How to Avoid the Stomach Flu
To avoid the stomach flu, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after going to the bathroom or handling food to cut down on the spread of germs. If you know somebody with the flu, avoid close contact with them, since it is contagious. You should also wash down and disinfect all hard surfaces, like tables, counters, and faucets, to prevent germs from spreading. Additionally, immediately wash any laundry a sick person has used, such as towels, sheets, and blankets. When you need to dispose of contaminated waste, such as vomit or bile, take it outside straight away and wash your hands afterwards.
 often. Wash your hands Wash your hands carefully with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Always wash your hands after going to the washroom and before and after handling food and eating. This will help to prevent the spread of germs. Germs on your hands can get into your eyes, ears, and nose and make you sick.  Wash your hands with warm water and soap, scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. If you are not able to wash your hands you can use a hand sanitizer as a substitute. However, soap and water is the best method to ward off germs. Avoid contact with a sick person. If you know of someone who has the flu it is best to keep your distance and avoid any close contact. The stomach flu can easily spread from person-to-person through direct contact.  For example, if someone in your family is sick you should create a separate sick room. This is typically a bedroom where the person can rest privately so that they do not contaminate the rest of the house. If having a separate room is not possible, avoid sharing eating utensils, glasses and plates. Use separate towels in the bathroom. Use bottled water while traveling. It is quite common to develop a stomach flu while traveling. Frequently this is a result of drinking water that is contaminated. Purchasing bottled water, although more expensive, can help to prevent getting a nasty bug while traveling. A few other travel tips include:  Avoiding ice cubes because they could be made using a contaminated water source. Don't eat raw fruits and vegetables that may have been washed using a contaminated water source. Use bottled water to brush your teeth when traveling in a developing countries. Avoid drinking untreated surface water from a lake or stream. Clean any contaminated surfaces. If someone in your household has the stomach flu it is a good idea to keep all hard surfaces clean and disinfected in order to prevent the spread of the flu. You can use a number of disinfectant cleaners or a mixture of two cups bleach to one gallon of water. Surfaces to pay attention to include:  Counters Doorknobs Faucets Tables Toys Wash laundry frequently. You can help prevent the spread of the stomach flu by washing all laundry that comes into contact with the flu. For example, sheets, towels, and linens used by a sick person in your household should be washed immediately. You should also wash all linens and cloth that come in direct contact with vomit or bile. Handle these materials carefully and quickly place them in the washing machine without shaking them and potentially spreading the germs. Wear rubber gloves while touching contaminated linens to protect yourself. Wash your hands immediately after handling. Remove any contaminated trash immediately. A good way to prevent the flu from spreading within your home is by taking out the garbage frequently. For example, tissues, vomit, and bile should be cleaned up quickly and removed from the house. Always wash your hand after handling contaminated waste. Use separate personal items. In order to prevent the spread of the flu you should always use your own personal items. Don't share utensils, plates, toothbrushes, or towels. These items come in close contact with your mouth and should not be shared especially with someone showing flu symptoms. Make sure childcare facilities are clean. If your child goes to daycare or another childcare facility, make sure there are separate areas for diaper change and for food preparation to avoid cross contamination. The transmission of the virus is fecal to oral, so it is important these things are kept separate. Keep your workspace clean. It is quite common to come into contact with the flu while outside of the home, particularly at work. You should do your best to maintain a clean workspace by disinfecting your office supplies regularly and washing your hands frequently while at work. Take care to wipe down items such as your keyboard and phone. Wash fruits and vegetables. Make sure to always wash your fruits and vegetables before serving them. This is even more important if your food may have been in contact with someone who has the flu. The stomach flu can spread very easily onto food products if they are handled by someone who is sick. Because foods are often handled by multiple people before reaching your home it is always a good idea to wash fresh foods before serving.  Some fruits and vegetables can also be contaminated while being harvested. Refrigerate meat and store properly. Make sure that you keep your meats refrigerated before cooking and eating. Refrigeration helps prevent the growth of bacteria that can cause the stomach flu.  Meats should also be eaten within a few days of purchase if left uncooked and in the refrigerator. Avoid preparing food for others while you are sick. If you are sick with the flu you should not prepare food. In fact, you shouldn't handle food until all of your symptoms have disappeared for at least two days. The flu can easily be transmitted between people and taking extra precautions can help prevent the spread of the virus. Eat healthy foods and stay hydrated. Drinking enough water and eating a well-balanced diet of fruits/vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein keeps you healthy and feeling good. Maintaining a healthy diet full of vitamins can even help to keep your immune system strong and prevent illnesses such as the flu. Some foods to try include:  Foods that contain vitamin C. It is found in citrus fruits and some vegetables such as oranges and red bell peppers. It can help to prevent illnesses by strengthening cells to kill viruses. Carrots, which contain beta-carotene which converted into vitamin A in the body and helps boost immune systems. Almonds, which are an excellent source of vitamin E which is an antioxidant that fights the flu. The recommended fluid intake in temperate climates are 13 cups (3 liters) of water a day for men and 9 cups (2.1 liters) for women Utilize supportive treatment. Most acute episodes of nausea and vomiting are caused by viral gastroenteritis and are self-limiting, meaning they will resolve without medication. Rest, eating healthy food as soon as possible, and rehydrating with water or electrolyte-rich sports drinks are usually the only treatment necessary. The cornerstones of treatment of stomach flu are management of hydration, electrolyte and nutrition. In most cases medication is not necessary. Keep in mind that the flu is viral, so it cannot be treated with antibiotics. Be aware that taking anti-diarrheals can actually prolong the illness by keeping the virus in the system, so taking a product, such as Pepto Bismol, is not recommended when you have diarrhea. Watch out for signs of the stomach flu. Some of the main symptoms are diarrhea, nausea, headaches, muscle aches, vomiting, fever, chills, fatigue, and dizziness. If you notice these symptoms in any of your family members or yourself it is important to keep your distance in order to contain the flu and not spread the virus. Go to the doctor. Typically the stomach flu should only last a few days; however, because the effects of dehydration can be especially serious for infants, young children and pregnant women, these patients should seek medical attention at the onset of the stomach virus. If you are a healthy adult, utilize supportive therapy. If your symptoms persist after 10 days you should seek medical attention. 
 often. Avoid contact with a sick person. Use bottled water while traveling. Clean any contaminated surfaces. Wash laundry frequently. Remove any contaminated trash immediately. Use separate personal items. Make sure childcare facilities are clean. Keep your workspace clean. Wash fruits and vegetables. Refrigerate meat and store properly. Avoid preparing food for others while you are sick. Eat healthy foods and stay hydrated. Utilize supportive treatment. Watch out for signs of the stomach flu. Go to the doctor. 