How to Avoid Swine Flu If You Live in a Dormitory

Swine Flu, also known as H1N1, is epidemic through all walks of life. Since the most vulnerable people are individuals under the age of twenty-five, students who live in a college dorm are at a high risk of catching this. If you are a college student, and you live in a dorm, you have to take whatever steps necessary so you do not catch Swine Flu. Just by following some simple tips will help protect you.

The most obvious way to protect you from getting H1N1 is to get the Swine Flu shot. Even though during the past few months, it had not been readily available, there now are enough immunizations to take care all individuals in the United States. Check at different areas near your college such as a hospital, doctor's office and your campus health clinic. Also check your local newspapers and see if different stores, such as Rite Aid, are having immunization clinics.

The next step is to constantly wash your hands. Do not just do this when you use the restrooms. You also should do this before and after you go to classes and the dining hall. This way if you have contact with somebody who has Swine Flu and get germs on your hands, you will be protecting yourself by a simple act of washing your hands. Remember that germs can also be on door handles and stair banisters. When you wash your hands, use warm to hot water and bacterial soap. Make sure you lather up and scrub your hands for thirty seconds. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer available. It does not have to be a large bottle. It can be a small, pocket-sized one that you can carry in your backpack or pocket.

Avoid touching your face, especially around your nose, mouth and eyes. Doing this will easily spreads germs. If you sneeze or cough, use a tissue. Then throw the tissue down the toilet and flush it. Then, of course, wash your hands.

If you are sharing equipment like computers, phones and televisions, carry a can of disinfectant and spray this equipment. This is a very effective way of killing germs.

Make sure that you are getting enough sleep. It is obvious that college students tend to wait until the last minute to get papers written and to study for exams. It is best to spread the different assignments out over the week. The best amount of sleep to get is seven to nine hours a day.

While the college campus provide plenty of food and beverages, especially in the dining halls, make sure that you are eating the right food. It is best to eat food that has fiber in it, and has vitamin C. Eat food that is high in carbohydrates, such as pasta and whole wheat bread. Drink plenty of water. The recommended daily allowance for water is eight glasses. Include enough vitamins and minerals. If you do not think you are getting enough, buy them as supplements. Also, avoid foods that are high is sugar. The reason for this is that sugar reduces the infection fighting properties of your immune system. Instead of eating a candy bar for that snack, eat an orange or an apple because they both are high in Vitamin C.

Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks. If you cannot avoid it altogether, at least reduce the amount that you normally consume.

Do not share food and drinks. This is a very easy way to spread germs.

Make sure you get plenty of exercise. This will help your immune system. However, do not overdo it. For example, you might decide to do some running. While this can increase your energy, it will be a strain on your knees and joints. If you do not want to get involved in a strenuous exercise, try something like Yoga.

Avoid contact with sick people. If you know people who have swine flu, the best thing to do is stay away from them. That minimizes the chances of you catching it. If you have a roommate who becomes sick, either find a person who can stay with until he or she gets better or you can wear a face mask so you do not catch the germs.

If you start to get flu-like symptoms, visit the health clinic on campus or a local emergency room to confirm it. Once you notice the symptoms, wear a face mask to prevent germs from spreading. Stay home from school for at least twenty-four hours. If you have a temperature of 100 degrees or above, wait until the temperature is back to normal before returning to class.

Even though the immunization is the most effective way to prevent you from getting Swine Flu, just by eating healthy, getting enough sleep, keeping your hands germ-free and using basic common sense will ensure that you will have a flu-free college experience.

Reference:

Former College Student