Tips to protect yourself and prevent the spread of H1N1 influenza

The Minnesota Department of Health recommends several everyday actions you can take to stay healthy:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
• Wash your hands often to protect yourself from germs. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Practice other good health habits. Keep yourself strong – and more resistant to disease – by getting plenty of sleep, staying physically active, managing stress, drinking plenty of fluids and eating nutritious food.

If you experience flu-like symptoms – a fever of 100 F or higher, runny nose, cough, respiratory congestion – we ask that you stay home from work or school and contact a health care provider. We remind you that the SJU Health Center and St. Joseph CentraCare Clinic are local providers available to our campus communities.