Wash Your Hands
The flu is a nasty disease that runs rampant at most college campuses every year. This virus is extremely infectious, so it often spreads like wildfire in the confinement of classrooms and dormitories. Find out what you can do to avoid the flu in college!
Washing your hands is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of the flu virus. Some people touch their face as many as 1,000 times a day, which means that clean hands are extremely important for staying healthy. We’re all conditioned to wash our hands after using the bathroom (if you don’t, you’re disgusting), but we actually should wash our hands a little more often. The flu virus can live on surfaces for up to two days, so be mindful the next time you use a computer keyboard that hundreds of other people used the same day.
Clean Your Room
Most college dorm rooms are extremely messy, and living in your own filth has a way of making you sick. You and your roommate need to set aside a dedicated time each week to clean your room. If you both work on it at the same time, it won’t seem so bad.
Possibly the most important thing is to remove and wash all dirty laundry. Piles of used, sweaty clothes are theperfect breeding ground for germs and mold. Take care of your laundry, or you’re just asking to get sick.
Take Out the Trash
Now that you’ve cleaned up, it’s time to take out the trash. That half-eaten pizza from two weeks ago is probably starting to smell, and you need to get rid of it. Aside from the gross-out factor, garbage is also very likely to contain cold and flu germs.
If your roommate or friends have thrown away used tissues, make sure to dispose of them at the end of the day. You should also use trash bags to limit your contact with the garbage itself.
Disinfect Everything
If you want to make your living area germ-free, then you’ll need to pick up some disinfectant wipes and sprays. You should spray or wipe down any hard surface and anything that gets used regularly. Don’t forget to wipe down light switches, computer keyboards, and TV remotes. It might sound a little OCD, but you can’t be too careful when it comes to the flu.
Don’t worry about disinfecting all the time, but a thorough cleaning is a good idea every one or two weeks during flu season.
Limit Drinking
Drinking alcohol is a common part of college life, but heavy drinking leads to a weakened immune system. A drink or two won’t hurt, but intoxication will compromise your immune system and make you more likely to get sick. You should also avoid playing drinking games, like beer pong, where multiple players drink out of the same cups. Beer and mixed drinks usually do not have enough alcohol content to kill off the flu virus, so the cups are not automatically sterilized.
Get Some Rest
Sleep is one of the most important things that your body needs to fight off the flu virus. Getting plenty of rest keeps your immune system in tip-top shape, but many college students don’t get nearly enough sleep. Force yourself to go to bed earlier, especially if the flu is going around. You might miss out on a party or two, but you’ll be a lot less likely to get sick.
Stay Away From Sick People
The main reason why college campuses get hit so hard by the flu virus is that so many people are living and interacting within such a small space. While you can’t avoid everyone, you can do your best to stay away from sick people when you see them. Even if someone claims they don’t have the flu, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Get a Flu Shot
If you want a more reliable method of preventing the flu, you can always get a flu shot. Most colleges offer cheap or free flu shots right on campus. The whole thing only takes a few minutes, and then you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your semester.
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