Returning to classes at Mount Royal means passing the day with over 7,000 strangers, who may share our classes and our social lives but who may not always follow the best health practices.

This year, with dire warnings about a fall surge in the dreaded H1N1 virus, it is important that people in busy public venues protect themselves and others from falling ill.

Keeping your hands clean and not touching your eyes, nose or mouth are all effective ways to prevent the spread of swine flu.

Photo: Julie-Carole Vincent/ Calgary Journal

H1N1, all Influenza A strains, and all other respiratory infections are spread the same way, via coughs and sneezes and by being picked up from hard surfaces – counters, doors, doorknobs – and spread through contact with mucous membranes; eyes, nose and mouth.

There has been much hype about vaccinations for H1N1, which has been cast as a deadly strain of flu. But H1N1, is no more or less deadly than most other flu despite it being the flavour of the week sickness for 2009. In previous years, West Nile Virus and Bird Flu have held that ‘honour.’

To put H1N1, in perspective, consider this: there are three to four drunk driving deaths and 207 injuries resulting from alcohol-caused vehicle crashes every day in Canada. 127 people die every day in this country from smoking. There are 16,000 deaths from starvation every day in Africa. H1N1, has killed seven in Alberta and a total of 65 in the entire country since the beginning of the outbreak.

According to Alberta Health Services, H1N1 symptoms are similar to those of the usual flu season suspects: cough, fever, muscle aches, lethargy, lack of appetite. Some people also have runny noses, sort throat, nausea vomiting and other ‘emissions.’ AHS says that the vast majority of those who contract H1N1, will recover completely.

With all flu, the most effective way to protect yourself and others is to wash your hands and wash them often. It is also good practice to never touch your nose, mouth and eyes without washing first, as these wet orifices are very efficient disease transmission points.

As for coughing and sneezing, the best place to put both those is into the crook of your elbow, rather than into your hand or into the air for those whose manners don’t include covering their mouths.

Best hand-washing practice is to grab a couple paper towels before you wash your hands – and don’t put them down beside the sink, which is always wet; use the towels to dry your hands first and then to shut off the taps. If you can use the towel to open the door after, all the better, as doors and doorknobs are always germy and rarely cleaned.

You can prevent contact with H1N1, and other contractible bugs by carrying hand sanitizer and committing to washing your hands and taking care around sneezing and coughing.