Flu Prevention

Personal Prevention

Your health is in your own two (clean!) hands, so follow this flu prevention advice from health experts.

Avoid the flu
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
  • If tissues aren't available, cough or sneeze into your elbow.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water, especially after you cough, sneeze or touch shared surfaces. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective (60+% alcohol).
  • Clean shared surfaces (doorknobs, keyboards, phones, etc.) with disinfectant.
  • Do not share cups, eating utensils, smoking paraphernalia, lip balm, etc.
  • Try to avoid close contact (*see below*) with sick people. Keep a distance of about 6 feet if possible.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
  • Get a seasonal flu vaccine.
  • Strengthen your immune system: eat a balanced diet; exercise on a regular basis; get plenty of rest.
  • Follow public health advice regarding avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
  • Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.
Limit close contact with sick people

Close contact includes any contact between persons likely to result in exposure to respiratory droplets. Examples include
  • sharing eating or drinking utensils
  • kissing or hugging
  • sharing lip balms, smoking paraphernalia or other things that touch the mouth or nose
Close contact typically does NOT include activities such as walking by an infected person or sitting across from someone in an office or waiting room.

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students