Cover your coughs and sneezes

  • Published
  • By Maj. Robert F. Linn
  • 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron
The peek of flu season may be well behind us, but there are still plenty of bugs out there just waiting to infect you, to include the common cold and the flu.

The common cold causes infection all year round. There are over 200 viruses that are responsible for the common cold with the rhinovirus causing the most infections. Flu activity typically peaks in the U.S. in January and February but can occur as late as May. The exact timing of the flu, however, is very unpredictable and can vary from season to season.

Our best defense against the constant threat is to take action every day to stop the spread of germs. It's everyone's responsibility. Hand washing is the single most effective way to stop the spread of disease. Proper hand hygiene technique is extremely important. First, turn on the water to a comfortable warm temperature and speed. Wet hands and wrists with water first, then apply 3-5 mL of soap. Scrub 15-20 seconds between fingers, tops of knuckles and around and under nail beds. Then rinse with your fingers pointed downward. Lastly, dry your hands thoroughly with a clean, dry, paper towel and use a different piece of clear, dry paper towel to turn off the water faucet. You're done!

There are other very important actions we can take to prevent the spread of disease. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve if you don't have a tissue available. Afterwards, wash your hands with soap and water, or if not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid spreading germs by touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you touch one of these areas, wash your hands! Try to avoid close contact with sick people and if you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible. If you are sick with a flu-like illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you stay home for 24 hours after your fever is gone.

Additionally, one of the most important steps in preventing the flu and other disease is vaccination. The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine which for the 2010-2011 flu season provided protection against influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus. Everyone 6 months of age and older should be vaccinated against the flu as soon as the seasons vaccine is available, typically by October or November. People at high risk of serious flu complications including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease, people 65 years and older, health care workers and those that care for high risk people should receive priority vaccination.

Military units and commanders in collaboration with their infection control teams can have a direct impact on reducing the spread of infections. Training is vital in establishing effective infection control practices. Annual training of unit members in addition to ongoing surveillance and spot corrections can go a long way.

A healthy unit is an effective unit. Let's work together to stop the germs in there tracks!