Proper flu etiquette

The big topic of the local news is H1N1 (or Swine Flu). I anticipate that it is something that you all are concerned about too! So, we are going to start dedicating more time on the blog to answering your questions about the H1N1 virus and what you can do to keep yourself healthy.

I sit on a committee comprised of doctors, nurses and medical personnel who know their stuff. A commitment I will make to you is to take the information I am receiving from this flu committee and keep you in the loop.

Our first meeting is today at 10 a.m. In the meantime, I wanted to give you a few helpful hints on how to stay healthy during this flu season:

1) Wash your hands! Wash your hands! Wash your hands! Hand sanitizer and washing your hands for the length of singing "Happy Birthday" is a good rule of thumb. Keeping alcohol-based hand foam on you at all times will help you keep hand-washing top-of-mind.

2) Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or into a tissue. Sneezing and coughing in your hand only spreads germs!

3) Practice social distancing. People think this is odd, but if you are in public try to stay at least 3 feet away from others.

More to come on the H1N1 front. Hope this will keep you going until I can give you more of an update.

- Whitney Jodry

Public Information Officer