'Flu' solution right at the end of your arms

A lot of kids -- and adults -- are getting an early Christmas vacation, but not the type they would have wanted.

St. Patricks School closed Friday, with more than a third of the students out sick. The rate wasn't that high at other local schools, but we suspect most of us will be exposed to one type or another of a winter-time bug over the upcoming holiday season. Travel will only make it worse, with new microbes being brought into -- and carried out of -- Southwest Nebraska with each plane, train or automobile.

While most of us complain of having the "flu," the latest illnesses are mostly strep throat -- characterized by a sore throat, fever, joint aches, headache, white spots on the throat, bad breath, stomach ache and red rash. A bacterial infection, is treatable by antibiotics following a visit to your doctor.

"Stomach flu" virus infections are mostly something to wait out by getting rest, drinking plenty of fluids and taking pain relievers. Victims can look forward to headache, fever, abdominal cramps, diarrhea and vomiting.

Do we have your attention yet?

Other than crawling in a hole until spring, is there anything we can do to reduce the spread of strep and "stomach flu"?

That actually may be part of the solution, according to Myra Stoney, director of the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department. Avoid close contact with sick people as much as possible, and stay home when you are sick, especially when you're feverish.

Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

But perhaps the most important weapon against colds and "flu" is right at the end of your arms.

Like your mother always told you, wash your hands!

There's more to it than you might think, according to the Mayo Clinic:

* Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Lather well.

* Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 seconds.

* Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of yourr hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.

* Rinse well.

* Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.

* Use a towel to turn off the faucet.

While studies have questioned the effectiveness of antibacterial soap, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, which don't require water, are a good substitute.

You might even consider keeping a bottle at your desk, in your car or a travel-size in your pocket or purse.

Choose an alcohol-based product with an ingredient to help prevent skin dryness. They're actually more effective than soap and water in killing bacteria and viruses that cause disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Few of us will avoid every illness that comes around this winter, but by taking the easy precautions listed above, we'll at least rest assured we've done everything we can