According to Health Canada the Flu season runs from November through until April each year. They say,

“The most effective way to protect yourself from the flu is to be vaccinated each year in the fall. Regular hand washing is another way to help minimize your risk. By washing your hands often, you will reduce your chance of becoming infected.”

The best way to keep your family healthy is through educating yourself and your children on the most effective ways to lower your risk of catching the flu this season. Here are some great resources to start with:

• The Flu, It’s Your Health (Health Canada Fact Sheet).
• Ontario Government Flu Fact Sheet.
• Influenza Vaccine Fact Sheet.

The City of Ottawa puts on local Free Flu Shot Clinics each year. Here is a list of the 2008/2009 Free Ottawa Flu Shot Clinics.

In the event you do start feeling under the weather with either cold and/or flu symptoms here are some resources and tips to help you feel better:

• The Flu and Colds – Tips on prevention and on feeling better.
• A Parent’s Guide to Colds and Flu.
• Influenza – What Can You Do?
• How do you know if you have the flu?
• Canadian Paediatric Association, Influenza in Children.

And finally, if you would like to keep up on the flu trends throughout the year The Public Health Agency of Canada provides us with the FluWatch website where they offer very detailed animated coverage maps. And, although it does not cover Canada as of yet, Google has launched the Google Flu Trends site.