Flu Prevention Tips from the Surgery Center of Fort Collins

We are in the peak of flu season, and this year’s virus has proven to be one of the worst. Colorado is one of 44 states where the flu is considered ‘widespread’. Always one to care for the wellbeing of our community, the Surgery Center of Fort Collins is urging you to take care of yourself!

Flu symptoms include a fever, a sore throat, body aches, runny nose, cough, vomiting and diarrhea. Since the flu is so contagious, if you have flu-like symptoms, you are urged to stay home and avoid contact with others.

Here are a few steps you can take as a precaution against the flu for yourself and to protect others if you have already contracted the virus:

1. Wash Your Hands! Wash your hands often and teach your children how to wash their hands properly, too. Hands should be washed for at least 20 seconds with soap before rinsing with running water.
2. If you have the flu, stay home until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, without the aid of medications. This will help to keep others from getting sick, too.
3. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, then wash your hands. Don’t carry around dirty and used tissues, either! Throw them away.
4. Clean surfaces that could be infected. Use alcohol-based wipes to disinfect areas in your home and at work that could be harboring flu germs. This includes phones, desks, keyboards, doorknobs, handles, and more.
5. Get Your Flu Shot! While you ideally want to get your flu shot in the fall before flu season really hits, the phrase “it’s better late than never” rings true here. Even if you get the flu after vaccination, you may not get as sick as you would have without the vaccine. Then remember to get a jump start on your flu shot this fall.

In addition to offering flu prevention tips, the Surgery Center of Fort Collins has been saving our community members thousands of dollars in elective surgeries for over 25 years. It is an ambulatory surgery center that is able to perform outpatient surgeries at a fraction of the cost of hospitals. They have supported countless community and health events in an effort to educate the people of Fort Collins on the advantages of ambulatory surgery centers and to provide the highest level of care to their patients.