It’s the dreaded cold and flu season. Most adults get sick once or twice a season, but if you have small kids in the house, it’s even worse. Studies show your child could be coping with symptoms such as sniffles, cough or fever six to 10 times before the season is over. How can you keep everyone else in the home healthy when one person is sick? Here are some simple tips for health this cold and flu season.
- Wash Your Hands the Right Way
Wash your hands every chance you get. It’s the single most effective way to keep from getting sick from any type of germ. Use warm water. Plain soap is fine. It’s the act of rubbing your hands together that’s most effective. If you are strapped for time, or find your self in places where washbasins are scarce, use a commercially available hand gel sanitizer.
- Don’t Touch Your Nose or Face
Most viruses are passed by contact with mucus fluids, so keep your hands away from your mouth, nose, and face. This tip is important throughout cold and flu season, but it’s especially important directly after contact with a sick person.
- Destroy the Evidence
Keep a bin handy for wads of tissue and empty the bin regularly. Train your children to put all used tissues into bins rather than leaving them around. If you still use handkerchiefs, wash them separately after soaking in an antibacterial solution such as house hold bleach (10ml to 1 liter water)
- Change Toothbrushes
Change toothbrushes often -- every three months in general --and immediately after any sickness, or the sick person could become re-infected. Each family member should have their own color-coded toothbrush, stored in separate holders to avoid cross contamination.
- Quarantine
If possible, isolate the sick person in your family. For instance, sleep in a different bedroom, or have other siblings avoid your sick child’s room. If you can’t do that, then sleep with your back to the sick person
- Sanitize Common Areas
Did you know the most common type of cold virus, the rhinovirus, can live on inanimate objects like telephones and stair railings for several hours, maybe even a few days? Using a disinfectant, sanitize areas that many people in your family touch: telephones, remote controls, computer keyboards, door knobs, refrigerator doors, sinks, etc.
- Don’t Share
Obviously you don’t want to eat or drink after a sick person. Consider color coding drinking glasses or using disposable ones for the duration of the sickness. Color coding is also a good idea for hand and bath towels, so that family members don’t spread germs. And be sure to wash all towels, sheets, and linens more often during cold and flu season.
- Jump-start Your Immune System
Regular exercise, good nutritious meals, and plenty of sleep won’t kill germs, but your immune system will be in a better position to fight them off if you’re living in a healthy way. Consider adding a multivitamin if necessary. Extra zinc and Vitamin C may be of value. It seems that it may shorten the time a cold lasts by a small amount and it does not do any harm unless you take very large doses. If a person has been near another person who has a cold, taking Echinacea might prevent a cold developing. It also might be useful in the very early stages of a cold, making recovery quicker.
And last, but not least, check with your doctor about getting the flu vaccine.
(Ref. MSN Health)
Kim Patra is a qualified registered nurse and midwife who has been living and working in Bali for almost 20 years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail at info@chcbali.com or Hp. 081 2366 0000.
