Flu Season Strategy: Protecting Your Business and Your Health

 

By Mike DuBose with Blake DuBose and Dr. Surb Guram, MD

 

We all know that it’s no fun getting the flu. Sufferers endure aches, fever, fatigue, and sweats, and complications from the flu can even lead to death! As Consumer Reports noted in a recent issue, “The flu can knock you out for weeks—and that’s if you’re a healthy young adult. For the young, the old, and those with weak immune systems, the risks of complications, such as pneumonia, are much higher.”

Despite proven methods of preventing the flu, it remains a common ailment—especially during flu season, which runs from November to April. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that up to 20 percent of the American population suffers from the flu each season, and nearly 200,000 people are hospitalized due to the flu annually. Influenza and pneumonia are the eighth most common cause of death in the United States. Although the exact numbers are difficult to determine, the CDC estimates that around 36,000 people die of the flu and flu-related complications each year. Julie Corliss notes in an October 2013 Harvard Health article that having the flu can even contribute to heart attack risks. Being sick with the flu increases inflammation (a major factor behind heart attacks) and can also lower blood oxygen levels, forcing the heart to work harder. In other words, contracting the flu virus can not only take you out of action for several weeks—it could also threaten your life!

For organizations that rely on office environments to get their work done, the flu is a major threat not only to health, but also to productivity. One infected employee can disable a business, non-profit, or government agency for the entire season as the virus spreads from one staff member to the next in waves. When stricken with the flu, individuals must take time off from work to recover, which can slow productivity drastically—or bring it to a standstill, in the case of some smaller businesses. Relatively healthy people could be back at work within a week or two, but older employees or those with other health concerns might take longer to recover. With key staff out of commission, your office could literally shut down, harming profits and customer relationships as you fail to deliver promised goods and services.

A major factor behind the flu’s threat to businesses is how fast viruses move through communal environments. In fact, in a September 2014 Wall Street Journal article, Sumathi Reddy reported on a recent study conducted by University of Arizona researchers that showed just how quickly germs can spread. In their study, researchers applied a non-harmful virus to the front door knob of an office building, and according to Reddy, “Within two hours, the virus had contaminated the break room—coffee pot, microwave button, fridge door handle—and then spread to restrooms, individual offices, and cubicles.” In four hours, it had spread to half of the surfaces—and fifty percent of the organization’s 80 employees. Surprisingly, many of the infected people didn’t even know each other! The University of Arizona’s researchers found similar outcomes when one person in the office was contaminated with the virus rather than it being planted on the front door.

Symptoms of the flu

Some people confuse early flu symptoms with those of a cold, but the flu tends to strike quickly and the symptoms are much more severe, according to the Mayo Clinic. Individuals with the flu may exhibit fatigue or weakness; muscle aches; joint pain; chills and/or sweats; high fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit); headache; dry cough; sore throat; flushed skin and watery eyes; and nasal congestion. Trouble breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest or belly, sudden dizziness, confusion, and/or severe vomiting may also occur (WebMD recommends that anyone suffering these serious symptoms seek medical attention immediately). One of the biggest dangers is that many individuals believe they have a cold and wait too long to visit a physician, which allows the flu to worsen and develop into life-threatening pneumonia. In addition, they may continue to show up to work and spread the flu germs to others because they think it’s “just a cold!”

Who is at the highest risk?

According to the CDC, the individuals who are at the highest risk for severe health threats, including hospitalization or death, as a result of catching the flu are:

• Young children
• Pregnant women
• Individuals with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart or lung problems
• People aged 65 and older
• Healthcare workers

Protecting your business, yourself, and others

Want to prevent your company from being crippled by a widespread infection? Simply want to avoid the pain and misery of being sick with the flu? Here’s what to do next, based on recommendations from the Mayo Clinic, CDC, Harvard University Medical School, Consumer Reports, and the Wall Street Journal:

