MIAMI (WSVN) — Feeling sick this winter? You may want to use a sick day. According to a survey conducted by Wakefield Research, 69 percent of working Americans don’t take sick days because they don’t want to miss a day of work, even if they’re actually sick.
The study also shows that 62 percent of working Americans have gone to work sick and nearly three in four parents have sent their children to school sick. It’s also reported that 60 percent of those surveyed saw their co-worker sneeze without using a tissue.
Cold and flu season peaks in the United States between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officials recommend washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer like Purell. Approximately 80 percent of infectious diseases are transmitted by touch. The CDC said hand hygiene is one of the most important steps to avoid spreading germs.
Here are some key moments for practicing hand hygiene provided by Wakefield Research:
- Before and after preparing food,
- Before eating,
- Before and after caring for someone that is sick or around someone who is ill,
- After using the bathroom,
- After sneezing or coughing,
- After touching anything that is in a high-traffic area that may have been touched by many different hands, such as the grocery cart handle, a phone or a handrail.
"This survey highlights that hand hygiene must be practiced far more thoroughly and regularly – whether it’s at home, in the office or on the go," said Jim Arbogast, Ph.D., Vice President of Hygiene Sciences and Public Health Advancements, GOJO Industries.