Avoid close contact
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Stay home when you are sick
- If possible, stay home from work, service, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others. JV/AmeriCorps members are expected to follow the sick leave protocol of their particular agency; if you haven't taken a sick day yet, check in with your Supervisor about what that would look like.
Cover your mouth and nose
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Flu and other serious respiratory illnesses, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), whooping cough, and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), are spread by cough, sneezing, or unclean hands.
Clean your hands
- Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
- Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Practice other good health habits
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, service, work, or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Establish Local Care and/or Research Healthcare Professionals
- If you haven't yet established a local provider, establish care with a provider and research where you should seek services if you are feeling sick.