1-     Get your flu shot:From December through February, flu season is at its peak, but it can strike anywhere from November to April. Fortunately, there are preventative measures, including the flu shot, that can help many of us escape the dreaded virus. (However, there could be shortages this year because of production problems amongst manufacturers, so if you have not received your shot, now is the time!) Once administered, the flu shot takes two weeks to become effective. Even if you fall sick with the flu, having had the shot may help minimize your pain and suffering. According to an October 2014 Consumer Reports article, “The vaccine prevents the illness up to 80 percent of the time in adults younger than 60 and about half of the time in those 65 and older. If you do get sick, you usually contract a milder case.” You can obtain a flu shot from a doctor, or, in many cases, you can just walk into a grocery store pharmacy, fill out a short form, and receive a shot within minutes without a prescription. There are several types of flu vaccines to consider, including the trivalent (which protects against three of the most common types of flu virus), quadrivalent (which addresses three plus an additional strain that tends to appear later in the season), and high-dose versions. Consumer Reports recommends against the high-dose version due to a higher likelihood of side effects. Unfortunately, some insurers do not cover the quadrivalent shot (our preferred choice), but Medicare does. Even if it’s not covered for you, it’s worth up to $38 to save yourself some potential misery! If you are a business owner, it is often in everyone’s best interest to pay for your employees to have the shot, as we did—the money spent on this preventative measure is usually repaid in fewer employee sick days, increased productivity, and the safety and well-being of your staff. There is also a nasal spray vaccine available for children ages 2-8 so they can avoid the shot. (The downside is that the child may have to receive a second dose a month later.)

2-     Avoid sick people when possible: It’s astounding how many people attend church, run errands, and go into work when they’re running a fever and feeling terrible! They’re not only suffering themselves, but by spreading their germs in public areas, they’re contaminating others as well. If you get within six feet of a person who has the flu, chances are you will be exposed to the virus. Of course, you may not always know when a person is sick, but avoid shaking hands or being in prolonged contact with anyone who appears to exhibit flu-like symptoms. (Also, if you are sick yourself, consider staying home as a courtesy to others!) Dr. Kelly Reynolds of the University of Arizona said in the Wall Street Journal that although pathogens can survive anywhere from seconds to months, two to four days is generally the maximum for respiratory viruses like the flu. If you are a manager, make it clear to sick employees that they are expected to stay home (either taking time off or working from home) when they are sick. Be consistent and model this behavior yourself to help prevent workplace outbreaks.

3-     Wash or sanitize your hands frequently: Our hands serve as portals to transmit germs from common surfaces or interpersonal contact, like handshakes, to our mouths. In fact, some studies indicate that we touch our noses, eyes, and mouths about 16 to 20 times per hour. Cell phones are huge germ carriers, with one study finding that your cell phone likely hosts more harmful germs than a toilet! It makes sense when you consider that we touch hundreds of surfaces and come into contact with many other human beings each day and then use our phones. Surfaces such as doorknobs, gym equipment, elevator buttons, gasoline station handles, coffee pots, light switches, computer keyboards, water fountains, restaurant menus, tables, and bathroom fixtures are just a few of the bacteria and virus-ridden surfaces you will likely be exposed to on a daily basis. According to our interviews with local pharmacists, one of the most dangerous areas is the pharmacy because it’s where sick people go to pick up their medicines (watch out for the credit card machine and the counter!). Grocery carts, too, are rife with germs from the sick children and adults who sit in or use them. However, you can cut your risk of introducing these germs to your body by washing your hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or by applying hand sanitizer. In the University of Arizona study, when half of the office workers were given sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, detection of the virus on people’s hands dropped from 39% to 11%. If you’re in a situation where politeness dictates you should shake hands, be sure to wash or disinfect them thoroughly afterward.

4-     Open doors cautiously: When you are drying your hands in the bathroom, open the door with the paper towel and throw it in the trash can upon exiting, rather than touching the doorknob with your bare hands. In one study, even 40% of hospital workers failed to wash their hands when leaving the bathroom! Use your elbows or arms to push open doors in public places so that your hands don’t make contact, or use the very bottom (and less used) part of the doorknob. When in elevators or at the ATM, use your knuckles to push the buttons. Just remember: when you open that mall door, it’s like shaking hands with thousands of other people, many of whom are carrying illness-causing germs!

