Things you can do before, during, and after an event to improve your chances of staying healthy

With all the talk about flu season and H1N1, it makes good business sense to keep preventive maintenance top of mind. That’s particularly true when people from around the country or around the world gather for meetings, conferences, seminars, etc. Here are some things to remember when you are preparing to hold or attend a multi-person event.


Before you get there
If you have flu-like symptoms before you’re ready to leave, don’t. Fever, bad cough, sore throat, runny nose, severe body aches, chills, extreme fatigue, diarrhea, and vomiting are best treated by staying home and getting medical care. You don’t want to make yourself worse or infect others. If you’re feeling fine, you still need to be cautious. When taking a plane, don’t forget to drink lots of water to keep hydrated. If it’s a long flight, get up and move around occasionally to avoid circulation problems. If there’s no carry-on restriction, take along antibacterial hand gel to keep your hands clean and free of germs. If there is a restriction, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water whenever possible. Make sure you have a handkerchief or tissues to cover your nose when you sneeze. If you don’t have anything, sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands. And don’t be embarrassed to turn away from the person sitting next to you if he or she is about to sneeze.


While at the event
There’s sure to be lots of handshaking, so again, wash your hands often. Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after you’ve greeted someone. Maintain appropriate personal space. It’s good manners as well as good for your health. If there’s a buffet or food line, don’t be shy about getting there early—fewer people will have handled plates, glasses, and utensils before you. If you’re putting on the event, be sure to maximize the number of tongs for food selection, and minimize foods that would normally be picked up by hand. In fact, if you have the capability, choose sit-down meals rather than buffet. It’s another way to minimize the number of hands between your food and you. And no matter how friendly things get at your table, don’t share dessert.

Meetings themselves can be healthier too. Along with water on the conference tables, have antibacterial hand gel as well. Provide meeting materials in digital format. It minimizes passing paper around. Set up live audio/visual feeds. Then, if there are attendees who aren’t feeling well, they can stay in their rooms and still be involved.


On the way home
Don’t let your guard down just because the event is over. Take all the same precautions you took coming to the event. You should also have an antibacterial cleaner on hand to wipe down and clean off any of your personal electronic equipment that got shared during the event. And even though event schedules might be hectic, get plenty of rest. The last thing you want to do is weaken your immune system and bring it home to your family.


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