By now you’ve heard a lot about flu prevention practices to help avoid getting sick, but did you know those same prevention practices could save you money? No? Consider the following:

Dollars lost from time off from work
Almost half of our nation’s work force (yes, that’s some of you and 59 million of your co-workers) is not paid for sick leave and even more folks are not paid for leave to care for sick children. So what are your options if you or your child becomes ill? Missed pay and possible difficulties with your boss when you get back, going to work sick, leaving children home alone or trying to send them to day care or to school sick. And what about the risk to your job for attendance issues? (Everybody knows employers are highly focused on attendance issues right now).

Dollars paid for doctors office visit or, worse yet, if you must make a trip to an urgent care clinic or hospital emergency room.
The average cost of a doctors office visit in 2001 was $60, and for an emergency room visit in 1996 was $383. With the increase in health care costs in the last few years we can assume these figures are low in comparison to current costs. In addition, there are approximately 83 million uninsured Americans, lacking either private, Medicare or Medicaid insurance, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC); and in 2002 health care costs totaled $5,440 per capita (per person). Lets face it, none of us need another bill over $5,000 to contend with.

In a study conducted earlier this year by Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, it was concluded that of any surface tested in the workplace (including the bathroom) the average desktop had more bacteria. What does this tell us? While your employer makes sure the bathrooms are routinely cleaned, most custodial staffs are instructed not to disturbed workspaces, so it is vital that you take responsibility to keep your workspace clean.

Things you can do:

• Invest in a can of spray disinfectant or disposable disinfectant wipes.
• Wash your hands - soap and hot water for at least 30 seconds - In a pinch? Try a waterless hand sanitizer. (How long is 30 seconds? Long enough to sing the entire ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ song.)
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing (not your hand!)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, which may increase the chance of infection.
• Check with your employer about policies on staying home from work when you are sick - they may have made some changes due to the special circumstances this flu season. (It wouldn’t hurt to refer them to the October issue of the Harvard Business Review article on ‘presenteeism’ and the cost to employers - makes them curious and makes you look smart!)
• Keep your kids home from school when they are sick (this keeps other kids and their teachers from getting sick and continuing the spread of disease).
• Avoid sharing food, eating utensils, drinking glasses, pens, pencils, towels, or other personal items. (Use extra precautions for those office pot-lucks during the coming holidays.)
• Don’t reuse or share water bottles.

Following prevention precautions will not only help you avoid the flu but other illnesses as well. Like your mom used to say - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... and it costs a lot less.