5-     Look out for hidden dangers at home and in the office: Heating and air conditioning ducts can spread airborne viruses like the flu around homes or offices, so even if you’re being careful about not touching germy surfaces, there may be danger coming in from the vents. Work from home if others in the office appear to be sick, and sanitize common surfaces in the home if your family has the flu. Also, wash your hands particularly well if you have young children—studies have found that 30 to 40% of the children studied at day care centers were carrying respiratory viruses, even without any outward symptoms.

6-     Disinfect your belongings: Clean your cell phone several times each day with an alcohol solution. Use it on your hands first, then lightly swipe both sides of the phone. Do this on anything else you touch frequently, like a computer mouse, office phone, or car keys, as well. This may seem overzealous, but all it takes is for one germ to enter your body through dirty hands and you could be sick for weeks!

What to do if you get the flu

If you suspect that you may have the flu (note that even if you have been vaccinated, vaccines don’t cover every strain), see your medical provider immediately. Many people tend to put it off, but antiviral medications like Tamiflu and Relenza are significantly more effective at cutting symptoms and reducing complications when taken within two days of getting sick. According to the CDC, “For people with high risk factors, early treatment with an antiviral drug can mean the difference between having a milder illness versus a very serious illness that could result in a hospital stay.”

Listen to your doctor’s recommendations for how to minimize the impact of the flu. Consumer Reports recommended getting plenty of rest and consuming lots of fluids to stay well-hydrated and recover more quickly. Over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol, Aleve, and Advil can also help by treating the aches and pains that often come with the flu.

Since the flu is a virus, it typically cannot be treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, though, medical providers cannot distinguish between the two. In these cases, they may prescribe antibiotics to use only if the symptoms worsen, which could indicate complications or other illnesses. Recent research has concluded that overuse of antibiotics can cause a lowered resistance to future infections, so avoid taking them when possible; however, as with any medical situation, you should follow your doctor’s guidelines and cautions.

 

The bottom line: To protect yourself from the flu, we recommend eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, considering the quadrivalent flu shot, and avoiding germs whenever possible. Even these healthy behaviors are not a guarantee, but if you follow them and do contract the flu, it will likely be a milder case. Sure, you may have some side effects or a reaction to the shot, and it can’t absolutely guarantee that you won’t get sick, but it beats a hospitalization or even death. If you are part of the high-risk group, you should be even warier of the dangers!

 

About the Authors: Our corporate and personal purpose is to “create opportunities to improve lives” by sharing our knowledge, experience, success, research, and mistakes.

Mike DuBose has been in business since 1981, authored The Art of Building a Great Business, is a field instructor with USC’s graduate school, and a former licensed counselor. He is the owner of four debt-free corporations, including Columbia Conference Center, Research Associates, and The Evaluation Group. Visit his nonprofit website www.mikedubose.com for a free copy of his book, The Art of Building a Great Business, and other useful articles.

Blake DuBose graduated from Newberry College Schools of Business and Psychology and is president of DuBose Web Group. View our published articles at www.duboseweb.com

 

Dr. Surb Guram, MD is a board-certified internist and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. He is a partner with the SC Internal Medicine Associates in Irmo, SC and has practiced internal medicine in the Midlands for the past 30 years. See www.scinternalmedicine.com for more information on Dr. Guram and his practice.

 

Katie Beck serves as Director of Communications for the DuBose family of companies. She graduated from the USC School of Journalism and Honors College.

 

© Copyright 2014 by Mike DuBose and Blake DuBose–All Rights Reserved. You have permission and we encourage you to forward the full article to friends or colleagues and/or distribute it as part of personal or professional use, providing that the authors are credited. However, no part of this article may be altered or published in any other manner without the written consent of the authors. If you would like written approval to post this information on an appropriate website or to publish this information, please contact Katie Beck at [email protected] and briefly explain how the article will be used and we will respond promptly. Thank you for honoring our hard work!

 

 

Sign up here to start your free subscription to MidlandsLife!