Adults have an average of 2-3 colds per year. To take it up a notch, about 13% of the U.S. population will get the flu each year – that’s roughly 42 million people! It typically takes one to four days for symptoms to show up once you've caught the virus (so sneaky!). Adults can be contagious from the day before symptoms begin up to 10 days after the illness starts. Yikes! Here are some tips on how to stay healthy at the office (and what to do if you still get sick!).

1. Help! Everyone at my
office is getting sick!
TIPS TO AVOID THE SAME FATE

2. Have you noticed more
co-workers coughing
and sneezing?

4. Here are some tips
to stay healthy!
…and what to do if that doesn’t work!

5. 1. Wash Your Hands More.
Use hand sanitizer as needed. Washing
your hands is always the better option!

7. 2. Avoid touching
your face.
Specifically, your eyes and nose. Touching germs
and then these areas gives said germs easy access
into your body. So wash those hands and avoid the
temptation to touch to make it harder for them to
find an entry point.

9. 3. Wipe down your work
surface.
Ask your office manager for some disinfectant
wipes and make it a regular habit to clean your
desk, mouse, keyboard, and phone (and avoid
sharing those items). And hey – pass those wipes
around for others to use, too!

11. 4. Keep your distance.
Sick people can spread their illness
to others up to six feet away. If you notice a
co-worker is coughing, sneezing, or sniffling, keep
your distance. People who are
sick should remain home until they’re
fever-free for at least 24 hours.

13. 5. Get more sleep.
In general, trying to live a healthy lifestyle can
improve your immune system and help prevent
you from getting sick. When you don’t prioritize
sleep and push yourself too hard, your body is less
prepared to fight back against bacteria and viruses,
and you get sick more easily.

15. …and if you still end up
getting sick?

16. 1. Stay home
and get better!
Taking the time off to get better will help
you get better sooner and miss less work in
the long run. You also don’t want to be the cause
of your co-workers getting sick!

17. Rest is the
best remedy.
Taking care of
yourself should
be priority #1.

18. 2. Consult a doctor over
the phone or video chat
instead of visiting a
doctor’s office.

20. Get prescriptions
for common
illnesses without
visiting the
doctor’s office.
Many major healthcare
providers use apps such as
Teledoc.

21. Be Well and
Good Luck
out there!