Tips for Limiting the Spread of Germs
and Preventing Infection

There are many relatively simple ways to protect yourself and those you love from exposure to H1N1, including the following:

• Educate family members and roommates about the heightened risk of H1N1 for those with neuromuscular disease and the importance of staying away from others who are experiencing flu-like symptoms. 
  
  
• Promote good hand hygiene among everyone in your home, which means washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice), especially after coughing or sneezing.  Alcohol-based hand sanitizers containing at least 60% alcohol are also effective. 
  
  
• Encourage everyone in your home to practice respiratory etiquette by covering coughs and sneezes with tissues or with your arm.  Dispose of tissues in a waste receptacle after use. 
  
  
• Stress the importance of everyone with whom you live making an effort to avoid the sharing of utensils and drinking cups, and to not touch their face with their hands, especially after handling shared items such as telephones or remote controls.
  
  
• Educate yourself about symptoms of the flu.  The symptoms of H1N1 are similar to symptoms of regular influenza and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue.  Diarrhea and vomiting may also be experienced.  Contact your physician as soon as possible if you develop flu-like symptoms.
  
  
• Visit the CDC’s Web site and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Web site for additional tips and recommendations.