Please Pass The Tissue

United Staffing Associates is fortunate to have a knowledgeable team of health and safety professionals that assist temporary workers and Clients with understanding and abating health hazards and minimizing risk exposure. Norma White, Director of Health & Safety, has more than 30 years of safety experience and has spent 7 years prior to joining the USA team working as a Federal Food Inspector. Part of Norma’s expertise is providing guidance on seasonal topics such as heat injury and illness prevention and cold and flu epidemic. Here are some helpful tips from the desk of Norma White in regards to how to limit your exposure to the cold and flu bug this season:

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), it is recommended that individuals receive an annual flu vaccine early in the season. This season it is recommended that only injectable flu vaccines (flu shots) be used. Depending on the type of flu shot, an individual may be protected against three or four flu viruses. Flu shot options for this season include:

• Standard
• High-Dose
• Adjuvant Shot
• Culture-Grown Shot
• Recombinant Vaccines

Interestingly, there have been concerns regarding the effectiveness of the nasal spray vaccine, so it is not recommended for the 2016-2017 flu season. Not all individuals fight the flu with the vaccine – some prefer more natural remedies, such as:

1. Emergen C. This product was initially created to help teachers stay healthy during flu season. It can be found at many neighborhood markets and is reasonably priced to help individuals in any environment minimize the effects of the flu.

2. Echinacea. Also found at many neighborhood markets, Echinacea is an herb that has been used by hundreds of people for many years. Recently there has been a resurgence in popularity of this herb.

3. Chicken Soup. It may be good for the soul, but it may be even better as an all-time favorite cure for the cold and flu. The idea that hot soup cures the common cold has been around since the 12th century.

4. Zinc Gluconate Lozenges. Science hasn’t provided a guaranteed cure for the common cold or the flu, but there is evidence in favor of zinc being slightly stronger than other popular household remedies. It is believed that Zinc lozenges or syrup can cut the time a common cold lasts in healthy people, if they take it within 24 hours of feeling sick according to the Cochrane Collaboration.

No matter the method used to fight off a cold or the flu, it’s best to minimize exposing others to the cold or flu by covering a cough, having plenty of tissue nearby, using proper hand washing techniques and staying home when running a fever. Of course, nothing can replace the advice of a licensed or certified medical professional and it is recommended that proper care is sought before prescribing to any treatment method.