Keep Your Office Healthy and Ahead of the Game this Cold & Flu Season

Cold and flu season is upon us, friends. So let’s take a quick refresher on how to avoid these pesky cold and flu bugs and keep our homes and offices cootie free this fall and winter. And, of course, Office Products Alliance has all the office supplies and office products you need to keep a healthy workplace.

Refresher #1: How are cold and flu viruses spread?
In order to properly explain how viruses are spread, and therefore prevented, I have to say gross words like mucus and saliva. Eww. I do apologize! So, back to the point, viruses are spread through mucus and saliva that is propelled into the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs and an uninfected person breathes in the air born virus. Or, if an infected person coughs or sneezes into their hands and then touches a door knob, or the office printer, or a phone leaving a path of virus cooties behind them for someone else to touch.

Refresher #2: What are the difference in symptoms between Influenza and the common cold?
The common cold virus usually shows annoying, but mild symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose, cough / congestion, watery eyes, and maybe a fever.
The sure sign of the flu (Influenza) is severe head, body and muscle aches, along with shortness of breath, cough, fatigue and perhaps a fever and chills.

Refresher #3: What are the best ways to stay healthy during cold & flu season?
I’m sure I don’t even have to mention getting the flu shot, because you’ve all gotten it already, right? Of course you have! However, the flu shot, while it is vital, isn’t 100% guaranteed to fend off the flu bug. So, besides the flu shot, take extra care to not touch your mouth or face. Thoroughly wash your hands and do so OFTEN. Keep hand sanitizer handy for the times you are unable to wash them with soap and water. And, of course, do not share drinks or food, clean counter tops, desks, phones, etc. regularly, and always sneeze or cough into your elbow rather than your hand.

Refresher #4: What to do if you get the flu…
DO NOT GO TO WORK!!  The last thing we need to share is a virus. Stay home and rest, drink plenty of fluids, all that good stuff.

Let Office Products Alliance help keep your supply room stocked for this year’s cold and flu season. Follow this link https://officeproductsalliance.com/cold-and-flu-season/ to get all the hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes and Kleenex you need!