Just like every year, cold and flu season is here until late spring. The CDC estimates that as many as 13 million people had the flu during 2021’s flu season. Clearly, there is no avoiding illness for your business. With that being said, it is important to take the necessary steps to keep you and your workplace safe during this time.
Cold vs. Flu
A cold and the flu have some similarities, so it is important to know the difference.
The common cold gets its name because yep you guessed it - it’s very common. Almost everyone feels under the weather at least once a year. The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that can be transmitted through airborne exposure. Cold symptoms include, but are not limited to, sneezing, stuffy nose, runny nose, cough, headache, and sore throat. The flu, also known as influenza, is also a viral infection of the respiratory tract. However, symptoms are much more severe than the common cold. Same as a cold, symptoms include: a cough, sore throat, headache, and congestion. With the flu, you can also experience a fever, chills, fatigue, and/or body pain.
Let’s look at some ways you can keep yourself, your employees, and your business safe!
Washing Your Hands
One of the easiest ways to eliminate germs and prevent illnesses is to wash your hands with soap and warm water. It is recommended you scrub for at least 20 seconds. Don’t forget to get under your fingernails! To remind your employees to wash their hands, place hand washing signs in your bathrooms and by other sinks. These signs can remind employees to wash their hands, and inform them of the proper way to do so. Additionally, make sure your business is stocked up with plenty of soap.
Our Clean Skin Foaming Mango Hand Soap contains mild detergents, emollients, and skin conditioners. This soap not only keeps your hands soft, but is effective in removing grease, dirt, and more. Foaming soap also minimizes the volume of liquid soap consumed, making it a smart economical choice.
For a more heavy-duty soap, try our Gentle Fresh Defense Foaming Antimicrobial Soap. It kills a wide variety of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and fungi, leaving behind a mild floral scent.
Hand Sanitizers
We can’t help it, coughing and sneezing are inevitable, especially during cold and flu season - even allergy season! And in tight quarters, like an office, a cough or sneeze can travel far. Our best line of defense at your desk is hand sanitizer.
When washing your hands is not an option before eating, after sneezing, etc., using hand sanitizer is the next best option! Because hand sanitizer is less effective in killing most germs, hand washing is preferred. However, hand sanitizer still kills many viruses and bacteria! For optimal performance, make sure to rub in all of the sanitizer until it’s dry.
Our Clean Skin Waterless Foaming Alcohol Hand Sanitizer kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria within 15 seconds. This product contains 62% ethyl alcohol and aloe to help reduce dryness! Keep these pint-sized bottles around your office for easy access.
Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces
Bacteria can live on surfaces for up to 7 days. That’s why you should be disinfecting high-touch surfaces often. Some high-touch surfaces in the office include keyboards, a computer mouse, desks, countertops, doorknobs, phones, and more. Add disinfecting to your to-do list a couple of times a week.
We made disinfecting simple! At Neutron, we offer EPA-registered ready-to-use disinfectants. Perfect to use in your office.
For easy one-step disinfecting, try our Surface Defense AQ Disinfecting Wipes. These wipes have kill claims against 48 viruses and bacteria, with just a short 60-second contact time. Leave a few containers of our wipes around your office so employees can use them when needed. Every couple of days remind employees to wipe down their desks and supplies. Make sure doorknobs and other areas, like a breakroom or kitchen, are wiped down often as well.
Our Surface Defense Disinfecting Spray also makes it quick and easy to disinfect hard surfaces in your office. This spray kills a broad range of pathogens, including Influenza A2, the most common strain. Just spray and let it sit for 10 minutes – no need to rinse or wipe after. Enjoy a light orange scent! Surface Defense Disinfecting Spray is also a sanitizer on soft surfaces. This is great for sanitizing desk chairs and other office décors like couches, carpets, curtains, and more. At the end of the day, spray on hard and soft surfaces and come back to a clean office! See our full line of Surface Defense products!
The Healthy Bundle conveniently offers 3 essential products for this cold and flu season. This bundle includes 2 of each of the Surface Defense Disinfecting Spray, Surface Defense AQ Disinfecting Wipes, and Clean Skin Alcohol Waterless Hand Sanitizer.
Work from Home
Having sick employees is inevitable. Encourage your employees to take a sick day or to work from home (if that is an option) when they are feeling under the weather. You want to make sure your employees are at the top of their game, and not getting others sick.
Other Reminders
Along with posting hand washing reminders by sinks, it would be a good idea to add other reminders around your business as well. Everyone knows to cover a cough or sneeze, but not everyone does it. Gentle reminders around the office to cover a cough or sneeze, and how to properly do it, can prevent the spread of germs.
During cold and flu season, have tissue boxes around the office for employees. It would be smart to add a bottle of hand sanitizer and a note encouraging employees to sanitize after blowing their noses.
Following these simple ways can protect you, your employees, and your business during cold and flu season! To see more of our products that can help your business, check out our website.