Stay Healthy

Flu Prevention

Influenza (the flu) is spread through coughing or sneezing from infected people. There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water (or a hand sanitizer that has 60% or greater alcohol content).
  • For hand sanitizer, squirt an amount about the size of a quarter in your hand. Rub your hands together, making sure you get every spot while singing the happy birthday song twice. To finish, just let your hands air dry.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid people who are sick. Stay home if you are sick, and see a doctor when needed.

Flu Symptoms

The symptoms of the H1N1 flu are similar to symptoms of the seasonal flu.  If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, follow the recommendations of your health care provider.

Typical flu symptoms include the following:

• A fever greater than 37.8° Celsius, or 100° Fahrenheit
• Respiratory symptoms, such as chills, cough, and runny nose
• Diarrhea or other unexplained severe illness
• Sore throat
• Body aches, headache
• Fatigue, exhaustion

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Irritable
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need 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 Treatment

If you experience flu-like symptoms or have family members who are experiencing these symptoms, you should:

• Stay home if you are ill.  Notify your supervisor of any absence.
• If you are at work and become ill, notify your supervisor of your illness and go home.
• Seek medical care.
• Stay home until you are free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever medication.

If you have an underlying or chronic medical condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, emphysema, or if you are pregnant, you should call your health care provider for specific recommendations for any special care you may need.  

Headline news

Vaccines for seasonal flu at TI sites

On-site flu vaccine clinics this fall will provide immunizations for seasonal flu. The on-site clinics will not have vaccinations for the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus. No appointment or sign-up is needed for the on-site clinics. See Dallas-area clinics schedule here.

Putting H1N1 in Perspective

It seems like everyone is freaking out about the upcoming flu season and the havoc H1N1 might wreak in America. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sibelius says she’s “preparing for the worst.” Experts are worried vaccines won’t be ready in time. Schools are contemplating quarantine situations. And the media is very concerned, judging by all the “Swine Flu – How Will It Affect Your Weekend?” stories each week. But how worried should we really be? A little perspective shows that H1N1 isn’t as scary as it sounds. Pandemic, with all its seemingly lethal connotations, simply means geographically widespread. The common cold, for instance, can always be classified as a pandemic. Read more