WASHINGTON - Locally we are well into Flu season

Here are just a few FLU symptoms warning signs: Fever, Cough, “Achy all over Feeling” yep its flu season again.

Are you ready to help prevent the spread of infection in your workplace and among your fellow employees? What advice can you offer fellow employees who are sick with the flu? Flu.gov, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, recommends these reminders:

- Avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness. Remember many persons might be sick for a week or longer. With seasonal flu, adults may be contagious from 1 day before they develop symptoms to up to 7 days after they get sick. Children can be contagious longer.

- With the exception of making trips to get medical care or for other necessities, stay home. This includes not going to work until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.

- Always cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue to avoid spreading infected droplets on others. Using your forearm to cover your face is a safe practice.

Preventing the Spread of Infection in the Workplace:

Ever wonder how yourself and your employees can best help prevent the spread of flu in their work areas?

Flu.gov points out that flu virus can survive for 24 to 48 hours or longer on hard surfaces and 8 to12 hours on porous surfaces such as paper or cloth. Flu viruses can then be spread when a person touches a hard surface (such as a desk or doorknob) or an object (such as a keyboard, papers, or pen) where the virus has landed and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Liberal use of hand sanitizers can defeat this transmission of virus germs.

Remember this limerick “If you got reason to doubt..best have yer doctor check it out.”