Cut your flu risk in half: Washing your hands at least three times a day can help.

Read for more information on cold and flu:

*Preventation

*Symptoms

*Treatment

Preventing colds and the flu is in your hands.

Following the tips below can cut your flu risk in half.

Wash your hands often!

*Use soap and water. Use a towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.

*If there’s no water, use a hand sanitizer that contains alcohol.

Stop the spread of germs.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Disinfect solid surfaces at work and home often. (e.g. door knobs, TV remotes, etc.)

Don’t touch your eyes, nose and mouth.

Avoid close contact with people who have a cold or the flu.

How can you tell if it’s a cold or the flu?

Cold: Symptoms develop slowly and are usually milder. May include:

*Fever up to 102F

*Runny or stuffy nose

*Mild Fatigue

*Slight muscle aches

*Mild Headache

*Sore throat

*Sneezing

*Watery eyes

*Can last 2-14 days

Flu: Symptoms come on suddenly and are more severe. May include:

*Fever over 102F

*Stuffy nose sometime

*Extreme fatigue

*Dry cough

*Muscle aches, especially in arms, legs and back.

*Headache

*Nausea

*Chills and sweat

*Loss of appetite

*Can last 2-7 days but cough and fatigue may linger for 2-3 weeks

Fact: Antibiotics don’t work on cold and flu viruses.

Treating colds and the flu is about comfort.

*Get lots of rest, especially while you have a fever. Rest helps your body fight illness.

*Drink lots of fluids. This helps loosen mucus.

*Soothe a sore throat by gargling with warm salt water or try throat spray or lozenges.

*Use saline (salt water) nose drops.

*Avoid alcohol and tobacco. They can make the cold symptoms worse.

If you have flu symptoms, call your healthcare provider if :

*you are 65 years old or older, pregnant or have a chronic medical condition such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease.

*your illness seems severe.

*you have a young child with flu symptoms.

Your doctor may prescribe a flu antiviral drug. But it works best if started within 2 days of getting sick.

Tylenol is the #1 doctor-recommended brand of pain reliever/fever reducer for cold and flu symptoms. Tylenol is different than other pain relievers.

*Tylenol (acetaminophen) won’t irritate your stomach the way aspirin, naproxen sodium (Aleve) or even ibuprofen (Motrin, IB, Advil) can.

*Tylenol doesn’t interfere with aspirin heart therapy the way ibuprofen can.

*When taken at recommended doses, Tylenol won’t affect kidney conditions the way ibuprofen, naproxen sodium or aspirin.

*Use Tylenol products for reducing fever and relieving body aches, sore throat and headache.

Read your medicine labels. Always read and follow the label. Do not take more than directed and never take more than one medicine that contains acetaminophen at the same time.

*Disclaimer: This information was taken from a pamphlet provided by Tylenol. If there is any additional information that you need, please call the above number for more information.