Tips for Limiting the Spread of Germs
and Preventing Infection

In addition to receiving a flu vaccine, there are many other ways to protect yourself and those you love from exposure to influenza, including the following:

• Educate family members and roommates about the heightened risk of seasonal and H1N1 influenza for those with neuromuscular disease, and the importance of staying away from others who are experiencing flulike symptoms.
• Promote good hand hygiene among everyone in your home, which means washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice), especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60 percent alcohol also are effective.
• Encourage everyone in your home to practice respiratory etiquette by covering coughs and sneezes with tissues or with your arm. Dispose of tissues in a waste receptacle after use.
• Among your roommates and/or immediate family members, stress the importance of not sharing utensils and drinking cups, and encourage them to avoid touching their faces, especially after handling shared items such as telephones or remote controls.
• Educate yourself about symptoms of the flu — fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue. Diarrhea and vomiting also may be experienced. Contact your physician as soon as possible if you develop flulike symptoms.
• Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Flu.gov for additional tips and recommendations.