Working in high-risk areas such as hospitals regularly exposes health care workers to the influenza virus, putting them at an elevated risk for contracting the illness. The Elk Grove Village, IL-based American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine recently published the following tips to help health care workers avoid the flu this season:
- Get a flu shot: Flu shots are safe and effective, yet a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found only 41 percent of health care workers regularly receive the vaccine.
- Adhere to good infection-control practices with patients: Proper handwashing and simple steps, such as covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, can be very effective in limiting the spread of the flu.
- Stay educated: Employers in the health care field should consistently stress to their workers the importance of infection-control practices.
