Your first defense is a good immune system. You will have this, baring any immune diseases, by taking good care of yourself. You do this by getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, eating the right foods and getting rid of any stress. We will not get in to what you should be doing here. Just keep yourself in good physical health and that will help you fight off any bug that might get into your system.
Whenever you are out or around anyone that has been out in the public, your chances are greater of coming into contact with the flu bug. The best thing that you can do is just get in to the habit of not touching your face or any part of it. The way that flu bugs get into your system is through your mouth or nose.
If you have touched something with the virus on it and touch your mouth or put a finger in your nose, you have just infected yourself. This is really a good habit to get into regardless of flu season or not. Especially when out in the public, are other things to catch than the flu.
Washing your hands often will help in not spreading any germs. Good old soap and warm water will always do the trick. You can use some hand sanitizer gel if you are not at a place where you can wash with soap and water.
Hand gel sanitizer has alcohol as a base in it to kill the germs. One thing to remember with hand gel is it is flammable. So just stay away from any open flame until you get it all evaporated off. No lighting of any smoking materials or lighting any candles.
One place to make sure that you do not touch your face, and you want to use hand sanitizer at is the grocery store. People have to eat sick or not. So this is one place that is traveled to by all. Make sure that you wash all produce and anything else that is not package when for sale.
When you are in a public rest room always use a paper towel to turn on and off the water. Furthermore, use one to grab the door handle with to leave. This way you will avoid any germs that are on them. Plus had you ever seen anyone use the facility and then just walk out without washing?
Covering up your face when you cough or sneeze will help to prevent any germs from spreading. When out in the public and some other person coughs or sneezes and they do not cover up, first just turn away from them. Hopefully, you will have not breathed in any droplets that got into the air. Then remind them of decent public manners. You can wear a medical mask when out too. This will filter the air that you breath, but only to a point.
If you are in a tight place like an elevator and someone sneezes without covering up, you can gargle with warm salt water and swab out your nose with the same. The salt water will kill any germs provided it is strong enough. Try 1 to 2 tablespoons of salt to 8 ounces of warm water.
The flu shot can be a good way to help in preventing from catching the flu. However, as we all are hearing on the news, the H1N1 vaccines are in short supply. If you have not been able to or just do not want to trust it, do the steps above, and you should help your chances of not getting the flu. Nevertheless, if you do get the flu go and see your doctor.
