The colder months are nearly here, which means it’s time to prepare yourself to fight against the flu. Catching the flu is quite a taxing ordeal, almost always resulting in having to call out sick from work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has done studies that show there is a notable spike in illness-related work absences each year during flu season.

Get Your Flu Shot

Failing to get your flu shot is setting yourself up for disaster. Not only will you likely miss work, but you could end up spending a pretty penny on medical costs, too. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a study estimating the annual direct cost of the flu in the U.S. is $4.6 billion. That number includes costs such as doctor’s office visits, medication and hospital visits. The flu causes U.S. workers to lose up to 111 million workdays each year! That can add up to nearly $7 billion in cost due to sick days and lost productivity.

The easiest way to stave off the flu is to get your flu shot! The recommendation is for everyone aged 6 months and older to get vaccinated, with few exceptions. Older adults and young children are particularly susceptible to the flu, but anyone can catch it. Who wants to be down and out with body aches, chills, cough, fatigue, sore throat and nausea? Take care of yourself and go get your shot! It doesn’t have to be a time-consuming event; at AFC Urgent Care North Andover, no appointment is needed to get your flu shot. You can walk right in to receive quality care from qualified medical professionals and protect yourself for the season.

Keep It Clean

It’s common sense that you wash your hands after using the restroom, but it’s also important to wash your hands periodically throughout the day. Be aware of touching common-use surfaces, such as doorknobs, hand railings or elevator buttons, and clean your hands after each use. Remember during washing to scrub the front and back of your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Finally, it’s a good idea to wipe down your work area with sanitizing wipes. Germs can lurk on your phone, desk and keyboard just waiting to get you sick. Do yourself a favor this winter, and up your hygiene game.

Stay Home if You’re Sick

If you do get the flu, stay home! You may feel like you just don’t have time to be sick, but the best thing you can do for your body (and your co-workers) is stay away from the office and rest! Your body needs time to recuperate, so take it easy and drink plenty of fluids. If you try to power through and come to work anyway, you’re unlikely to be productive, and you’ll just end up spreading your illness to your office mates. Do everyone a favor, and stay home to recuperate properly.

Avoid the hassle of the flu during the stark winter months by taking the proper precautions. Get your shot today at AFC Urgent Care North Andover. You’ll be glad you did.