as well. Like your mom used to say – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure… and it costs a lot less.
