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As the seasonal and H1N1 flu continues to spread throughout the community, you may be wondering how to protect yourself or others in your home if a family member comes down with the flu. Blount Memorial infection preventionist Sherry Hillis reminds that the best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated.

“You need two vaccines to be fully protected this year. The seasonal flu vaccine is different from the H1N1 (Swine) flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging people to get both vaccinations. It is not too late to get flu vaccinations this year,” Hillis said.

According to Hillis and the CDC, flu is thought to spread from person to person in respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. This happens when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and land on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Flu viruses also may be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands.

If you or a family member comes down with the flu, they will probably be cared for at home as the bug takes its course. The CDC recommends preparing a “sick room” in this situation, if possible, to keep others from catching the flu. The CDC says to take these steps in creating a sick room:

-- Try to give the sick person their own room. If there is more than one sick person, they can share the sick room if needed.

-- If you have more than one bathroom, have sick people use one bathroom and well people use another bathroom.

-- Give each sick person his or her own drinking glass, washcloth and towel.

The CDC recommends stocking your sick room with the following items:

-- Tissues

-- Trash can with lid, lined with a plastic trash bag

-- Alcohol-based hand rub

-- Cooler or pitcher with ice and drinks

-- Cup with straw or squeeze bottle to help with drinking

-- Thermometer (with covers if used for more than one person)

-- Humidifier

-- Facemasks (Sick people should wear a facemask if available when they leave the sick room or are around other people.)

If the sick person must leave the room to go to the bathroom or doctor, ask them to wear a facemask to protect well family members from getting the flu. If no facemasks are available, the sick person can use a tissue to cover their coughs and sneezes. The CDC recommends family members follow these four sick room rules:

1. Avoid entering the sick room if you are well. The sick person should not have visitors other than a caregiver. If visitors must enter, they should stay at least six feet away from the sick person.

2. Ask the sick person to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough and sneeze. Ask them to throw used tissues in the trash.

3. There should be one caregiver for sick person(s) per household. If possible, ask someone else to be the caregiver if you are pregnant or have certain chronic health problems -- as it could be much more serious for you if you get the flu.

4. Keep the air clean. Open a window in the sick room, if possible.