Cold or flu, which is caused by the influenza virus, is most common during winter months. It can last from 7 to 10 days, spreading to all family members, which can be a problem if you have children at home.
But parents, prevention is better than cure. With some simple but super-effective flu safety tips, you can protect the family and ensure the kids are healthy.
How to avoid getting the cold without pausing life? How to stay healthy in flu season and stay protected from the common cold in general? We have discussed all the tips in detail below. Read on.
1. Get Up to Date on Vaccines
Cold and flu are caused by viral infections where there can be different types of viruses. And these viruses tend to mutate every season. But with timely vaccines, you can protect the family during the colder season. Yearly flu vaccines ensure that your body can fight the infection and stay strong.
But the problem is keeping track of and staying up to date with vaccines. A great and reliable solution to this is a medical record app that will not only digitise your medical records but also remind you of vaccines to ensure you and your family don’t miss any.
2. Wash Hands Often
Hands are the easiest way for viruses to travel to your body. So, remind everyone to wash their hands, especially after being in a public area, after using the washroom, and before eating. Not touching your face too much is also a good practice.
Make sure to carry a hand sanitizer if you are out and cannot wash your hands. Small habits like these will help in staying healthy during flu season.
3. Disinfect the Home Every Once in a While
Disinfecting your home from time to time can help reduce the risk of getting a cold. To effectively disinfect your home, you should regularly clean high-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, telephones, and countertops. Also, make sure to clean bathroom sinks and other household areas clean where guests frequent.
4. Practice Sneeze Etiquette
When we sneeze, we release droplets of moisture into the air that may contain viruses and bacteria. If someone else inhales these droplets, they may become infected. Good sneeze etiquette is important because it helps prevent the spread of colds and other illnesses.
Sneezing etiquette includes covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or sneezing into the inside of your elbow if a tissue is not available. This prevents bacteria and viruses from spreading to others.
5. Get Good Sleep
This has to be one of the most important flu safety tips. People who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus. This is because when you sleep, your body rests and repairs itself, which can help boost the immune system and make you better able to fight off infections. Therefore, getting good sleep can help you and your child stay healthy.
To ensure good sleep quality, send your child to bed at a fixed time every day. A cool, dark, quiet room with no screens before bed is also tremendously important.
6. Boost the Immune System
Good immunity is critical for staying healthy during flu season. A healthy immune system will help you avoid a cold and shorten the duration if you end up catching it. So, make sure that your child gets all the necessary vitamins and minerals in their diet. Also, make sure they are hydrated and getting some exercise every day.
7. Teach Kids How to Avoid Germs at School
School-going children are more at risk of flu. So, teach your child how to prevent common cold at school. Ask them to stay away from kids who may look sick with symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, or coughing. Also, remind them to wash their hands before having food when they leave for school and not exchange anything like pencils or erasers since they may carry germs.
8. Clean or Replace Air Filters
Maintaining clean air filters in your home may help reduce the spread of respiratory infections. This is because air filters remove respiratory droplets from the air that contain cold viruses, which may then reduce the likelihood of inhaling these viruses.
It is essential to check and replace your air filters regularly. It is generally recommended to replace air filters every 1-3 months or more frequently if they become dirty or clogged. To clean air filters, make sure to use natural or low-VOC (volatile organic compound) cleaning products.
Flu season can be tough for the entire family. So, make sure to also teach your child how to stay on top of their health. Have everyone in the house practice good hygiene, and you will easily be able to prevent cold and infections.
Author Bio:
Jigar Patel is the Founder of Health-e, a HealthTech app that simplifies health records management along with providing personalized and preventative healthcare solutions. Although he has 20+ years of operations and management experience in the EPC domain, Jigar’s true passion lies in making healthcare simpler, faster and more accessible for doctors and patients alike.
He strongly believes that people need to be empowered to participate in their own healthcare and is constantly thinking of ways to build this into his app. He loves to keep things simple be it in life, product design, his work or the content he develops. Being married for 10 years and having 2 kids have taught him that perspective matters, so you can always count on him to share new perspectives on various topics.