Staying away from H1N1Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve probably heard that the H1N1 virus or aka the “swine flu” has been taking it’s toll on a number of people in the world today.  Experts predict that half of the world’s population could be effected.  Could this be true?  Only time will tell, but if you’re worried about it, I found some health tips online that can you use in order to stay safe on campus, and elsewhere.

The Center for Disease Control will recommend the following to those that are either in college, or dealing with the public.

Never visit the campus if you’re ill: If you feel ill, you’ll want to tell your friends, and family to stay away from the campus.  It will only take one person to have it spread rather fast, and you definitely don’t want to see your college shut down because of this.

Clean up your area: Look around you, and spot the areas that are touched a lot.  Head to the store, and buy some bleach cleaner, and make it a habit to clean it a few times a week. If you let these surfaces set for a while, this will give the bacteria time to build up, and spread.

Bring around wipes – If you have computer classes, or you touch public items, you’re increasing your odds of picking up the virus.  Make it a habit to bring around anti-bacterial wipes, and wipe down anything that you may touch.

Stay away from students - If you’re unsure of a student talking to you, or the classroom, your best bet is to stay clear of the students in the classroom.  As long as you’re within breathing distance, you should be okay.

In the end, just play it smart, and try to bring anti-bacterial wipes, or sanitizer everywhere you go.  You don’t have to over do it, but as long as you’re safe, and play along with the tips above, you should be okay.