The Importance of Self Care During Cold/Flu Season

Tue, 27 Jan 2015 12:07:46 -0500

The spring semester has just started at UMBC, but we are knee-deep in cold/flu season. With our busy schedules, multiple commitments and conflicting priorities, it can be difficult to find time to take care of ourselves and our health - especially when we get sick. University Health Services encourages students, faculty and staff to remember the importance of self-care while feeling sick - it will speed up your recovery so you can get back to class/work sooner, and you can also help prevent the spread of illness to others around you.
For persons fighting the flu, the "CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®. You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings."

Here are 5 Steps to take if you do happen to get the flu, as recommended by the CDC:

- Stay at home and rest.
- Avoid close contact with well people in your house so you won’t make them sick.
- Drink plenty of water and other clear liquids to prevent fluid loss (dehydration).
- Treat fever and cough with medicines you can buy at the store.
- If you get very sick, are pregnant, or are 65 years or older, or are otherwise at high risk of flu-related complications, call your doctor. You might need antiviral drugs to treat flu.
- You can see the CDC's full list of recommendations for flu treatment here.

If you have not gotten sick yet, keep it up!

- Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based rub if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid close contact with those that are sick. If you are taking care of someone who is sick, check out the CDC’s guidelines for caring for someone who is sick here.
- Sleep well. Persons who forego sleep on a regular basis can compromise their immune system and make them more susceptible to getting sick.
- Eat well. Eating a diet rich in vitamins, nutrients and minerals can help support your immune system.

Getting Seen at University Health Services:

If you would like to be seen by one of our medical providers at UHS we are open Monday - Friday, 8:30am-5pm, and are located on the ground floor of Erickson Hall. Our services are available to all UMBC students, faculty and staff. You can just walk-in to be seen, or you can call ahead and make an appointment which may help decrease your wait time, by calling 410-455-2542 (press "1" at the voice prompt).